As part of Architectural Detail Group’s ongoing efforts to lead the green lighting revolution, we’ve teamed up with Green Businessman and Marketing Guru Richard Lloyd Roberts.

Richard has been involved in the green movement since the 1970’s, when he was growing up in England. Now, he has taken the values he learned early in life and applied to them his present life, as a green entrepreneur and marketing expert.

Talking with ADG, Richard explains how he became interested in the current trend of going green:

I was involved in the Green Movement back in the 1970’s, in England. And the reason I got involved in it was my mother actually ran a rainforest charity. So it was for the protection of rainforests and stopping the deforestation. So she was one of the first people to really look at what being green really was, even back then.

In recognition of his efforts for the green business community, Richard was recently nominated for a Green Award for Green Practices by the Charlotte Business Journal.

According to the Charlotte Business Journal, “Working with the U.S. Green Building Council Charlotte Region Chapter, the event identified companies, nonprofits and individuals in 19 categories that have made sustainability a priority.”

Richard was nominated for his involvement with GreenDrinks.org, an international organization that brings ecologically aware business owners together in a casual setting to network and help each other learn more about going green.

He explains:

The Charlotte Business Journal and the Green Building Council decided to run a green business awards. So I’ve been running a networking opportunity called Green Drinks, which basically allows people to get together and talk about environmental issues. So several of my Green Drink buddies nominated me for the award. I didn’t win it, but when you see what she did, compared to what I did, you can see why.

I’d also like people to know that I am being featured this month in Charlotte magazine for Green Drinks this month.

Richard helps companies green their business practices. He tells ADG how he first became involved with green businesses:

I ran events in Los Angeles a few years ago, for celebrities and one when one of my friends decided to start a green cleaning company. We decided to have a launch party and put all of the green cleaning products we could find into that event, so that was my initiation into the green business marketing.

With such a long history of involvement in the green scene, ADG wanted Richard to share how every business can begin going green, so we’ve put together some of Richard’s green marketing and business tips to be presented in a weekly month long series.

For our commitment to the environment and energy efficient solutions and products, Architectural Detail Group has become an Energy Star Partner:

“Environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility - and today I’m pleased that Architectural Detail Group is taking this motto to heart,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “By making smart energy choices, Architectural Detail Group is helping improve our nation’s energy and environmental outlook.”

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.

For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES.

During this last weeks of the year, is common to start making resolutions for the New Year, we’ve all said it, I’ll watch less T.V, eat right, exercise more, etc, we usually brake most of these by the 2nd week in January, so about 5 years ago I included a “green” resolution in my yearly list and surprisingly I have been able to stick to it.

First it was reducing our paper consumption, this was fairlyeasy, we called all our banking and credit institutions to stop any paperwork, received our bills online for everything available, requested no more offer letters etc. then we went to the DMA site (Direct Marketing Association) and requested to halt unsolicited mail, we also call all the companies from which we received catalogs and ask to join the online newsletters instead. We also cancelled our newspaper subscriptions and recycled computer paper. If we had paperwork to throw away we took it to work since the paper recycling bin was sent off to a recycling company that specialized in paper.

Next year, a bulb went off right before New Year’s so we decided to buy some CFL’s bulbs and start replacing them, we moved on to LED’s since then now that they are widely available and don’t give me migraines.

The year after that I took on a harder one, I changed all of our cleaning supplies for more friendly formulas, including my trusty clothes detergent that even got baby food carrots out of the cutest blue onesie. The ECO detergent might not clean as well, but my conscience is clear.

Last year I took on the biggest challenge yet, I decided not to buy any more bottled water, I bought enough take along drinking straw cups for an army and decided not to buy any more water bottles, (I only keep the ones for the earthquake kit at home) I am pretty prod to say that all 4 of us have lived a year with a take along bottle, the only time I bought a case of water was for my children’s birthday party, and we’ve only lost 2 bottles so far!

This year, I’ve decided to tackle an even bigger challenge, I am planning to stop my dependency on self closing bags. Yes after this boxes of sandwich, freezer and gallon size bags are gone I will do my best not to buy any more, or at least not in bulk. In preparation I have purchased paper bags for my kids lunches, and bought new reusable containers.

Wish me luck and let me know of your own Green resolutions, I would love to hear all about them.

I believe the question should read “How do entrepreneurs adapt to a green market opportunity”. Green Entrepreneurs whether involved or concerned about the environment seem to have a different approach to business all together. However business building and momentum into pseudo new technology areas like green are easily adaptable with many current business models. Our business at Architectural Detail Group, Inc was designed to move and shift into the ornamentation and lighting areas of architecture with a design and manufacturing emphasis. Since I have had several businesses in this area over the last 20 years in the architectural community it was quite easy to make the shift. First mental and then a company wide. (small company that is)

Through the altered paradigm our model is close to that of each of our divisions. ADG Eco Lighting Products is part of our business family “a partnership group enhancing the built environment through positive relationships.” This is the mindset. The reality is that with some brief exploration and strategic planning we launched in 2008 a company that is concerned with energy reduction through induction lighting. A 50% reduction in a company’s lighting can range from $0.25 to $2.00 per square foot. Green form this side is green in dollars.

Do we face a global crisis or a global opportunity? Is business drying up or are there opportunities to expand into new markets Business is there. We have huge opportunities now placed for 2009 with triple digit growth opportunity in our company alone. The dedication to one of our partners in NC who was nominated as the Charlotte Business Journals Green Entrepreneur of the Year is equally as relevant to the growth and strategy we have taken in this market.

The real question you should be asking is, “what am I doing to position myself and/or my company to take advantage of the changes in my market and the global economy?”…SO the answer is simple. Take a position within the Green Community and look at it like we did. Our Green is equivalent to the Green on a 100 dollar bill, is good for the reduction of environmental impact, is available for LEED points, you can wrap your CFO around the concept and sell it to your COO.