Andrew Winston , author of Green Recovery , says going green during the recession is sound business, and may help assure that a company is poised to grow faster during economic recovery. He writes, in the Harvard Business Review , that "greening your business, and involving everyone in the process, can keep people motivated and help your company ride out the storm." I suggest approaching your people on three levels: First, support their efforts at home. Wal-Mart’s Personal Sustainability Project has allowed more than 500,000 workers to make and keep commitments to their planet and to their health by, for example, using less water or biking to work. Second, form “green teams” to harness environmental concern and tackle symbolic eco-waste around the office (for instance, by eliminating plastic water bottles). Third, and most important, encourage workers to move past this base of awareness to focus their energies on the core business. The ultimate goal, especially during a recession, is to improve your company’s performance and competitive position through green strategy. In this video from Harvard Business Publishing , Winston discusses approaches various businesses are demonstrating energy-efficient practices that are innovative and smart business: