"Going Green"- The idea of lowering the impact on the environment is seeping into the psyche of businesses. Colorado is no exception, boasting some exciting new businesses that will continue to grow our economy while minimizing it's environmental footprint.

The cost of doing green business"There's no point of talking about what it's going to be like in 10 years and what are we going to do, this is something we can do now as businesses that can help," said Christopher Cotter.

Cotter is the director of sustainable energy for Denver based Metro Taxi. The cab company recently added 10 hybrids to its traditional fleet of Crown Victorias and min-vans.

Businesses big and small pioneer the green movement in the west as well.  Big Blue goes green - IBM opens new $350M green data center in Boulder
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jun/17/ibm-opens-350m-green-data-center/" target="_blank" title="Big Blue Goes Green">Read Full Article

The University of Colorado "the green university" announced new green start up businesses in Colorado. In September 2007, the university announced that Professor W.S. Sampath, a mechanical engineering professor, had created the patented technology for manufacturing low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels, potentially providing light and power for billions in the underdeveloped world. To build the panels, AVA Solar Inc. will start production by the end of this year on a new 200-megawatt factory, expected to employ up to 500 people. Based on the average household usage, 200 megawatts will power 40,000 U.S. homes. Produced at less than $1 per watt, the panels will dramatically reduce the cost of generating solar electricity and could power homes and businesses around the globe with clean energy for roughly the same cost as traditionally generated electricity. http://www.green.colostate.edu/startups.aspx" target="_blank" title="Colorado Green Businesses">Read About More Businesses By Clicking Here 

In Boulder County, Colorado new legislation requires that all houses bigger than 3,000 square feet must offset 50 per cent of their energy consumption with on-site generation.

Going green is not without challenges and Eileen Keenan outlined a few of them.  She cited a shortage of skilled labour along with an inability to keep up with current demand. In addition, there is the well-known industry aversion to new technologies and this was exacerbated by the leaky condo disaster a decade or more ago. There is, she said, only limited mid-career training for industry professionals wishing to become more involved in sustainable design and building.

In addition, said Keenan, green building consultants who provide outsourced green building documentation services are working beyond capacity and are turning away nearly 90 per cent of inquiries.

Despite the obstacles, there is no need for speculation - environmentally friendly business and green construction will be a standard in our society.