Alternative Energy

Guide to Alternative Energy Sources for Small Business

Businesses can save money and help the environment by opting for eco-friendly ways to keep the lights on.
By Meagan Francis

It's not always easy being green. The myriad clean energy options available for fueling electricity, heating, and cooling systems can be confusing – and require significant up-front investment. But you can save money using renewable energy sources over the long term and gain peace of mind that your business will leave a lighter footprint on the Earth.

Currently there are three widely-available sources of small-scale alternative energy in the United States:

1. Solar power, sometimes called photovoltaic power.
2. Wind energy.
3. Water, or hydro power.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Soak up the sun Solar energy is a safe, eco-friendly and free power source that's abundant in many climates.

I recommend:  Bitterroot Solar offers a range of pre-assembled solar power systems for a variety of power needs.

Harness the wind Renewable and clean, the wind can also lower your energy costs. And thanks to new technology, you don't have to have a huge windmill or live in a constantly-gusty area to capture its power.

I recommend:  The Skystream 3.7 wind generator, a smaller, more efficient version of the windmill, will allow businesses with as little as half an acre of property to use the wind's power to generate electricity.

Tap into rivers and streams If your business is situated near running water, a micro-hydropower system is a possible earth-friendly energy source

I recommend:  Energy Systems & Design offers several small-scale hydropower products and information on how and why to use them.

Get a tax break Reducing energy consumption in buildings, buying solar equipment and other green business decisions can reduce your tax bill.

I recommend:  Get a complete list of tax breaks from the Tax Incentives Assistance Project.

Keep informed The technology and availability of renewable and clean energy sources is always changing and developing. Subscribe to a publication that specialized in alternative energy so you'll stay in the know.

I recommend:  Sign up for the free weekly newsletter at GreenBiz.com for updated information on earth-friendly business practices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Research the energy companies in your area. An increasing number of clean power generators, providing energy from renewable sources, are entering the competitive market and may be available in your state.
• Using trees, grasses, plants and other organic materials to create fuel, heat, and electricity — known as biomass or bioenergy — is an emerging option in the United States.
• Small-scale solar/wind hybrid systems are becoming increasingly available and allow you to take advantage of occasional strong winds or direct sunlight, even if your climate isn't always sunny or windy.
• If you can't use alternative energy throughout your business, consider making small but significant changes. Even laptop computers can now operate by solar power.