Green WAHMs

I asked a few friends this question: “How does your concern for Planet Earth effect your WAH business efforts?”

For one, my target market is interested in the environment, so I try to keep them informed with great content on the subject.

Secondly, I keep the “3 R’s” in mind as I work. For instance, I recycled my last printer when I got a new one. When my last computer died, I had all the parts sold on eBay instead of throwing it away. And I just bought a solar charger for my Blackberry and mp3 player. I published some tips for wahms here.

- Carrie Lauth, Natural Moms Talk Radio

Carrie, I have a question. How do you recycle a whole printer?

I can’t honestly say that I think about conservation in my WAHM office…but I don’t drive so that saves on carbon emissions, right?

- Tracy Roberts, All Above Travel

You betcha Tracy! Every WAHM who doesn’t have to commute to work is a big plus for the environment.

Well, like Carrie much of my business is about educating others about being green. So I am doing my advocacy work. I have a nearly zero paper office. Everything is digital….receipts, contracts, ect. I did have to print out a contract yesterday though and today it is in my compost pile.

Because I work from home I almost never drive. $10 of gas will last me for weeks.

I offset the energy usage in my home office with carbon credits and most of my sites are hosted by green hosts who are verified carbon neutral.

I have my desk right next to a big picture window so I don’t have to turn any lights on until late at night.

- Tiffany Washko, Natural Mom PLR

Tiffany, I have to admit I don’t know what ‘carbon credits’ are.

As lIttle paper as possible- I also like Tiffany go digital, I’ve begun printing my receipts to PDF, saving everything in digital files, and the like. I also try to stay home as much as possible. I am more productive in my business and it saves on fuel. A WIN WIN!

- Alyssa Avant, A Writer For Hire

Great tip about saving things as PDF in digital files!

I am an advocate of green living through Vegan Family Living because consuming less meat helps the environment. I am very concerned that others understand what we do with the food we eat and how we eat has a direct effect on the environment.

I am also recycle most of my printing paper. If it not a contract or another important paper that has to be presented to someone else, I use the other side. My office/livingroom is lit using energy saving bulbs. I am home most days and when I go I either walk or take public transportation.

- LaTara Ham-Ying, Vegan Family Living

LaTara, I doubt many people equate their food choices with the environment. Good point!

It seems like another lifetime when I was working towards a career in environmental chemistry. I have a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology - Environmental and I know I don’t think near enough about other ways to conserve and be more enviro-consious but I’m pretty much the same as some of what’s been mentioned:

I print little to none (though I hate reading ebooks on the computer so I just don’t read them much anymore). I have a computer repair guy (luckily or else I’d probably have bought a new one by now) and buy refurbished (spelling?) computers from him instead of brand new. I don’t drive as much as if I went to work every day. I get mostly digital versions of my bills instead of mail (I need to take some time to figure out how to get all digital). I use energy saving bulbs and turn off the computer when not using it

- Angela Wills, Star VA

Oh Angela! Don’t give up ebooks, get one of those cool PDF readers

Similar to Tiffany, I offset my home office energy usage with renewable energy certificates, that go to help pay for wind farms. I also offset the energy used by my servers, so my clients are also helping to protect the earth by hosting with me.

I also have a big window in my office and throughout my house, so I don’t use lights much during the day. Also try not to drive unless I absolutely have to.

- Michelle Waters, Product Sellers Talk Radio

You too? What is this ‘offsetting’ business?

We recycle - turn our empty inks in at some store, use recycled paper in the printer, print multiple pages on one page, use the other side of the paper, give the printer to someone else when we buy a new one, give an old computer away.

At our own home we used the energy saving lightbulbs as well. Here at Dad’s there are so many windows we don’t turn on any light but one bathrooms during the day. I love that!

I rarely drive but I have to say I’m awesome at combining errands. Gas doesn’t last though since we are in a spread out town and when we do go, we go.

- Tsoniki CrazyBull, Crafter Cast

Aren’t these some great ideas? Do you have tips you’d like to share about how you try to ‘be green’ in your home business?