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How to Start a Green Home-Based Business

Do you long to make a positive impact in the planet doing what you love? Are you concerned about the damage to our health and environment created by many of the products and services we use? Do you want to be part of the solution, while being your own boss? Then why not consider starting a green home business to start a new life journey feeling fulfilled and happy with your career?

What is a Green Home-Based Business?

At its very core, a green home-based business is business that is run from your own home that is focused on making the world a more sustainable place. That means whatever you do – whether you produce products or offer services or consult with businesses or homeowners – your goal should be to make the planet cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant. Concepts like reducing energy consumption, cutting pollution and toxicity, minimizing water waste, and reducing resource consumption will all be part of your vocabulary as a green business owner.

Many businesses do not require brick and mortar storefronts, or downtown offices. Web innovation has made it easy to create a virtual office environment and have all employees telecommute. Tools like Google Docs make online collaboration easy, Skype allows video conferencing, Teambox or Basecamp are great for project management and the HiveDesk desktop application allows workers to clock in and out, and run reports on their hours. By running your business from your home office, you will significantly reduce your environmental footprint just by not commuting, and save you tons of money by not having to rent commercial office space.

Consumer interest in sustainability and natural living has never been higher, so now’s a great time to be thinking about how you can put your unique skills and interests into creating a green home-based business that’s great for your bottom line and awesome for the planet.

The Green Startup Action Plan is our detailed guide to helping aspiring eco entrepreneurs start a green business. The Green Startup Action Plan comes with an audio guide and a workbook designed to walk you through the process of clarifying your green business idea, writing your business plan, finding funding, and getting your business off the ground.

7 Steps to Starting a Green Business At Home

1. Anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and marketable skills can start a home based business. Research your green business idea. To start a business, you need to know if the market wants what you have to offer. You also need to research if your target market has money to buy your product or service. You also be really clear about what you are good at doing, what you love to do, since, chances are, you will be working a lot to get your business off the ground in the first 2 years. If you are great at accounting, but kind of hate it, definitely don’t go into business as certified green accountant, because it will start to feel like a job. If you need inspiration, check out our list of 50 green business ideas below.
2. Get trade licenses, certification & training. Depending on what kind of business you going into, and where you are, you may need trade licenses, training and certification in order to operate. You may also consider getting some form of green certification, as this will increase the level of trust around the green-ness of your business. Green America and the Green Business Bureau are 2 organizations that certify green businesses. As you go through the green certification process, you may learn new ways of lowering the eco footprint of your home based business.
3. Write a business plan. A business plan is a good way to think through your business and all the important areas you will need to address if you want your business to be viable – things like as your marketing plan, your financial projections, your team or board of directors. You don’t need to create a huge business plan, and make it creating the perfect plan doesn’t become an obstacle to launching your business – because your plan will change. Make sure your Executive Summary is rock solid. If you are self financing, the business plan is a great exercise, but not something to get hung up on. If you are seeking financing for your business, however, either via angel or VC investors, grants or a bank loan, you will need to present a compelling business plan as part of the application process.
4. Apply for a business permit or incorporate. Some fields allow you to Do Business As (DBA) yourself. Other types of businesses may require a local business permit or even business zoning. You will need to research your local business requirements on your city or state website. While it’s possible to operate your business as a sole proprietor, for asset protection reasons, it may be best to incorporate as an LLC, S-Corp or C-Corp. If you are operating as a sole proprietor, your personal assets can be at risk if you are held liable for debts or damages incurred by your business. You will need to research what business structure makes the most sense for you.
5. Set up your home office. It’s a great idea to create a space dedicated entirely to your business related activities. You can also write this area off as a business expense, though you will need to check with your accountant, as there may be requirements as to what kind of spaces qualify – for example, that your office is indeed a separate room with a door, as opposed to the corner of your living room.
6. Create a website. Having a business website is a must for all businesses as it is your virtual calling card. It is considerably cheaper to set up a website than it is to print a brochure, and you can update it whenever you want without worrying about having to recycle your last print run. Make sure, when you build your website, to build it with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. Never underestimate the power of web traffic. Most consumers begin researching the products or services they need in places like Google and Yelp, so you want to makes sure the website you build has strong search engine visibility for keywords relevant to your industry and is listed in all the right places.
7. Market your new green business. Now that you have written your business plan, raised funding, gotten any necessary licenses, training, and certification, and established a web presence, now it’s time to market your business and get customers. SEO is a must, as search engine traffic is a powerful way to attract customers. While SEO traffic can take time, energy, and resources to build up, it’s long term ROI is better than any paid advertising campaign, because, eventually it becomes free, keyword targeted traffic. Web advertising is the best way to market your business as it is considerably cheaper than placing print ads AND you will have immediate metrics that indicate to you how your advertising is doing. The cheapest and easiest way to market your business, is to get listed on Yelp.com and other local directories, Google Places – if you are a brick and mortar business – so you show up in Google Maps, and using social media sites like Facebook & Twitter. Facebook advertising is considerably cheaper than Google Adwords. Setting up a Facebook Business Page and Twitter account are free.

If you need help getting your green business idea off the ground, sign up for our Green Startup mailing list below, and receive the Green Startup Action Plan as a free gift. The Green Startup Action Plan will walk you through the process of visioning your green business idea, writing your business plan, finding funding, and getting your business off the ground.

50 Green Home Business Ideas

If you’re like many people, you’re having a hard time envisioning what would count as a green home-based business. Well, have we got a list for you! Following are 50 green home business ideas you can scan to see if any are the right fit for you. Even if there isn’t a perfect match, many of these ideas will trigger you to think of unique and interesting spin-offs that could be the perfect fit for your interests and abilities.

Eco-friendly consignment shop
Eco-friendly wedding dress designer
Permaculture design business
Green toy maker
Upcycling business
Organic herb business
Green online business
Green home audit company
Sustainable architecture firm
Green game designer
Green app creator
Sustainable home builder
Community supported agriculture association
Energy financing company
Building deconstruction consulting
Home hydroponic system designer
Eco-friendly crafts creator
Green building audit company
Nontoxic cleaning product sales
Home cleaning services
Sustainable landscape design
Eco-friendly pool maintenance
Sustainable janitorial services
Vegetarian or organic meal service company
Organic bakery
Home garden consultant
Detoxify your home specialist
Green candle making
Green home business through Etsy
Natural massage therapy business
Organic orchard business
Natural, organic gift basket business
Bicycle repair business
Biofuel vehicle conversion business
Vegetable oil refining business (for fuel)
Green interior design business
Organic beekeeping business
Green event planning business
Organic lawn care business
Sustainable wedding planning business
Composting consultant business
Natural pet care and grooming services
Virtual assistant work
Eco-friendly dog walking service
Accounting services
Legal services
Home improvement
Building retrofitting
Water saving consultant
Graphic design

Green home-based businesses, as you can see, come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you offer services, sell a product, or consult based on your expertise, there’s a green home business idea out there that is the perfect fit for you.

If you need help getting your green business idea off the ground, sign up for our Green Startup mailing list below, and receive the Green Startup Action Plan as a free gift. The Green Startup Action Plan will walk you through the process of visioning your green business idea, writing your business plan, finding funding, and getting your business off the ground.

Green Affiliate Marketing Guide

Affiliate marketing is the main source of income for many blogs. This is a simple way in which merchants reward marketers for any product sold through their affiliate link. The affiliate marketer will promote the product or service from a merchant, and on a successful sale, they will get a commission. The business has four main players – the merchant who is the retailer, the affiliate network, the affiliate or the marketer and the customer.

Affiliate marketers apply internet marketing strategies to spread the word to their audience. These strategies include optimizing a website for the search engine, pay-per-click campaigns, email marketing, and display/banner ads. There are also other affiliates who apply unorthodox methods such as spamming, fake reviews and parasite hosting.

Why Start Affiliate Marketing as a Green Merchant

If you are an eco-friendly merchant, you should never miss out on the chance to start an affiliate program to promote your products. Having a team of marketers each working separately to get customers to you will allow you to expand fast. Below are the top reasons why you should consider affiliate marketing:
• Create employment: With affiliate marketing, a team of marketers relies on your products to earn commissions. As the marketers earn commissions, you sell your products and get a chance to grow your business. This way, you play a part in helping the community prosper.
• Increase brand recognition: You might not get conversions, but people will recognize your brand. Even if you fail to make the sale the first time, you have a chance to sell the next time.
• It is Cost-effective: Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways of getting people to know your products. If no sale is made, you do not have to pay anything to the marketers. This is better than conventional marketing where you pay in the hope that you will get traffic to your site.

How to Choose a Green Affiliate Network

Most merchants list their businesses on multiple affiliate networks to increase the chances of the business being seen. Nevertheless, it is important to research the different affiliate networks to get the best for your business. You should consider:
• Fees required
• The niche the market represents
• Payment terms
• Customer service availability

Green Affiliate Marketing with Discounts to Join

Performance-Based.com is the brainchild of Warren Fligg, a marketing guru who has been in the business since late 90’s. Warren uses his network to market green products by partnering with merchants and retailers with green products.

The idea to start a green affiliate marketing network came up when Warren and his wife were preparing a nursery for their unborn baby. Warren realized that all the chemicals they used could be unhealthy for the baby and he decided to be part of a solution. This is when he started his affiliate marketing to promote products that are organic, eco-friendly or green. In his affiliate marketing, he only focuses on products that are considered safe for the users and safe for the environment.

Warren offers discounts for all signups for a limited time. Merchants with green and eco-friendly products can get them promoted for less. Use the code Green Me Today when signing upon and you could get a discount off the registration amount.

How To Start an Eco-Friendly Auto Repair Shop

Cars and trucks are blamed for many of the world’s most serious environmental problems, from global warming to the oil spill in the Gulf. But though there are growing efforts to reduce automobile use through smarter urban design, alternative transportation methods, and more, cars and trucks are not disappearing from the roads anytime soon. It’s therefore important to reduce their environmental impact.
Believe it or not, one of the simplest way to reduce the environmental impact of cars and trucks (and save money at the gas pump!) is to keep them well-maintained. Auto repair shops can therefore play a significant role in reducing the environmental impact of driving.

If you love both cars and the environment, a great green business opportunity is opening an eco-friendly auto repair shop.

Eco-friendly auto repair shops work to reduce both the environmental impact of the cars and trucks they repair, and to reduce the impact of the shop itself.

Making Cars Greener

Eco-friendly auto repair shops offer tune-ups designed to improve gas mileage and lengthen the working life of your automobile, conserving resources. They emphasis repairing, rather than replacing, damaged parts whenever possible, and help customers choose eco-friendly products such as non-toxic paints for the auto body.

Some eco-friendly auto repair shops specialize in servicing eco-friendly cars such as hybrids and electric cars. Some also assist with diesel conversions in preparation for using eco-friendly biodiesel.
Many eco-friendly auto repair shops place a high premium on customer education, and may even offer classes teaching basic auto repair and maintenance with a focus on improving gas mileage and reducing emissions.

Making Auto Repair Shops Greener

There are also a number of ways auto repair shops themselves can go green. A few ideas include:
* Recycling used motor oil
* Using non-toxic degreasers
* Ensuring that there is no runoff of oil or other toxic materials into street or storm drains
* Using green building materials for the shop and office
* Purchasing wind or solar-generated electricity to power the shop
* Using recycled paper and eco-friendly inks to print brochures and other advertising materials

Three Eco-Friendly Auto Repair Shops Making Cars Greener

San Francisco-based Luscious Garage is an auto repair shop that’s put careful thought into every aspect of running the shop in order to make it as green as possible. The shop specializes in hybrid vehicles and does everything from brewing their own non-toxic windshield wash to using solar-powered, energy efficient tools and appliances to reducing, reusing, and recycling everything possible with the eventual goal of producing zero waste. Luscious Garage also places more focus on people than most garages – the open workshop allows owners to watch the repairs being done on their cars, while a comfortable waiting room offers free Wi-Fi, a library of books, and a children’s area with toys and games.

Green Garage, which has locations in Boulder and Fort Collins, CO, is another thoughtful eco-friendly garage that puts a lot of effort into reducing the environmental impact of both the garage and the cars it services. Green Garage offers free valet pick-up and drop-off services and a full line of services, including both routine maintenance and emergency repair, as well as specialty green tune-ups designed to improve gas mileage and performance while minimizing toxins and waste.

ShopHonest-1 Auto Care bills itself as the nation’s first eco-friendly auto case chain, and it has locations in Oregon, Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, Florida, and more. In addition to a full line of traditional services, Honest-1 offers a Eco-Tune-Up that includes a 21 point inspection, tire pressure evaluation, spark plug replacement, and more. Like Luscious Garage, Honest-1 places a premium on comfortable, family-friendly waiting rooms, including children’s play areas, complimentary internet, and clean restrooms.

How To Start a Car-Sharing Business

It might be easier to buy a car because the price is one-off, but the expenses that come with owning a car turn many people off. A car attracts gas, insurance, maintenance and taxes among other costs. Even worse, car owners will pay for parking each day and if bought on loan, pay for interest on loans taken to buy a car.
With the above expenses, people are using public transportation more. Even with public transport, there is a day that you might absolutely be in need of a car. That is why people look for other transportation options. Besides rental cars, you can turn to a car sharing company. This is a way to cut the cost of owning, leasing or renting a car.

How Does Car-Sharing Work?

With car sharing, an individual pays a yearly fee to the car sharing company. This fee gives them access to a fleet of shared cars whenever they need them. Most car-sharing companies require you to make reservations on an hourly or a daily basis. The rates fall between $5 and $15 per hour for a shared car. This is the cost that goes towards fuel, cleaning, insurance, and maintenance. After paying the required fees, all the car expenses are taken care of by the car-sharing company.

By using a shared car, an individual saves money. This also benefits the environment seeing that the number of vehicles on the road is reduced. A single shared car takes the place of about eight private cars. Since the car sharing company needs to save money, they will only offer fuel efficient cars or hybrid cars to their clients.

Starting a Car-Share Business

Not all car sharing businesses are for profit; some are non-profit. A good example of a non-profit car-share business is the San Francisco CarShare program.

To start a Car-Sharing business, high initial costs are incurred. These costs cater for buying, registering and insuring cars. However, a car-sharing company is highly profitable with good marketing.
A car-sharing business should be marketed to three groups of people:
• People living in the city and do not need cars frequently. This saves them money.
• College students
• Business owners who need to cut down costs of owning a car

Top Car Sharing Companies Helping People Cut Down Car Ownership Costs

Connect by Hertz

This is a car sharing company operating in France, Canada, Germany, UK, Spain and the US. In the US, the company operates in more than 20 cities and also operates on college campuses. To serve their clients better, the business has a fleet of cars including Toyota Camry, BMW Mini, and Toyota Prius.

ZipCar

Zipcar is the biggest car-sharing firm in the world. It is highly widespread, making it the most popular in the US, UK, and Canada. In the US, the company serves more than 50 cities and more than 100 colleges. Besides cars for individuals and college students, Zipcar runs a corporate car-share program as well. They have partnered with ZimRide, a social ridesharing network, to ensure that the impact on the environment is significantly reduced.

Business Exotic Car Share

This is a car-sharing business that offers luxury car sharing alone. If you find it expensive to own a luxury car and you need one once in a while, Business Exotic Car Share offers you the experience of driving one. They have cars such as Ferrari 355F1 Spider, Corvette Z51 Convertible, and Dodge Viper GTS Coupe.

Marine Stewardship Council: Sustainable Seafood for Everyone

Fishing is one of the most important sources of food for people around the world, and provides a livelihood for an estimated 200 million people around the world. Unfortunately, 69% of the world’s fish stocks are in decline due to a combination of factors including overfishing and destructive fishing practices, water pollution and habitat destruction, and climate change.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a non-profit social enterprise that seeks to promote sustainable fishing practices by educating the public about the importance of making sustainable seafood choices and providing rewards and recognition for fisheries, seafood companies, and other suppliers practicing sustainable fishing and fishery management.

The MSC was inspired by the collapse of the legendary Northern Cod Fishery of Canada. In the 15th and 16th centuries, early European explorers of the region spoke of seas so thick with fish that no nets were necessary to catch them, only a basket lowered over the side of the boat. In the 1950′s factory fishing of the Northern Cod Fishery began with massive super trawlers that took 8 million tons of cod over the next 15 years, the same amount taken in over 100 years between 1647 and 1750. By 1991, cod stocks were down to 1% of their 1960s numbers, and a moratorium was declared on cod fishing in the area. Nearly 20 years later, little improvement has been seen in cod populations, and scientists believe that the ecosystem may have changed too much for the population to ever recover.

The MSC seeks to prevent disasters such as the collapse of the Northern Cod Fishery from ever happening again, and ensure a diverse, plentiful, and sustainable harvest of fish for many generations to come.

What They Do

msc certified sustainable seafood Marine Stewardship Council: Sustainable Seafood for EveryoneMSC’s flagship program is its Marine Stewardship Council ecolabel, which provides a fast, easy way for consumers to recognize sustainably harvested seafood in stores and markets. In order to receive the MSC label, fisheries must demonstrate:
Good condition of the fish stock(s)

Minimal impact of the fishery on the marine ecosystem

Before any seafood can carry the MSC label, every company in the supply chain, from boat to plate, must be certified. This is known as “Chain of Custody” certification, and it ensures the traceability of the product, which helps combat mislabeling and illegal fishing, both serious problems in the seafood industry. The traceability of MSC-labeled seafood ensures that consumers are truly getting what they pay for when they purchase fish certified sustainable by the MSC. MSC Chain of Custody certification is valid for three years, at which point the company is reassessed to ensure that their commitment to sustainable seafood has been upheld and their seafood continues to be harvested in sustainable ways and at sustainable rates.

Other projects include outreach to fisheries and seafood companies to encourage and reward more sustainable practices, education programs for schools to teach children about the importance of sustainable seafood, and programs focusing on teaching fishermen in the developing world about sustainable fishing practices.

How You Can Help

The most important step is to buy Marine Stewardship Council Certified Sustainable Seafood and spread the word among your family and friends about the importance of sustainable seafood.

If you work in the seafood industry as a fisher, chef, grocer, or supplier, consider seeking MSC certification for your business to let consumers know that you practice and support sustainable seafood harvesting. The MSC also welcomes comments from concerned citizens and other on fisheries under consideration for certification.
Finally, consider making a donation to support the good work of the MSC.

To learn more about the Marine Stewardship Council, its ecolabel, and its other programs, please visit the official website at MSC.org.

How To Start a Green Cleaning Service

If you are looking to make a difference in the community by keeping the environment safe, a green cleaning service is a great business idea. This is because the demand for green cleaning services is increasing each day with homeowners, hoteliers, and other businesses wanting to keep the air clean and stay in safe environments. This demand is driven by several reasons and concerns regarding the commonly used cleaning products, methods, and services.

Top Reasons to Start a Green Cleaning Business

Conventional cleaning products are not safe for the environment. They are formulated with substances such as formaldehyde, chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric acid, which make them produce unhealthy fumes. These fumes pollute indoor air and leave toxic residues on the cleaned surfaces. Most of these toxins are associated with skin infections, respiratory infections, reproductive and neurological disorders, poisoning and cancer among others.

When ingested, the chemicals are even more harmful. In a home where there are children and pets, the risk of ingesting these chemicals is high. Those with chemical insensitivities and allergies are more affected. Employees and cleaners are hurt by these chemicals; an estimated 6 percent every year.

When poured down the drains, these chemicals pollute the environment seeing that they are not easy to treat. They, therefore, end up pollute marine life and contaminate water meant for consumption. By incorporating these into your company’s services, you not only help conserve the environment but also make profits providing essential services to those who want their homes clean through eco-friendly ways.

Common Products Needed for Green Cleaning

The idea behind green cleaning is to use products that are safe for the users and for the environment. These products should be non-toxic and biodegradable. In retail shops, the products feature a Green Seal. Green Seal is a non-profit company that works independently to certify that different products are eco-friendly. These products include cleaning supplies. The organization has set out a set of standards for environmental and human beings safety.

Some popular green cleaning product brands include Earth Friendly Products, Seventh Generation, and Green Works. Some green cleaners will use home-based cleaning products. The home-based products are gentle and feature natural ingredients such as citric acid, vinegar, essential oils, baking soda, and glycerin.
Vacuums used by eco-friendly cleaning services are fitted with HEPA filters to enhance the quality of indoor air. Instead of toxic chemicals, the services offer steam cleaning for rugs. Besides their cleaning products and equipment, green cleaning services use energy efficient equipment and use green printing services.

Top Three Green Cleaning Services

Main Brigade

This is a nationwide green cleaning business service offering a full range of cleaning services for homes. The business runs a website, Green Clean Certified, where they offer educational videos and other information on eco-friendly cleaning and the dangers of conventional cleaning. They show you how the conventional cleaning products affect your health and how you can find alternative cleaning supplies.

The Cleaning Authority

This is another popular eco-friendly cleaning company using Green Seal certified products, microfiber rags, and HEPA filter vacuums. Microfiber rags are highly durable resulting in fewer replacements. The rags also clean better by capturing dirt and dust in their fibers rather than spreading the dirt. The business uses Detail-Clean Rotation System, offering a spotlessly clean home with less waste.

Green Hawaii Cleaning

This cleaning service is based at Big Island in Hawaii. Given the special tropical climate in Hawaii, houses need special care to ensure there is no mold growth. The business offers power washing services and a variety of homes and small business cleaning services. With Hawaii being a popular tourist destination, the business also offers check-in and check-out cleaning. They mix their own cleaning supplies using tea tree oil and lavender among other essential oils.

Green Business Tools Made Easy: MotleyGreen.com

There’s a new way for businesses large and small to pursue green business practices, and it’s MotleyGreen.com. Offering a complete platform for businesses to target facility costs, productivity costs, employee health costs, and sustainability costs from one source, MotleyGreen.com is a quick, pain-free for a company to adopt a sustainability plan, gain customer acquisition with a greener brand, and attract key talent.

MotleyGreen.com is a community-oriented platform developed to encourage the joy of sustainable living with people all over the planet. Using special weekly contests, daily dares, badges, coupons, and other fun and rewarding incentives for going green, MotleyGreen.com hopes to create a learning, growing, and greening platform that will generate a more sustainable world.

There are many ways a business can use MotleyGreen.com to adopt greener principles and practices.
Setting green, healthy goals: MotleyGreen.com provides tools for helping businesses set sustainability and health & wellness goals at the corporate level.

Tracking tools: Through MotleyGreen.com, businesses can track and measure their green and health-related efforts on a business and employee level. This includes MotleyGreen.com scores, group scores, and goals versus actual reporting.
Rewards and recognition: Using the MotleyGreen.com platform, a business can reward and recognize the actions taken by employees, both personally and as part of the business community.

Education and motivation: MotleyGreen.com makes it easy for businesses to educate and inspire their employees to become greener and healthy by providing multiple points of contact to engage and motivate people to live more sustainability.

It’s easy for a company to sign up and get all of the benefits of MotleyGreen.com. There is no software to install or product investment to make since the platform functions from the cloud. By simply signing up at MotleyGreen.com, a business can have a sustainability plan up in running in no time at all. Employees can then sign up and take both personal and professional actions, all of which are managed with the same log-in information. Multi-directional communication between corporate leadership and employees makes it easy to engage and encourage employee adoption without internal marketing and campaigning.

Businesses can choose from either a per-user or overall company license for MotleyGreenc.om. But the really great news is that MotleyGreen.com is free for the first year, with the purchase of an annual Professional Services package. Signing up for MotleyGreen.com is an excellent investment, with an expected return on investment per employee of 10 to 36 times what is costs for the license (based on wellness and green programming scope and reach). You’ll also see an increase in employee morale and productivity, and better talent acquisition and retention by being part of MotleyGreen.com.

WakaWaka Solar Lamp Social Enterprise Brings the Most Efficient Solar Light on the Planet

The problems of conventional kerosene lamps used in poor communities all over the world are many: indoor air pollution, environmental sustainability, fire hazards, low educational outcomes, and high fuel prices. Swapping these inefficient, pollution-ridden lamps out for renewably-powered solar lighting has never been easier or more effective thanks to the social entrepreneurs behind the WakaWaka Solar Lamp. Developed by Off Grid Solutions and touted as the single most efficient solar lamp on the planet, the WakaWaka Solar Lamp not only has sustainable sponsored lamp program for retail sales, they’re now launching some amazing non-profit partnership programs to make distribution easy and extremely effective. Given WakaWaka’s goal to deliver their lights to 1.5 billion people worldwide living off the grid, these programs should be a big step forward for them!

The WakaWaka Solar Lamp’s Many Opportunities for Involvement

Kerosene lamps, while functional, have caused nothing but trouble for those living at the bottom of the pyramid. Kerosene is relatively expensive for those living in extreme poverty and extreme polluting. While many charities have tried to encourage the shift to solar, other disappointments have prevented widespread adoption. The high cost of buy-in, charging capabilities, and energy storage disappointments have left many disillusioned with the idea of solar lighting. This is especially true for non-profits working in communities where wasted investments can have a devastating impact on levels of trust.

The WakaWaka Solar Lamp sidesteps these challenges easily by providing exceptional performance in even the most demanding conditions. It’s durable, lasts for 16 hours with a full day’s charge, is water resistant, and has five light modes making it extremely practical. Plus, it’s powered by three rechargeable AA batteries (included), making it easy to use for years and years.

Solar Lighting for the Energy-Poor Just Became Cost-Competitive with WakaWaka

So WakaWaka has solved functionality problems with solar lighting. Now they’re working on making them super affordable for those living in darkness. To start, Off Grid Solutions donates $10 to the WakaWaka foundation for every WakaWaka purchased on the Wakawaka4light site. The WakaWaka retails for $49.00 but is available on the Wakawaka4light site for just $39.00 including free shipping. Anyone can take a WakaWaka Solar Lamp home for themselves, and as a result, they’ll trigger the sponsorship of two WakaWaka Solar Lamps to families living without light!

But WakaWaka is going even further by offering two non-profit pricing programs to further reduce the costs of their lights. The direct-to-non-profit pricing program provides low minimum purchases (4 case packs or 96 WakaWaka Solar Lamps) for registered 501 C3 organizations. The per-unit costs of this program make WakaWaka Solar Lamps extremely affordable for non-profits that either donate lamps to families or offer them at a subsidized rate.

Further yet, WakaWaka will offer non-profits that sell WakaWaka Solar Lamps to their constituents a way to fundraise by retailing the WakaWaka Solar Lamps using a host of provided tools – landing pages, email templates, and web-based marketing solutions. This program allows non-profits to earn credit applicable to future WakaWaka purchases at non-profit pricing.

To further sweeten the pot and boost non-profit collaboration, WakaWaka’s programs will encourage two or more non-profits to work together to purchase their lamps with even lower per-unit pricing. A non-profit that takes advantage of both programs plus the collaboration incentive can easily finance the purchase of thousands or millions of lamps for nearly nothing.

To learn more about how qualified non-profits can take advantage of Off Grid Solutions’ programs for non-profit organizations, you can contact Victor Brandstetter, Senior Partner Digital Concepts 2.0 at [email protected] or 925-437-8345.