Businesses were given a blueprint for cutting costs by going green - and told that "green is the new mean". The 51-point plan is
published the same week as a study showing that businesses that become greener can boost their value by up to 80%.

The 51 ways suggested for businesses to go greener range from encouraging lift-sharing to harnessing tax-breaks, solar-charging
cell-phones and greening both your heating and air-conditioning; and from banning water-coolers and plastic cups, to sharing computers and switching them off when they're not in use.

"In tough economic times, individual consumers might regard the green option as a luxury," said Richard Stephenson, YUDU CEO. "For businesses, however, the opposite is true. In tough times, going green is one of the best ways to save money. Green is the new mean."

Most businesses, said Richardson, would love to be greener, and to cut costs, but don't realise you can do both at once, let alone how best to do so. YUDU's 51-point plan, compiled by journalist Mike Haskins, gives a step-by-step guide.

Businesses collectively waste many millions each day just through poor energy efficiency. Relatively simple measures - most of them detailed in this volume - would help fix this.

Examples of how businesses can save money and help the planet highlighted in the e-Book include:

- Putting PCs and monitors automatically on sleep, by using the PC's power-management settings can bring annual energy savings o $100-$200 per PC.

- Cutting electricity bill by up to 15% by switching off unneeded lights, with automatic timers, detectors and switches

- Solar-charging cell-hones, satnav units, PDAs and other hand-held devices.

- Harnessing the many tax breaks available to businesses that use greener and more energy-efficient products.

- Avoiding the print, paper and postage costs of traditional publishing by switching to the new generation of digital brochures, catalogues and leaflets.