by Diane MacEachern, www.biggreenpurse.com, and author: Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World

Whether you’re trying to survive or thrive in this economy, going green makes sense. There may be no faster way to save money and stay in business. And in most cases, the steps you take require very little new investment – just smart thinking and some planning ahead. These suggestions will help you get started.

1. Flip the switch. Turn off computers, printers, monitors, fax machines, desk lamps, overhead lights, the coffee pot, and almost anything else with a cord. If you’ll be gone for more than two hours, turn the entire computer off. If you’re just taking a break for 20 minutes or less, it’s still worthwhile to turn off your monitor. The more machines you have plugged into energy-saving power strips, the easier it will be to turn everything off at the end of the day. Doing so could shave as much as 50 percent off your energy bill.
2. Print less. Circulate rought drafts of documents electronically; print only the final version. Print double-sided to cut paper use – and costs -- in half. Add a green e-mail signature reminding people not to print unnecessarily (Some faves:  “Think before you print” and “Please consider the planet before printing this e-mail.”) A printing program like Green Print http://www.printgreener.com/enterprise.html will flag wasted space and extra pages and save you as much as 17% a year on total printing expenses. Use a program like efax.com or myfax.com to send faxes electronically. E-mail a newsletter rather than mail a hard copy. You’ll save money not only on paper, but on postage, too.
3. Share. Does everyone need his own stapler, scissors, tape dispenser, and three-hole punch? Keep infrequently used supplies in a location accessible to all so employees don’t need their own cluttering up their workspaces.
4. Trash throwaways. Why throw your money away on disposable coffee cups, plastic cutlery and paper plates? Invest once in a reusable mug, branded with the company logo, for every employee and keep a few extra around for visitors. You can buy very inexpensive but durable silverware and plates, too.
5. Keep the upgrades down. Avoid the cost of upgrading to new computers and other electronics by giving existing equipment a regular tune-up. Defrag http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question548.htm to increase speed; add more memory as needed. Vacuum out the dust and clean the fans. Replace outdated software you never use with cool options you can download. If you think you want a new computer, get a new LCD monitor instead. They’re cheaper than a whole new computer system and a lot more energy-efficient than the old CRT monitors. Bonus: research shows that larger, sharper monitors actually increase worker productivity.
6. Buy recycled. Using paper made from post-consumer recycled material is a no brainer. But how about ink printer and toner cartridges http://www.eco-inkjets.com/ , which can be as much as 15% cheaper than first-use brand name models?
7. Meet online. We’re not talking dating here. Reduce employee travel costs by meeting with clients online; it’s free if you use Skype. Letting employees telecommute to work one or two days a week will reduce your overhead, especially if two telecommuting employees can share the same workspace.
8. Nix bottled water. Most bottled water is just tap water anyway. If you’re worried about quality, put a filter on your tap, and let employees and visitors fill up their own mugs or glasses at no cost to you or them.
9. Make every day casual day. Well, okay, this one may not impact your bottom line that much. But it will save your employees money if they can wear wash-and-wear clothing rather than more professional attire that needs to be dry cleaned. And who wouldn’t rather wear blue jeans or khakis than dress pants? Cost to you? Zero. Benefit for employees? Priceless.