Thanks to the stimulas plan which poured billions into the energy space, the green movement is a place to be for entrepreneurs.  With many government incentives and positive public sentiment, socially responsible entrepreneurs are in demand.   Opportunity #3 can easily take on many different meanings, so let’s define what we mean by Green.  Unlike alternative energy that can be defined and put into a box, “going green” or for the green social entrepreneurs, any business built based on increased social responsibility related to caring for the environment, can be considered Green.  The assessment of this opportunity provides a quick perspective about the differences between alternative energy opportunities and green opportunities while outlining how entrepreneurs can enter the ever growing space.

What is Green?

For the record, according to the Alternative Energy Institute, alternative energy can be defined as energy sources that are renewable, “free”, have no undesired consequences and have lower carbon emissions, compared to conventional energy sources (including Biomass Energy, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Energy sources).  Green opportunities as stated earlier don’t fall into a box that’s so easily defined.  According to Scott Coney, a noted authority on Ecopreneurism (I didn’t make that up!) Green Opportunities can be grouped into the following categories:
 
I.  Cleaning Service Businesses
1. Perc-free Dry Cleaner
2. Solar Laundromat
3. Waterless Car Washes

II.  Ecotourism and Related Services
1. Ecotourism Operation
2. Green Bed and Breakfast
3. Ecotransport Rental Service

III.  Entertainment & Events
1. Organic Foods Caterer
2. Wedding and Event Planner

IV.  Home/Office Service Businesses
1. Carpet and Floor Cleaning
2. Floor Installation, Pool and Spa Cleaning and Maintenance
3. Home and Office Cleaning
4. Landscaping Design and Installation
5. Organic Garden Creation and Maintenance

V.  Manufacturing and Wholesale Production
1. Biodiesel Cooperative
2. Gift Basket Service
3. Organic Farm
4. Plastic Recycling
5. Composting
6. Urban Farming and Permaculture

VI.  Personal Services
1. Fitness Training and Diet Planning
2. Green Real Estate Brokerage
3. Organic Food Delivery Services
4. Sustainable Foods Prep and Cooking Instruction
5. Sustainable Travel Planner
6. EcoConcierge and Relocation Specialist

VII.  Publishing, Local Media & Related Business
1. Green Product Catalog Producer
2. Publication Distribution Service
3. Free Magazine
4. Local TV and Radio
5. Community Newspaper
6. Green Blog

VIII.  Retail Food & Food Services
1. Organic Community Supported Agriculture
2. Farmer’s Market
3. Mobile Food Vendor
4. Free-Range, Organic Fresh-Mex Restaurant
5. Organic Coffee Shop
6. Organic Juice and Smoothie Bar
7. Organic Pizzeria
8. Raw Food Bar
9. Sustainable Buffet Style Restaurant
10. Sustainable Fast Food
11. Vegan Cafe
12. Food Co-op

IX.  Retail Non-food Operations
1. Organic Day Spa
2. Alternative Transportation Retail Store
3. Aveda Concept Salon
4. Commuter Bike Shop
5. Consignment Store–Women’s Clothing
6. Consignment Store–Kids Clothes and Toys
7. Consignment Store–Furniture
8. Consignment Store–Sporting Goods and/or Outdoor Gear
9. Edible and Organic Floristry
10. Floor Products
11. Green Building Supply Store
12. Building Product Salvage Store
13. Green Product Retail Store
14. Native and Organic Plant Nursery
15. Sustainable Printing Solutions Retail Store
16. Used Book Exchange
17. Kids’ Clothing, Apparel, and Toys
18. Car Sharing Service

X.  Services to Businesses and NonProfits
1. Fundraiser and Grant Writer
2. Green PR
3. Independent Sales Representative
4. Restaurant Delivery Service
5. Specialty Advertising
6. Energy Efficiency Auditing
7. Carbon Offsets
8. Green Job Training

XI.  Alternative Energy
1. Community Wind Power Development
2. Geothermal Developer

XII.  Green Building
1. Green Remodeling
2. Flipping Houses
3. Carpentry
4. Green Architecture
5. HVAC Contracting
6. Electrician
7. Co-Housing
8. Sustainable Roofing

XIII.  Financial
1. Green Venture Capitalist
2. Green Investing and Financial Planning
4. Community Bank, Savings and Loan, Loan Funds
5. Community Micro-loans

 
What’s Executable Now

With the tax incentives for green energy related initiatives out there, which of these opportunities are ripe for 2010?  Let’s pick out those that might be executable for this year:

1. Green Building: The government is providing sizable incentives for contractors to help home owners and businesses (with buildings) weatherize their assets.  Weatherization doesn’t just include making sure the doors and windows are insulated, it includes all of the items listed in opportunity # 12.  This is a great opportunity to purchase blighted housing in an urban area and bring it back from the brink.  You’ll kill three birds with one stone: Community Development for the city you live in, a sustainable business or a least a profitable project for you and a great place to live or purchase for an up and coming family!  Here is a link to tax credit info for the government: http://www.business.gov/expand/green-business/energy-efficiency/get-started/tax-credits.html

2. Solar Services (Laundromat or Dry Cleaner):  Although the cost of solar is still expensive, combining federal tax credits with state or local credits, might help this deal pencil.  In addition to federal resources, New Orleans, Louisiana is offering special incentives to push solar: http://www.solarpowernola.com/ This is an opportunity that has staying power!

3. Home & Office Service Businesses:  Anything in this space that uses updated equipment to clean the air and provide better maintenance and easier upkeep has potential.  This can be an opportunity to enter an area where there is competition and “borrow” their customers for a while…a long while!  See these federal and state/local tax credit links.

4. Personal Services, Products & Guidance: In this opportunity, I am combining #’s 6, 7, 8 & 9.  The basic opportunity is to educate consumers on how to live healthier and more socially responsible lives.  Yeah, I know – it’s soft and fluffy, but someone will make a ton of money down this path.

5. Green Energy:  While opportunity #11 requires a lot more capital than the previous three, with tax credits like those from the feds and state/local there is a great opportunity for an entrepreneur to figure it out.   For more information on wind and natural gas opportunities, see the Pickens Plan.

The best thing about the green era is that we are on the ground floor.  Due to the power of technology, we’ll have many opportunities in this space.  And remember, if it were easy everyone would do it…don’t forget you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!  If you missed the count down to this, one, be sure to see them: Ten – Entertainment, Nine – Franchises, Eight – Home Schooling, Seven – Digital Signage, Six – Baby Boomers, Five – Business Process Improvement and Four – International Trade.  Until next time…

-Heath