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Going Green in the Office

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A collection of wires and satellite codes, maybe a little direct.tv in the break room, the small hums of technology: your office is a dedication to progress. All shelves are stuffed with gadgetry; all space is claimed to the precision of circuits. Business demands immediacy — and the value of electronics could never be denied.

It could, however, be turned off.

The world is changing. What once a plead for carbon and natural resources has been redefined. The masses are clamoring for protection, are trying to shift all efforts toward environmentalism. The process has not been an easy one, but it has been persistent — and companies are now having to offer their own forms of support.

Accomplishing such support seems problematic, however.

It doesn’t have to be.

The simple act of turning off all electronic equipment while they are not in use can have immediate effects. Computers and similar products generate carbon — which is harmful to both the environment and individuals. Allowing these items to power down during the day will reduce emission rates by over 30 percent (as well as eliminate excess energy, which will help to lessen the strain on natural resources). And choosing to turn off all equipment for the entire night will ensure a 50 percent decrease of waste.

These numbers are impressive and shouldn’t be refused. By simply pressing a button, individuals can help to generate clean air and undo the cycle of electric dependency. The rewards of this are many and must be embraced.

Environmentalism is not a challenging process. Companies can instead apply it with ease.

Filed Under: Environment, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

4 Ways Businesses Can Go Green

For many people, being environmentally friendly is a natural part of life. For others, the word “recycle” still seems like a dirty word. Unfortunately, there are still many corporations who haven’t adopted green policies just yet. If you are a business owner, rest assured that being more environmentally friendly doesn’t have to hurt your bottom line. Take a look at four tips every business can do to go green.

1.       Be more energy efficient. This could be as simple as encouraging all employees to power down their computers every night to as big as buying energy-efficient devices, like an energy efficient Mac Pro. Little changes like not leaving a computer running and turning off office lights can make a big difference.

2.       Go paperless. Yes, even big corporations can go paperless. Ask your vendors to bill you electronically instead of through the mail. Don’t accept faxes and instead request information to be sent over email. Encourage your employees to go with direct deposit, instead of a paper check. There are many paperless options available.

3.       Recycle. Don’t forget, it’s easy to set up recycling bins for paper and water bottles. Provide the bins and assign someone the task to take the bins to the recycle bin and you are miles ahead of other businesses out there.

4.       Use web conferencing. Where possible, use a video conferencing system, like Skype, for out of the office meetings instead of driving there. Not only will you help save the environment, but you’ll save on fuel prices as well.

Image representing Skype as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

These four tips are simple and easy to implement, but will make a big difference to Mother Earth.

Filed Under: Business Benefits, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

4 eco-friendly businesses

Corporate social responsibility is becoming an important area of focus for all businesses. As worries about the environment and humanity’s impact on the globe escalate, more and more consumers are starting to care about whether the products and services they use have a large carbon footprint. Companies that pay attention to their environmental credentials and effectively manage their eco practices are going to be the ones that thrive in the future. Below are four companies that are doing their best to help the environment.

Gazelle

This company has made its mark by recycling electronic goods that traditionally are difficult for consumers to dispose of in a safe and environmental way. The firm assesses the monetary value of products by using retailers such as eBay to estimate the second-hand price it would fetch for a sale, and then pays the owner that amount. If the product is no longer working, the company will still recycle it for free. Such commitment to environmentally-friendly practices is clearly paying off, as it generated a revenue in 2009 of $8.3 billion.

Mercury Solar Systems

This company provides a range of solar energy solutions to both companies and consumers looking to both save money on their utility bills and help protect the planet. Renewable energy schemes are one of the areas being championed by the government as an effective way of sustainably powering the planet. The firm has experienced growth of 870 percent over three years – a sure sign that its reliance on renewable solar energy is paying off.

Echosign

Echosign is one of the world’s leading providers of digital business solutions, including its specialized range of electronic signature software. As well as being dedicated to streamlining business practices, Echosign is also a clear believer in environmental sustainability. The company is moving towards being fully reliant on wind farms and harnessing wind energy, while it also plants a tree for every customer that is referred to it by existing users. What’s more, the company’s products themselves encourage environmental thinking. Electronic signatures cut down on the need for paper and physical properties that are unsustainable; in fact, Echosign’s average customer helps the environment by saving 12,000 pieces of paper a year when using the firm’s services.

Eco-Products

Eco-Products started life as many companies do – being operated by a father and son, who sold office supplies that had been recycled to companies in its local area. However, the desire of businesses to improve their eco credentials led to the firm growing and growing, until it boasted a revenue of $47.5 million in 2009. The company has now expanded into other areas and one of the products it is most proud of is the PLA (or polylactic acid) cup. The cups are made from plant resources that are completely renewable and are revolutionizing the beverage industry as customers are flocking to stores that use the eco-friendly products.

Although traditionally companies often saw battle lines drawn between green practices and profit margins, the lines are becoming continuously blurred as more and more firms begin to make money based on their environmentally-conscious standpoints. How will you environmentally update your business?

Filed Under: Energy Saving Appliances, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

Go Green!

As more people become aware of the problems that are happening in the environment, more are also taking steps to counteract these issues. There are many things that people are doing today to help the environment, or at least not make as big of a carbon footprint. If you are looking for ways to help the environment, there are a few easy steps that you can take.

Energy Efficient

If you are in the market for new appliances, you may want to consider getting energy efficient appliances. This will not only help you, by making your electric bill smaller, they also help the environment. Being able to cut down on the fossil fuels that are used in our world is essential to helping the environment. Along with energy efficient appliances, there are energy efficient cars. Again, this helps you save money on gas, and also helps the environment.

Go Green

Many of the products that you use on a regular basis are not produced “green”. This means that they take a larger toll on the environment. If you make a point to purchase products that are green, you are making a point to buy things that use recycled materials, or have been produced in a way that uses green practices.

Helping the environment is, in the long run, helping ourselves. There is no reason not to make these changes in your lifestyle. Though you may end up paying a little bit more in the short term – for example, buying an energy efficient washer may cost a little bit more money – you will save money in the long run, and be helping out the environment and the world. These are some easy steps to help out.

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Environmental Impact of Recycling

Over the past couple of decades we have all been hearing more and more about the importance of recycling. Our children are now taught at very young ages in the public school system about recycling and its importance. Do you know why recycling is important? Do you understand how it helps our environment?

Recycling used products is one of the best ways to help save our environment. It helps to save energy and reduce consumption of natural resources. In fact, recycling can also help to reduce harm to the environment.

How does recycling preserve our environment? One way is by recycling paper, which is made from trees, can reduce our dependence on trees for continued production of paper products. For example, recycling one ton of paper or newspapers is the equivalent of saving 12 trees.

Recycling can save energy by reducing the amount of raw material that is required to be processed. Processing raw materials uses a considerable amount of energy. Some of the most commonly recycled items are aluminum and glass. Recycling these materials can help greatly reduce the amount of pressure put on our energy resources.

Recycling can also reduce pollution. For example, when we do not recycle plastics they sit in the soil as waste and create an increase in water and soil pollution. An effective solution to this problem is simply to recycle as much plastic as possible. During the recycling process of plastics as much material as possible is recovered and used in the manufacturing industry for things such as car bumpers or playground equipment.

In addition to the reduction of soil and water pollution, recycling can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, there have been studies done which show that the effect of recycling on greenhouse gas emissions proved that recycling approximately 35 tons of materials is the equivalent of taking over 22,000 cars off the roads.

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Grow Your Business through Green Marketing Strategies

The process of Green Marketing can help improve the environment as they involve processes where products or a service sold keeping in mind the benefit of the environment. If businesses want to attract new customers, they can include this practice of Green Marketing into their business plans by recycling paper for printing purposes, packaging, using soy-based ink and so on.

During the Gallop Poll, in the year of 2006, studies have shown that 77 percent of Americans believe that they need to play an important role themselves in order to improve the environment. People have taken this initiative by using environmental friendly products and services.

Incorporating green business practice into business can give a higher edge over others in terms of competition. While marketing, highlight on the points that involve green business practices such as steps taken to decrease pollution, recycling materials.

Try to highlight on points such as strategy used for conservation of resources and bringing in the latest technology to improve energy efficiency.

Businesses can further follow green business practices by using the latest technology. Travelling increases carbon footprint, so if a business uses technology and holds virtual meetings instead of travelling to the place, then this can save the cost of travelling and also reduce carbon footprint. However, if it is necessary to travel, then use of carbon-offsets can help reduce environmental pollutions.

Another strategy used for green marketing purposes is by reducing the waste of paper going in for paperless offices.

However, while using green initiative, be honest about the processes used when making the products and services.

A website can also be of great use for keeping customers informed about the latest products and services. Therefore, encouraging customers to become partner and providing them with helpful links can bring in a major difference to the business. If green marketing is incorporated, then it can never fail to build long lasting relationships with present customers as bring new customers.

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Importance of Network Marketing for Small Businesses

Loss of jobs and cuts to the working hours has left many people of North America in a terrible situation. It is becoming extremely difficult for them to even pay their bills and keep up their homes. However, the area of network marketing has huge opportunity for income. Nevertheless, this is an overlooked opportunity.

Direct selling involves directly selling through representatives. Often this leads to offer products at low prices, work as per their own comfortable time.

The investment, plans, fees, and above all, the monthly expenses required for a traditional business keep most people away from starting their own business. However, network marketing allows people to start their own business with very little money.

People think network-marketing companies deal with only products like jewelry or candle. However, all types of products can market through network marketing. It can range from clothing, jewelry to educational items, and telephone and internet services.

Hundreds of companies are members of Direct Selling Association and they strictly abide by the ethics of business. The number of members in US is higher than that of Canada.

Starting a network marketing Business is rather easy. All you have to do is, visit a DSA organization, choose a company website, and become their representative by following their instructions.

It will be better if you can check out the products and services offered by the company in your city, before joining the company.

Finally, if you join a network marketing company, it teaches you how to sell. This is an art, which many people are not born with, but excel in the field when they learn. One thing that comes in is, in a network marketing business, you do not get involved directly with business, but is a part of a team with whom you can share strategies and ideas.

Thus, network marketing can help those who want to establish themselves as a businessperson without getting directly involved in a business.

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Businesses can Go Green Through Work at Home Opportunities

It feels great when you are your own boss and you are working from the comfort of your own home. This is just another way to ensure that carbon emissions cut by reducing the frequency of your traveling. You can make your home office go green by adopting the policies below. Check them out.
First, you can start by using recycled papers and packaging materials. These are materials not extensively high priced and are available in office supply stores.
Studies have shown that paper is the largest component that fills up land waste and home offices are very much responsible for this. So reduce the amount of paper daily used by your office. Adopt measures such as decrease the margin of the documents and use both sides of the paper for prints. This measure will reduce the use of paper to half.
Next, you can opt to use natural light during the day and use CFL bulbs during the evenings. You can put your work desk near a window to avoid switching on of lights. Do the major part of your work during the daytime as at that time, you can use natural sunlight. This can largely reduce the carbon footprints.
You can also consider going green by opting in for old furniture. It means that nothing new taken from the environment and it is cheap. This is just another tip if you are considering improving the environment.
If you are considering buying a new laptop or computer, you can first check out if you can improve the performance of your old item by any way. However, if it becomes essential to discard the item, try to contact a dealer who handles e-waste and make sure that your item is disposed properly. Also, make sure that your hard disk does not contain any material that may be hazardous.
If you consider these small tips and implement them, then this can bring about a major change to the environment.

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Brand Your Company as Green to Increase Customer Loyalty

Companies wanted to portray themselves as Green these days and the truth hides in the thousand dollar marketing. According to Jerry Stifelman, founder of “The Change” reinstated in a conference, “truth is the best tool”
The eighth annual conference of Green Business Network held at San Francisco, California, attended by small and medium businesses to learn the best way to promote green business.”Rarely is anything more seductive than the truth. Branding is making the most of assets.” Said Jerry Stifelman and added that customer relationship is all about doing, feeling and thinking.
Branding is all about building trust. It does not depend on the logo or the tagline of the company. A customer trusts the company for its truth. A company’s passion is all about the basic truth, which strengthens the customer relationship. “People understand and accept patterns” says Stifelman. According to him being authentic, consistent, passionate and truthful are essential for branding.
The green companies should be passionate about their green activities and gain more control over the branding. The story telling about going green is common nowadays. Truthful story telling on the green efforts and the strategic planning is always helpful in sharing the green business for the searching world. Therefore, companies need to talk about their green activities to the customers in a more endearing manner.
His company The Change has mission to make the world more sustainable, equitable and less corporate place. He also worked as brand strategist with companies like MTV, Banana Republic, and Sun Microsystems, to get the greener side of marketing and good-for-the-world branding.

Customer perception decides on what reality and branding is. All the truth depends on building a good and reputed brand. This shows off when marketing a product. Finally, a brand becomes memorable when following the green policies if there is truth in it.

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Tips to Get the Entire Office On Board with Going Green

Office contains boss, colleagues, customers subordinates and many other persons too, but the common interest of these personnel is to maintain a healthy environment in the office. The surroundings of the office make the mind of the person fresh or lazy. Greening plays an important role in the performance of the employee and employer. Here are some tips to maintain the lively culture of office.
Using the optimum energy in the office is very essential. Electricity is very important for the productivity of the employees but extra electricity may lead to the bore the environment of the office and greenery may help to use the electricity at the optimum level. Natural sunlight increases the health of the people and office both. Saving the electricity is the obligation of every person in the office or working environment.
Plastic bags are always helpful for shopping and carrying the things. Shopping bags, papers and many other plastic items in our daily use can be recycled and organizations put the recycling plant in the office for recycling these shopping bags, and papers and used plastic items.
Always use the product that has the recycling logo mentioned. It may include products that are more environments friendly. Environment friendly products increase the image of the products, when recycled. Every employee can save the energy and environment from global warming, for example, they may use the public transport instead of their own transport. This practice may minimize the global warming and healthy environment.
The responsibility of protecting the environment is to shift within the company. The project of environment is to rotate because then only everyone can know about the importance of the environment and Greening.
If every office starts saving the energy Greening, it will make the environment like paradise. Every person can play a vital role in protecting the environment.

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