As mums in business, should you consider "going green?"  If so, why and how?

The answer to that question is unequivocally “yes”, and here’s why.

Going green is a lifestyle decision that can help you both as a business owner and the head of a household. If you choose to lead a green lifestyle, you could save money and pick up healthier habits, both of which benefit your employees and your family.

Our children are now being taught about green issues in school, most of them come home fired with enthusiasm and will be very happy to see green changes being introduced around the home and in your business.

But going green is more than just shopping the organic produce at the supermarket. Here are five easy ways you can make the change.

1. Use natural sunlight when possible

   On sunny days, and especially for a few hours in mid-afternoon, it is a great idea to open up the blinds, pull the shades up and turn off the lights. Working by natural light will not only decrease your electricity bills, but it can also ward off depression and release brain chemicals that give you a greater sense of well-being.
   
   

2. Use natural cleaners

   If you’re both a mum and a business owner, you probably want to make sure that your home and work environments are both clean and orderly. One of the steps you can take to also ensure that your employees (and, if you have a home-based business, your family) remain healthy is using natural cleaners instead of the harsh chemicals found in commercial cleaners. Here is where your two roles can be synergised as you search for natural cleaning agents. When you meet with the personnel that clean your office, grab some baking powder from the refrigerator and some vinegar from the cupboard, which when combined make an effective cleaning solution that also has the power to disinfect surfaces.
   

3. Use electronic communication more than hard copies

   One of the nice things about a constantly evolving technological society is the amount of tools that you can use to conduct your business more efficiently. Use instant messenger, video conferencing, and email, for example, in lieu of sending snail mail, faxing hard copies, or burning petrol to travel around. This approach to work will save you time and money, both of which you can use more of to entertain your family outside of work.
   
   

4. Use green electricity

   You may be scratching your head and wondering what, exactly, ‘green’ electricity is. Put simply, good energy is electricity that is generated from renewable sources like wind energy or solar energy. Before you start researching the costs of solar panels, however, you should know that all it takes to use green energy is a simple phone call to an energy provider. If you’re going to search for something, research renewable energy companies in your area to see which one would be a good match for you.
   
   

5. Use less energy

   Here is a tip that can help out at work and at home. Just in case you are the bookkeeper for both your business and your family, it is a good idea to be mindful of how much energy you are using -- and how much is wasted -- in both places. Statistics show that for businesses especially, 20 per cent of the energy consumed on a daily basis is wasted. Ways to waste less energy and bring down your electricity and gas bills include maintaining proper building insulation, adjusting the thermostat by just two degrees, and putting appliances on a power strip to cut off standby power.