New York SBDC Research Network

In addition to 179d, the energy efficient building tax deduction, there are four green building incentives you should know about. These include the Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC), MACRS — Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credits and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing. Read more from Poplar Network .

From ASBDC : It’s not easy being green, or so we’re told, but take a look around your office and consider: How “green” are you? It’s no surprise that an increasing number of companies are working toward becoming more environmentally conscious: constantly introducing programs to reduce both costs and their carbon footprint. Typical areas of opportunity are employee telecommuting, lighting, recycling and paper usage. Here are some suggestions that you might use in your green movement at work.

The Onondaga SBDC, in co-operation with some partners, has initiated a program called the Green Core Company certification, which "provides a blueprint for businesses working to achieve green operations through reduced environmental and social impacts, and recognizes businesses that make a substantial effort to develop a culture of sustainability within their organization; while challenging the offence of 'greenwashing' - the unregulated and improper use of the term and methodology of 'green' for marketing advantage." In other words, it is NOT a self-certification program that allows someone to pay some money to get a sticker for the store logo. The program is currently designed for businesses in the central New York (Syracuse) area, a participatory process involving SBDC clients who want to save money while doing better for the environment.

There are already a number of financial incentives for homeowners and small businesses looking to install energy efficient systems. As I blogged about last week, the Recovery Act looks to enhance and add to the existing programs. To locate financial incentives by state, check out the Database for State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency . Incentives are listed for Federal and State programs, including lists specifically for homeowners. If you’re seriously looking to install a photovoltaic system, NYSERDA offers a Solar Electric ( PV ) System Costs and Savings Calculator . You enter your zip code, your monthly electrical bill, and the size of the system you’d like to install. It will estimate installation costs, and add up the tax credits you could expect to receive. To keep up with how the Recovery Act will affect energy savings programs, sign up for NYSERDA's Economic Stimulus Updates LISTSERV .

Most entrepreneurs have a pretty good idea that they need to know about the bottom line. But which one? Usually, it's the economic bottom line, involving capital, i.e., money. But in recent years, business folks have focused on other bottom lines such as social (people capital) and environment (natural capital). People in this movement use terms such as performance, features, reliability, durability, serviceability, aesthetics, and perceived quality. In this economic climate, an appetite for cheaply-made items with planned obsolence may have come to an end. But brands that provide for a more sustainable future, concerned with health and safety, honesty, doing good as well as convenience, will come to the fore. To that end, the leaders of the Going Green workshop I attended in September recommended these websites: Branding for Sustainability LOHAS - Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability U.S. Green Building Council Pennsylvania Material Trader - a free online service established