SBDC talks with Steven P. Salsberg, an attorney, entrepreneur, and an appointee by Mayor Bloomberg to the Council on the Environment of New York City.

SBDC: What first steps can small businesses take to take advantage of green market opportunities?
Mr. Salsberg: Environmental responsibility has become an essential value proposition for business. Under current economic conditions, becoming green might seem an overwhelming project beyond the scope of more compelling obstacles. However, greening your business should be a priority as the green economy emerges fueled by the demands of society. We business owners have a responsibility to our customers, employees, investors and suppliers in addition to fulfilling our own goals. However, environmental responsibility is not only morally called for and often good economic sense; your customers will likely demand it. Once you recognize the importance of greening your enterprise you have to go about it in a prudent and cost effective manner. In fact I would encourage you to focus on easy-to-implement low hanging fruit and to allow for cost savings to play a major role in your decision making.

Here are a few how to steps, experts suggest:
1) Create a Green Team, identifying and engaging key players.
2) Conduct an audit or assessment of your carbon imprint, to identify simple ways you can begin to improve.
3) Cultivate relationships and resources around you through networking with other business owners.
4) Be honest about your knowledge or ignorance on the subject and allow yourself to evolve.
5) Seek to monitor, measure and report on any initiative you undertake.

Finally, it is important to know that you are not alone in making your business practices more sustainable and pursuing green market opportunities.

The Council on the Environment for New York City has organized Green Business Summits which endeavor to help businesses navigate these issues. These Summits focus on Attainable-Measurable-Sustainable business practices. They identify easy-to-implement and affordable practices for your enterprise along with resources to help you achieve your goals. They help you measure the success of your business practices so that you can monitor your impact on the environment as well as report your accomplishments to your customers. Finally, they seek to help businesses sustain their efforts by succeeding in the emerging green economy, fostered by the overwhelming influence of a new generation.

Companies should attend the Queens Green Business Summit to learn about attainable, measurable and sustainable business practices and green jobs as well as network with other businesses and join a local living economy and supply chain. For more information on exhibiting, sponsoring or attending this event visit www.queensgreenbusinesssummit.com.