Incorporating “green” practices into one’s business is not only smart, it’s responsible. As more consumers demand doing business with companies who show concern for the environment, the more the green movement picks up momentum. When consumers evolve, they bring corporations along with them. Dozens of local businesses have recently taken a step in the green direction, not only for their customer’s sake, but because they truly care about the environment as well. As a result, these businesses are more eco-friendly and environmentally savvy than ever before. From minor changes such as more energy efficient light bulbs to large-scale construction projects, green means business.

“I have begun plugging all of my electronics into large powerstrips, shutting them off at the end of the day to save electricity while no one is in the office,” says Patrice DeNike, GREEN accredited realtor for Charles Rutenberg Realty. “I’ve changed out light bulbs, added a digital, programmable thermostat to save power and now use only recycled paper for marketing materials,” she adds. “With these small things, I’ve noticed a big savings on bills while helping to save the environment.”

Affinity Health & Wellness Center in Waterford Lakes has even gone so far as to offer green products to clients in addition to initiating several environmentally sound procedures in their practice. “Going green just seemed like the obvious choice for us,” says Angela Baldasare, director and patient advocate for Affinity Health & Wellness Center. “We have always been conscious of our product line from a health care stand point, but last summer we made even more transitions in our office to help better protect our guests and our planet.”

First, the office overhauled their skincare products. “They are now all botanical and free of parabens or carcinogens so our facials actually feed your skin the nutrients it needs without any harmful long term repercussions,” she says. Affinity has since moved to natural massage oils and lotions as well.

As for the center itself, they have begun using recycled drinking cups and paper products to help conserve. Affinity has also contracted a company for a natural solution to pest control services and replaced their plastic water bottle service with a filter that taps into the existing plumbing, filtering the water without the need for plastic bottles. “We believe that Mother Nature is one smart cookie and has supplied us with everything we need to keep our environment healthier for our community and our planet as a whole.”

Other local businesses, like Nona Smiles Cosmetic & Modern Dentistry, have built green from the very beginning, utilizing technology to treat patients in a bio-friendly office. “Our office operates with paperless technology, which means that all of your personal, medical and dental information is saved on computer software, eliminating the need of folders, papers for your information, X-ray mounts, filers and [excess] office space,” says Dr. Carlos Melendez of Nona Smiles. The practice also uses digital radiography, meaning there are no harmful photochemicals, radiation or lead and no wastes such as fixers, developers and cleaners for X-rays. “We also use an oil-free air compressor to get the oil out of the dental rooms and use an oil and water-free dry dental vacuum that reduces the water consumption,” he says.

Going green from the beginning also extends to Atonement Church, currently located on Lake Underhill Road. By fall of 2009 they hope to be in their new green building in Vista Lakes. The facility has an R value of 46 on the walls and more than 50 on the roof, meaning it will have incredibly effective and efficient insulation, resulting in less heat loss, less energy consumed and a smaller carbon footprint. “We will also have cisterns to catch roof water that will withstand 200 m.p.h. winds. There are even more features in the second phase,” says Reverend Doctor Harold G. Banks, pastor of Atonement Church.

Conserving for tomorrow can start small or it can start large, but what’s important to these business owners and many consumers around East Orlando alike is that it starts. No matter what the reasoning, we are witnessing an evolution in green consumer needs and the business world’s ability to deliver. What better place than here?

Article by Corey Gehrold