It's the big catchphrase: going green. And while it's a trend, it's also a smart idea to make changes, whether big or small, to be more environmentally friendly. Your clients, patients, team members, and the environment will thank you—and your bottom line will, too, in the long run. For Susan Werner, practice manager at Werner Equine in North Granby, Conn., caring for the environment while treating horses goes hand in hand. "It's an issue that has reached the tipping point with our clients," says Werner, whose husband, Dr. Harry Werner, is the current president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. "Making changes to care for our environment confirms our commitment to practice responsibly, and our clients value those efforts."

Many veterinarians balk at the idea of going green, not knowing what the process entails. But it's really just a way of life, and it can start small: one change here, one change there. To get your wheels turning, we've compiled a list of seven small changes and four big changes that can make a huge impact for the better. Make it your late New Year's resolution to implement at least one in your practice this year, then do more as you're able.

One small step

1. Switch cleaning products. Simply choosing safer products, especially floor cleaning solutions, goes a long way toward better air and water quality, says Wayne Usiak, AIA, senior partner with Wayne Usiak and Associates/BDA Architecture in Albuquerque, N.M. "Many cleaning products give off volatile organic compounds, and it's a very easy fix to switch to more environmentally sound products," he says.

2. Recycle. If you offer recycling bins, people will use them. "Make it easy for your staff and clients to recycle," says architect Kimberli Bragg, a partner with thoughtSPACE architecture firm in Lexington, Ky. "Place bins throughout the facility, and assign someone on your team to collect the recycling on a regular basis."

And don't stop at paper and soda cans. Usiak recommends recycling horse manure: Hire someone to haul it away and compost it or find other ways to recycle it, rather than dumping it in the landfill. Some gardeners might pay big bucks for this fertilizer au naturel!

3. Lower your lighting. Lighting is a simple, mostly inexpensive way to make big changes. Change incandescent bulbs out for compact fluorescent bulbs or LED lighting fixtures. Consider where you can use task lighting instead of general illumination. And install HVAC and lighting occupancy sensors or put these systems on a centrally controlled timer, Bragg says. Usiak notes that half of a building's energy consumption is electricity, and half of that use is lighting. Putting lights on timers or occupancy switches will cost $30 to $50 per switch, but this investment will quickly pay for itself when you start receiving lower electric bills.