I don't remember when I first heard the term "going green". This phrase has become so ingrained in the lexicon of pop culture that it's hard to go anywhere without seeing it or hearing it. At first it appeared to be another set of buzzwords, along the lines of "alternative" or "extreme" or any other number of words that come and go in our society that were attached to something memorable, only to be overused and losing their importance. I've never considered myself to be an outright environmentalist, but I did grow up in a rural area where a lot of your day to day survival depended on a cooperation and respect for the natural world. When I began to see "going green" more and more, the fear that it was just a passing fad soon faded and I began to realize that this was really a true movement, both in consciousness and in action. It's quite beautiful really. However, I was vexed. You see, it's easy to say something, but it takes action to make ideas manifest. How could we go green? Would it make sense financially? Could we effectively do this?

The good news is that the process wasn't difficult and all the answers were resounding positives. In fact, both personally and with the company I am employed by, many of the things we were already doing from a financial standpoint were what would be considered "green practices". So what does "going green" really mean? For us it meant that we began to make conscious decisions about business practices with the environment in mind first and how to reconcile those fiscally secondary. Believe it or not, many of the things you can do actually lower operating costs. I do not know how it started, but many people think that "going green" increases costs and is a hindrance to working. That's not the case at all, I can personally attest. I will add the caveat that you must do proper prior planning (the Three P Rule) and it must be a company wide policy, otherwise, it won't work as well as it should and the results you seek will be skewed.

So what did we do and furthermore, what can you do? The vast majority are simple things, things you may have not thought of or that you might not have realized how much impact they have on the environment. For example, we now use CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs in place of the traditional light bulb. A CFL saves about $22 a year, and you can multiply that by the number of light fixtures, (e.g. 30 light fixtures over a five year period = $3300 in savings) Add on the fact that a CFL saves over two thousand times in own weight in green house gases over it's lifetime, and it's really a no brainer to make the switch to CFLs. Like any "green initiative", ours is a constantly evolving process, we are always looking to add, refine, and improve existing procedures. As technology comes more in line with protecting the world we live in, more options will become available. This is something to be conscious of for sure, and also to be aware of in your pursuits. Other things we have done: Using electronic communication ; Using water filtering systems instead of bottled water; Re-using packing materials; Using Digital Storage & paper saving techniques ; Using rechargeable batteries ; Fleet Maintenance and Fuel Savers; and many others. Many of these techniques will be self revealing in their validity and usefulness. Others take a little research, but you will find things that work for your firm. Another great addition is the amount of overhead cost that we save. I like win-win situations. Going green has more than been that.

We're going to get into some things you can do now. One of the most rewarding feelings about the whole process is that it's really a lot of fun. It can truly be a bonding experience and I personally feel that it offers a greater connection to the living world. I don't want to get too esoteric, but it's nice knowing that you are helping to alleviate a problem to the Earth instead of contributing to it. Here are seven easy things you can do personally to do your part :

1. Save energy (and it saves $ too!!) : Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.

2. Become Water Usage Conscious : Simply taking a shorter or timed shower will lower your water and heating bills. The installation of a low-flow showerhead doesn't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment. Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. Don't constantly run water when doing simple task like brushing your teeth or cleaning vegetables.

3. Walk or Bike! : Walk or bike instead of driving. This saves on gas and fuel emissions. At the same it improves cardiovascular health and both are the best forms of enjoyable exercise. Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. Fortunately here in Florida, we have some of the best places for bike riding in the country. Another great thing is that more and more people are becoming conscious of bike riders and the amount and quality of safety gear makes bike riding not only more fun, but the safest it's ever been.

4. Think before you buy : Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse. Unfortunately, we live in a fad society where far too much money and a gross misuse of natural resources has been given over to the production and consumption of useless items. When you're purchasing something really think, "Do we need this? Can I get a perfectly fine product from a second hand store? What is this product made from? Where was it made? How does buying this impact the environment?"

5. Buy smart : Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. Much like CFLs, spending a little more on the initial purchase will save a tremendous amount in the long term. Another great thing you can do is to buy in bulk. Especially if it is something you use frequently. Buying in bulk reduces on packaging cost and waste associated with those packages, as well as, the overall production cost of the item to start with.

6. Keep electronics out of the trash : keep electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them, most electronics contain mercury, which is very hard to dispose of and typically is not disposed of properly.

7. Make your own cleaning supplies : You can make your very own effective, non-toxic cleaning products and not only can it be a fun family activity, but it's also an inexpensive way to help. A little research can yield big results and just imagine the feeling of knowing that you created something so useful !

These are just a few of the things that we have done and that you can do. By no means is it meant to be an all encompassing list, more so it's meant to be a starting point. As with any new initiative or change, at first glance it can be overwhelming. To some, the benefits are not readily recognized, but this shouldn't dissuade you. Many times it only takes one person to bring up the point. If you would like your company to start the "going green" process, say something about it. You should realize that the majority of people don't understand what the term really means and what they can do. If you do some research and present the facts, then your company will probably thank you. Even more than that is what we do in our daily lives, the wisdom we impart to our friends, family, and those we come in contact with. It has been said that we teach what we need to learn. Hopefully, this article has been an exercise in that endeavor. We must remain vigilant and do what we can. Protecting the environment is no longer someone else's problem, it is our problem, and we are beginning to have viable and economically sound solutions. The first part of the equation is the change of consciousness, the growing of awareness, and the implementation of ideas. The simple base fact is that all of us have the ability and the chance to make a positive impact. There's no better time to start than right now.

W. Dwight Hatfield

About W. Dwight Hatfield- Mr. Hatfield is currently the Marketing Director for SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping in Tampa, Florida. He is also an avant-garde musician, poet, and writer with several independently released albums, published poems, and articles. Currently residing in Clearwater, Florida, he still considers his home to be the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. For more information on SurvTech Solutions and their Green Initiative, please visit www.survtechsolutions.com/gogreen.htm