| Gearing up to Go Green |
 |
 |
 |
 By Jan Ferrigan (Español)As part of Forward's Power of Blue on local innovative businesses, we are including news about how businesses are using green technology and practices to improve their environmental footprints. From alternative energy to environmentally friendly retail products, green business in Virginia is growing. Green can be placed on any label, but what does green mean? Generally, consumers believe green means clean. We expect that green products and services minimize waste and pollution. In fact, another term for green business is clean commerce. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Small Business Assistance Program (deq.virginia.gov/osba/homepage.html) works on keeping our local environment clean by assisting business owners who need help understanding and complying with the Clean Air Act and other pollution laws. Dry cleaners, gas stations and auto body shops frequently use this free service, especially when new compliance regulations emerge and they want to find out the best way to keep in line with the law. If you have a business that needs to comply with air or water quality regulations, the Virginia DEQ Small Business Assistance Program is there to help. If you have a great, new, clean technology idea, you may want to pitch it to the Center for Innovative Technology, a nonprofit corporation based in Herndon, Virginia. CIT's GAP Fund (citgapfunds.org) makes equity investments in seed-stage Virginia-based technology and life science companies with a high potential for achieving rapid growth and generating significant economic return. CIT's GAP Fund invests in all types of technology companies including media and entertainment, computers and energy. One recent recipient of investment capital from the CIT GAP Fund is Miserware, a "Green Information Technology" software company located in Blacksburg, Virginia. Miserware develops software to help corporations and governments reduce the power used by computers and servers in their systems. E&A Cleaning, a new business in Charlottesville, is an example of a local low-tech company that also takes clean and green to heart. Erica Mencia, owner of E& A Cleaning, says her and her sister chose to use environmentally friendly cleaning products in their new cleaning service because they realized business is moving in a more environmentally conscious direction and they wanted to be a part of helping the environment. After four months in business, they have fifteen customers and anticipate further growth. Mencia attributes some of their success to her green practices saying "I think [my clients] like that I am thinking that way." But, Mencia also acknowledges that being environmentally friendly in itself is not the sole reason for her success. She says, "I have to give myself a little credit. I like to think they also pick me because they like the way I work." ----------Español--------- El segmento Poder Azul de Forward-Adelante trata sobre negocios innovadores locales, e incluimos noticias sobre comerciantes que están usando la tecnología verde y sus técnicas para contribuir con el mejoramiento del ambiente. Desde negocios que ofrecen energía alterna, hasta productos vendidos al detal beneficiosos para el ambiente, los negocios "verdes" siguen creciendo en Virginia. La palabra verde puede aparecer en cualquier etiqueta, pero que significa “verde”? Generalmente para el consumidor verde significa limpio. Esperamos que los productos y servicios verdes disminuyan el desperdicio y la contaminación. De hecho, otro término para negocio verde se conoce como comercio-limpio (clean-commerce). Para negocios tales como tintorerías, estaciones de servicio de auto y mecánica, etc. hay ayuda e información en el Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Virginia bajo el programa de asistencia a los pequeños negocios. Estas agencias ayudan gratuitamente a que los negocios operen bajo la regulaciones necesarias que indica la ley del aire limpio (Clean Air Act). Si tiene una nueva y gran idea sobre tecnología limpia, comuníquese con el centro de tecnología innovadora. CIT’s GAP FUND (citgapfunds.org) es una corporación sin fines lucrativos en Herdon,Virginia. Esta invierte en ideas iniciadas por virginianos para ayudarles en el crecimiento de sus compañías. En Charlottesville, la nueva compañía de limpieza E&A Cleaning ejemplifica el uso de tecnología minima para combinar limpieza con verde. Erica Mencia, dueña de E&A Cleaning, dice que ella y su hermana han decidido usar productos sanos para el ambiente porque comprenden que los negocios estan creando conciencia sobre la calidad ambiental y ellas quieren aportar al mejoramiento del ambiente. Luego de cuatro meses de abrir E&A, tienen quince clientes y estan anticipando mas crecimiento. Mencia atribuye parte de su éxito a las prácticas ambientales que utilizan, diciendo “Creo que mis clientes aprecian que yo piense de esta manera”. Pero, Mencia también reconoce que el tener conciencia sobre el ambiente no es la sola razón de su éxito. Ella dice, “Tengo que darme un poco de crédito. Mis clientes me eligen porque les agrada mi estilo de trabajo”. 
|
