WARREN — Connie McGreavy shakes her head when she sees local businesses give the environment short shrift. The Warren resident mentions a local doughnut shop that still uses Styrofoam cups. “That’s yesterday’s technology,” she said. “We’ve got to get people to drive up in their cars with their mugs and not have to use a Styrofoam cup.”

Then there are plastic bags, which she said are used by too many stores. And those prescription bottles you pick up at your local pharmacy — ever notice how they’re often much bigger than their contents require?

Ms. McGreavy operates a Warren-based consulting firm, Conserve by Design, that works with businesses, nonprofits and other institutions in helping them go green. An environmental scientist with a degree in environmental conservation, she’s also chairperson of the newly formed R.I. Green Building Council, the state chapter of a national nonprofit dedicated to sustainable building design and construction.

In the face of rising fuel costs, global warming and a slumping economy, Ms. McGreavy and other activists say green jobs are the key to promoting both environmentally sound practices and economic development.

“We’re moving into a new direction, because the one we’re going in is failing,” said Denise Parrillo of Clean Water Action, one of nearly 100 people who turned out recently for a community discussion, “Greening the Rhode Island Economy,” at the New England Institute of Technology in Warwick.

Greg Gerritt, founder of the R.I. Prosperity Project, an effort to help make local economy based on ecological wisdom, justice and non-violence, was one of the event’s organizers. Mr. Gerritt called on “re-localizing the economy” and for businesses and individuals to stop wasting natural resources. “We live on a finite planet; you can’t do that,” he said.

The event attracted companies that specialized in renewable energy as well as businesses, nonprofits and other groups that wanted to learn more about going green to save money. An example of the former was SolarWrights, a Bristol-based company that installs solar panels and wind systems at businesses, schools and homes.

“It’s such an interesting time for solar and renewable energy. It’s such an open playing field” said Keally DeWitt, marketing coordinator for SolarWrights, who said the “green-collar” business continues to grow and hire people despite the economic downturn. “People are making up jobs and job descriptions as they go along. It’s just exploding.”

She sees more businesses looking to renewable energy sources for a simple reason — to save money. “Energy efficiency is the most important cost-efficient thing businesses can do,” she said.

Ms. Parrillo agreed. “Companies with very large buildings are having trouble paying their heating and electric bills,” she said, adding that although renewable energy systems can be expensive, they end up saving money in the long run.

Saving money “is the number-one reason” why more businesses are going green, according to Glenn Bachman, author of the soon-to-be-published “Guide to Green Business.” Mr. Bachman, a certified management consultant, is teaching a series of classes under the “Green Your Business” banner at UMASS-Dartmouth’s New Bedford campus. The courses cover everything from determining an organization’s ecological footprint to reducing energy and water use.

Although big companies such as Ikea and General Electric use green practices to make their businesses more competitive, smaller businesses can benefit as well, he said.

George Warren of Portsmouth, owner of Warren Design, is one small business owner who’s committed to making his company as environmentally sound as possible. “I’ve been into this whole green initiative for a while, philosophically. The whole movement is catching on,” said Mr. Warren, who designs and builds furniture, taking care not to use endangered wood.

He’s also in the real estate business, currently in the design phase of a small condominium project he’s developing in Newport. “I intend it to be as green as possible,” said Mr. Warren who hopes to use paneled walls, a “passive” solar system and local materials whenever possible.

Ms. McGreavy said homeowners who are feeling the pinch with utility bills “are already demanding that their buildings be built green.”

The Green Building Council, in fact, has considered the idea of taking over a foreclosed property and making it more energy efficient. “The news is so dour on the impact of foreclosures,” she said. “This is a perfect opportunity to show people how this is the way we need to start improving our buildings,” she said.

Leading the way

Although the road to sustainability is a long one, Ms. McGreavy pointed to numerous examples of local businesses and institutions setting the tone by implementing environmentally friendly policies. Earlier this year, New England Institute of Technology — Conserve by Design is a consultant to the school — announced plans to create a “green campus” on 200 acres of land in East Greenwich.

She also gave props to Roy Nirschel, president of Roger Williams University in Bristol, for being one of more than 300 college and university presidents to sign on to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. “That’s huge. It commits them to reduce their greenhouse gas. It’s not voluntary; it makes them. I’m trying to get every college in the state to do that,” she said.

The hospitality industry has also grasped the concept of going green in order to attract more customers, she added. The Newport Restaurant Group, which operates dining establishments, composts food waste, buys recycled goods and uses locally grown, organic produce whenever possible.

“That’s saving them money and it’s a marketing edge — it’s bringing people in the door,” said Ms. McGreavy.

Getting schooled for the future

Seeing the writing on the wall, a new generation of activists and future business leaders are preparing themselves for what they predict will be a green business revolution.

“I actually started an MBA in managing for sustainability,” said Jennifer Marshall, coordinator of Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL), a nonprofit which works to improve environmental awareness in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The courses, offered at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro, Vt., cover subjects such as policies for the use of renewable resources and the need to be held accountable for the company’s or organization’s impact on the environment and human rights.

“With that degree, I could stay with the job I’m in right now — helping to foster regional sustainability planning in this area — or I could start a green business, which I have a lot of ideas on,” said Ms. Marshall, noting that there’s a dearth of available green products, such as furniture and towels.

Ms. McGreavy acknowledged that for many smaller businesses, going green may be an uphill battle at first due to start-up costs and the natural resistance to change habits. “They could be losing business before they gain business. It can be very hard for them to step off the edge and do it,” said Ms. McGreavy, who added that she believed change will come in time.

There are little things that smaller businesses can do in order to be more environmentally sound, said Ms. DeWitt of SolarWrights.

“You can go from changing lightbulbs to cleaning the coils on your fridge,” she said. “A lot of the most cost- effective things are behavior changes — turning off lights or having automatic thermostats. Do you really need to crank that up a few more degrees? Green doesn’t have to mean you’re depriving yourself.”

Ms. Marshall agreed, adding that going green in this tough economy makes sense.

“Not only are you doing something for the environment, but you’re saving money.”

For more information, visit www.greeningrieconomy.com or www.seeal.org.