Small business owners are thinking green, according to a recent bi-partisan survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Research and American Viewpoint, on behalf of Small Business Majority, We Can Lead and American Businesses for Clean Energy.
The 800-person poll found that small business owners are in strong support for clean energy and climate legislation, with 61 percent of respondents saying that clean energy technology is a way to restart the economy and foster job growth. Fifty-eight percent of small business owners think that adopting innovative clean energy policies will strengthen the economy and they want to be included in that transformation.
Devices such as energy-efficient lightbulbs, green HVAC systems and mercury-free HDMI projectors are some of the latest items that businesses are investing in to cut long-term costs and become more eco-friendly.
"The research shows that small business owners want action on clean energy, which they believe will strengthen the country's economy," said John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority.
Aresenmayer added that most talk of clean energy policy comes from large businesses, but the poll's results suggest that smaller businesses are excited to join the discussion.
In a recent Regus survey, only 9 percent of American small businesses monitor their carbon footprint compared to 31 percent of larger businesses. In addition, only 22 percent of small- and medium-sized businesses have invested in low-carbon equipment, which is less than half the percentage of larger businesses.
