In a time when many businesses are in the red, many more are going green.
Companies say "going green" is no longer a trend, but an essential part of business as consumers become more aware of a companies social responsibility.
"Consumers are demanding it," said Eric Woodroof, Ph.D. and owner of Profitable Green Solutions, a company that helps other businesses to reduce their impact on the environment and save money at the same time. Woodroof says his business has boomed in the last five years.
ATCLE, a logistics and electronics company based in Fort Worth, asked Woodroof to help the company "go green."
"Individuals want to work for a company that has social responsibility," said Brian Morris, Director of Engineering at ATCLE.
One year later, the company has reduced its carbon footprint by 10 percent by doing simple things like replacing more than 400 lightbulbs with energy efficient flourescent bulbs, reducing their over electrical load.
Employees then stepped in with their own ideas.
"One of our perks for our employees was we provided bottled water. Employees said, 'Why do we do that? Get rid of it. Go to water coolers or filtered water,'" said Morris.
They did. Doing that saved the company 22,000 kilowatts of electricity per hour, enough to light three small homes.
Woodroof said any business can "go green" and see immediate savings.
"I have not found one who couldn't find 10 percent to 15 percent savings in very cost effective opportunities," said Woodroof.
