Celebrating Earth Day with the SBA

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By Donna Butler
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has taken a dual approach to sustainability this Earth Day. The SBA is leading by example by reducing the environmental impact of our own operations while continuing to offer resources to small businesses who are interested in “going green.”
Since 2008, the SBA has reduced its total greenhouse gas emissions by 17%. In addition, the agency has recycled over 1,000 lbs. of electronics through an innovative partnership with the U.S. Postal Service and increased the percentage of alternate fuel (hybrid, low greenhouse gas emitting and flex fuel) vehicles in the agency’s fleet up to 72% of the total fleet, among other successes. For more information on SBA’s sustainability activities please see the agency’s latest Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan.
For businesses interested in reducing their own environmental impact, the SBA has several resources.
The SBA’s online green business guide and energy efficiency guide contain a wealth of information related to green marketing, environmental grants and loans, ecolabeling, energy saving tips and more. In addition, the SBA is one of six agencies that support the E3 (Economy, Energy and Environment) program. The E3 program is a coordinated federal and local technical assistance initiative that helps communities work with their manufacturing base to adapt and thrive in a new business era focused on sustainability.
SBA’s 504 loan program also provides financing for major fixed assets, such as equipment or real estate, and it includes provisions that support increased energy efficiency and renewable energy production. Incentives within the program are available to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy production including larger loan maximums per project for projects that reduce a borrower’s energy consumption by at least 10 percent and for projects that generate renewable energy or renewable fuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol production.
At SBA we see Earth Day as a day to celebrate the strides we have made at the agency while continuing to promote the many opportunities for small businesses to grow and innovate, while also creating a stronger and more sustainable economy.

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