New OEM LG GD510 Solar Cell Powered Battery Door – Go green with solar cell powered battery door and help protect the environment

July 21, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

Product DescriptionLG Solar Powered Battery Cover – Specially made GD510 (POPs), only the battery in the sun for 10 minutes and get the second 15 minutes of talk time. It may be small, but it’s about the big picture. Solar Mobile allows users to charge when the battery is empty. If Solar Cell battery cover is attached to the device (GD510), Eco saves menu appears under the menu. Try the number you Tress planted or the level of CO2 saved calculation. Be gr. . . Read more>>

New OEM LG GD510 Solar Cell Powered Battery Door – Go green with solar cell powered battery door and help protect the environment

365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School, or at Play–Every Day!

July 8, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

  • ISBN13: 9781605506340
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product DescriptionIn green conscious world we live in today, parents are realizing the importance of teaching the lessons of green living, early. With this book, parents can encourage their children to be environmentally friendly with fun lessons, like: The three Rs: reduce waste, reuse materials and recyclingWhy we need the atmosphere, oceans and forests pollutionfreeWhy organic food is tastier to keep – and better – youHow for protecting plants and animals Earth D.. . Read more>>

365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School, or at Play–Every Day!

It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living

July 6, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

  • How to Adopt Greener Buying Habits
  • Finding Earth Friendly Products
  • Shopping for Green Products Online
  • Cultivating a Sustainable Environment

Product Description Surveys note that more than 80 percent of Americans agree with the objectives of the environmental movement. Unfortunately, most Americans admit to doing little more than basic recycling when it comes to working on these sentiments. Why is this great divide between environmental sentiment in this country and individual actions? Author and environmental consultant Crissy Trask wants to answer this question differently and with a new book that makes it easy to solve. . . Read more>>

It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living

Green Business ? Go Eco Friendly At Work

July 2, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

It’s great news that so many people are now living a lot greener and more eco friendly. Eco friendly products like recycling bins and energy saving light-bulbs are now commonplace around the home and more and more people are investing in other eco-friendly solutions and products like energy monitors.

However, one area where we often revert back to the bad old ways is when we turn up at work. No matter how green we are at home and conscious to recycle everything we possibly can, at work, too many of us print off reams of unnecessary paper or waste energy.

Often the argument against being green at work is that it may slow our production of hamper our effectiveness to do our jobs. Yet, there are lots of ways we can work with same effectiveness and productivity but still help the environment.

Paper

The internet and email has now made a paper-free office a possibility. However, in the more practical world it is often necessary to print out a hard copy. But try and be frugal with paper, many printers have dual sided capability and even if they don’t, pape4r can be turned over. When printing from websites make sure you don’t print unnecessary pagers, many websites have printer friendly versions so look to use them.

Eco Button will turn your computer to power save mode

Energy saving

Whilst it might be difficult to convince your boss to invest in an energy monitor they it should be easy to convince them to change to energy saving bulbs as the cost savings will benefit everybody.

Also remember to use the power saving mode on your computer or use a standby saver or eco button if you are forgetful.

Work from home

It might be hard to convince your boss of the benefits of working from home but it can make a real cost saving to both parties. Not only do you not have to commute in but you won;t be using the office electricity. And with the internet and broadband connections working from home is a real possibility for many employees.

Richard N Williams is interested in green innovations and writes about them. Please visit our website if you are interested in an eco office or other eco-friendly products

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Be Seen As A Green Business

June 30, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

After years of warnings, scientific studies and campaigning, environmental concerns have finally hit the mainstream. These days the general public is far more knowledgeable about the impact of their actions on the planet than ever before. This means that not only are they thinking about more ethical ways to run their own day-to-day lives, but they are also searching for companies and goods providers who can show them that they are doing their best to lessen their environmental impact too.

Therefore, raising the environmental profile of their business and ensuring that they are recognised as ethical traders has become an issue for many companies. More and more frequently, customers are found to be technologically savvy when it comes to researching companies. The advent of the internet has ensured that people have access to a lot of information that was once hard for them to come by. This means that companies who simply claim to be taking steps to cut their emissions without doing the back-end work can find themselves exposed and in hot water.

Luckily, there are many green initiatives available and there are solutions to suit businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes. Depending of the type of company you own and the scale of your business, the amount of work you have to do to green your business will vary but there are some initiatives that can be implemented right away. These include simple measures such as ensuring staff only commute when strictly necessary or making certain that paper consumption is kept to a minimum. For example, technologies such as cloud computing can help businesses take a lot of their work online, therefore meaning they can work remotely and without the need of hardcopies of documentation.

Other ways to green your business include ensuring that you are using green suppliers yourself. After all, to green your business to the best of your ability and then find out you use the services of a notorious culprit could negate some of your hard work.

For many businesses energy consumption is one of their most significant costs as well being the area that has the biggest impact on the environment. The by-products of such energy sources are a huge problem when it comes to lowering carbon emissions. There are other choices however, and many businesses are looking into alternative sources of energy such as wind-generated power or solar energy.

In many instances, the energy saving initiatives you implement are sure to save you money too. Especially when oil and fuel prices are high. Whether you are simply thinking of enforcing a green policy that sees all your members of staff following simple rules such as turning off all of their equipment at night or you’re thinking of investing in green technology such as wind turbines, cutting your energy consumption or sourcing and supping your energy differently can save you a lot of money going forward.

Cut costs, improve your public profile and save the planet in a few easy steps by looking into ways you can boost green initiatives within your business – many changes are likely to be easier and more efficient than you might expect.

Harvey is passionate about the environment, business and wind turbines

Green Business Hosting Initiatives For Your Business

June 28, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

The growing concern for environmental and climate change in recent years has many industries and businesses searching for new “green” initiatives that not only minimize their carbon footprints, but save their bottom line from getting burned. Viable green initiatives are a new but necessary implementation that will help determine who will flourish or flop in the digital age.

Most industries are slow to adopt green initiatives because they are worried about compromising the quality of their services during such a transition, or they just don’t know where to begin. With most progressive companies conduct business online these days, a good place to start implementing green initiatives is with a web business hosting service. A company renowned for its quality service, Rochen Performance Hosting, is working and investing heavily on new green initiatives in its web hosting services. Their green initiatives consist of carbon offsetting, as well as improvements in technology and business processes.

Offsetting emissions through updating to ‘green-friendly’ technology and processes is can initially be expensive, but you will save in the long-term. Rochen has a long-term game plan to reduce the emissions on a per client basis across all operations through improved technology for more power efficient computer processes, like AMD’s Opteron High Efficiency (HE) line of CPUs. Currently, the carbon emissions generated by delivering service to clients today are less than they cost a year ago. This adds up across an entire data system.

Offsetting emissions through partnering with green-friendly companies is another great step for any business. Rochen is partnered with Green Mountain Energy, provider of cleaner energy and carbon offsetting solutions, to purchase 25 metric tons of carbon credits to offset the emissions of its hosting operations. As a result of this partnership, Green Mountain Energy is able to invest in renewable sources of energy, including wind, solar and biomass facilities. Rochen’s funding also helps GME support reforestation projects with Pacific Forest Trust.

For every amp of power used to run a server in a data center, it takes another amp of power to run the climate control systems to cool it off. Rochen has been working to reduce the amount of power consumed in its cooling operations in several different ways. They have installed filler panels in all the cabinet slots that are not actually filled by servers. Rochen was also able to reduce the average aire temperature of the data center floor by two degrees Fahrenheit without compromise by using a new and green rackmount system chassis that improved air flow. Other technologies were incorporated, like raised flooring and perforated tiles throughout the facility, to lower the overall consumption.

For any company to compete in the changing landscape of today’s business climate, it is vital they transition into more environmentally-friendly operations. A business can begin with choosing a progressive and environmentally-aware company, like Rochen Performance Hosting. Rochen Performance Hosting is recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as an environmentally friendly company for its work in carbon emission offsetting, increased efficiency in operations and technology, and their commitment to continual improvement. The UNEP now hosts their Conservation Commons website with Rochen. If you chose Rochen to host your web site, you can place a Green Hosting Seal on your web site to showcase that you are taking green initiatives to offset any emissions generated by the site.

Ethan Luke. green hosting – For environment friendly hosting coupled with high performance and first class support, contact Rochen Host.

Social Business – 9 Tips to Writing a Rock Star Social Or Green Business Plan

June 26, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

So you’re thinking about starting a social business (i.e. a business that helps a social or environmental cause in some way), or adding a social business element to your existing business? Awesome! And congratulations. If you take action on that intention, you’re well on your way to financial freedom and making a positive impact on the world.

Writing a business plan is one of the first tasks on your list. Well the, what makes a great social business plan? It’s both an art and a science, and there are hundreds of books, websites, and other resources on business plans in general. Here are nine great tips specific to writing social business plans, tips that you won’t find in any traditional business plan how-to.

1. Tell your story. How will your company benefit a social or environmental cause? Why start this particular business, why now, and why you? Do this in the synopsis and subtly throughout the whole plan. As a social business, this story is where you can really shine.

2. Keep it brief. No one wants to read a 50 page business plan, and in fact, no one probably ever will, no matter how special or amazing your cause is. Ideally, keep your plan to ten pages, and most certainly under 20.

3. Continually update it. A business plan is a living document that must be reviewed and adjusted on at least a monthly basis. As your company and your cause grow and change, your business plan should evolve in lockstep.

4. Include a brief Envisioned Future section. What will your company look like in 20 or 100 years? How will the world have benefitted from its existence? Your business is an organization with a good cause, so spell out your vision. It will help you keep your eyes on the prize in hard times, and the visual will also help sell the idea to investors, bankers, donors, employees, customers, and everyone else.

5. Show how and why you will be competitive and profitable in a market that doesn’t really care whether your products are made of recycled materials or if you’re empowering poor women beekeepers in Africa. If everything else is equal (i.e. price, brand recognition, quality, shelf location), you might have a slight edge because of your cause. But probably not. You’re providing a product or service to the world, and you must make a profit doing so. Use your plan to legitimately prove that you will. Remember: you can’t help anyone if you go bankrupt.

6. Don’t get too crazy with the use of words like sustainability, green, social business, good cause, fair trade, and so on. Unfortunately, many traditional business people have negative connotations for all those words, left over from extreme environmentalists of the 70s (think off-the-grid communes and lack of deodorant). Unfair images, but we all still have to deal with that for the time being. Use those words when you must, but keep it to a minimum. If you can, use words like “efficiency,” “improved safety standards,” and “increased profit” instead.

7. Do ample research. As a social business, your company will likely undergo more scrutiny from everyone involved than a traditional business model would, which is unfair but true. Back up everything you say with piles of credible research, some of which you may even include in the Appendices to your plan, where appropriate.

8. When compiling your financial projections, make sure to include a Social Return on Investment, or SROI. Explain how you plan to quantify, measure, and analyze your SROI. Quantification is how you will show the world the good things you’ve done, and how you can decide what your biggest and best levers for change are.

9. Use a template business plan to get started. No need to reinvent the wheel. There are lots of free or cheap business plans out there that can help you write your own amazing plan. Granted most of them are not specifically geared to social businesses, so you may have to improvise a bit.

Or, you could just click here to download a social business plan from Social Business Central, possibly the single best resource for small business entrepreneurs with a conscience. You’ll also find loads of other resources, a social business blog, and much more. It’s a really great website.

About the Author

Matt Sparks is a successful entrepreneur, both offline and on, having launched over 25 businesses (some notable successes and some colossal failures, both of which are important). He is a small business mentor and counselor for SCORE?a division of the Small Business Administration (SBA), Micro-Business Development, and other organizations. He has written books, articles, and blogs about social business, small business, real estate, finance, New Urbanism, and sustainable cities.

(c) Copyright – Matthew R. Sparks. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

10 Unheard Of Green Businesses

June 24, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

Businesses around the world are going green but not all of them receive the same recognition as General Electric, Starbucks, and Wal-Mart. These innovative businesses have earned their share of acknowledgement and it is about time they receive some.

Seahorse Power – Founder Jim Poss engineered garbage cans with solar-powered trash compactors that increase capacity and reduce the number of pick-ups required by Seahorse’s municipal clients.

Voltaic Systems – This entrepreneurial business manufactures backpacks and messenger bags fitted with solar panels that can charge electronics, including cell phones and PDAs.

Interface – Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Interface uses recycled materials and biodegradable corn-based plastics to manufacture carpet.

Comet Skateboards – CEO Jason Salfi and company makes high-performance skateboard decks and wheels using only local, sustainable materials. They are currently experimenting with a soy protein polymer to hold the boards together.

Memorial Ecosystems – Westminster, South Carolina is home to the nation’s first green cemetary. Memorial Ecosystems offers simple funeral services without the use of embalming fluids, other harmful chemicals, hardwood caskets or conventional headstones.

Konarka – This innovative business produces flexible solar cells from organic chemicals, rather than silicon, which have the potential to turn handbags, lampposts, and other everyday objects into clean power sources.

Teko Socks – Located in Boulder, Colorado, Teko Socks manufactures and sells socks made from organic cotton, recycled polyester, and wool from a farm that uses sustainable practices.

IdleAire – Based out of Knoxville, Tennessee, IdleAire wires truck-stop parking spaces with hookups for heat and air conditioning, along with Internet accesss, satellite TV, and movies on demand, to encourage long-haul drivers to shut off their engines.

Gridpoint – CEO Peter Corsell and company makes a refrigerator-size system that helps consumers monitor and manage energy created by their solar panel system or other renewable energy source. It also provides homes and businesses with backup power, allowing them to pick and choose the times of day their house pulls in energy.

Zipcar – Based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, this clever business manages a car-sharing service for as low as $7.50 an hour that has taken an estimated 25,000 cars off the road.

Nick Tart is a senior at Colorado State University and the founder of JuniorBiz.com, teaching?young people how to become entrepreneurs. He anticipates graduating Magna Cum Laude this spring and chooses to use his $40,000 education to help young people with their businesses. Find 100+?teen business ideas on his site.?Entrepreneurship is a game. May the best one win.

Converting your Small Business into a Green Business

June 22, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

As the world moves towards a more globally accepted environmental solution, there is an increasing responsibility being placed upon individuals and businesses to adopt a ‘greener’ outlook.

Businesses are being scrutinised more now than at any time in the past. Legislation dictates that rules and procedures are stringently adhered to in a series of areas including utility use, waste disposal and emissions.

Although much of this legislation has a bigger impact on larger companies, the implications are slowly but surely trickling down to the smaller business.
Compliance is vital, and failure to meet standards can results in legal action, loss of reputation and even closure.

But there are many things that a small business can do to make things more environmentally friendly today.

Equipment should always be turned off when not in use. This not only reduces energy use by around 25% to save costs but also has a beneficial effect on the environment. Turning computers off at night can reduce PC usage costs by over 50%.
Management should encourage staff to communicate by e-mail. Not only is e-mail a greener option due to the fact that natural or recycled sources aren’t being wasted, but they’re free and there’s plenty to be save on telephone costs if everybody complies.

Fax paper can be saved by making use of fax modem facilities that are probably already on a business computer anyway. These modems allow fax copies to be sent over a computer without the need for a hard copy. If printing is absolutely necessary, printing double sided documents will shave 50% off of paper usage and costs.
Taps in washrooms should be tightened thoroughly after use. Just one drip per second from a tap equates to the loss of 10,000 litres of water in a single year. If a tap needs a washer, fit one.

Another washroom must is the addition of one or two plastic containers filled with stones into toilet reservoirs. The displacement caused will save around 4 litres every time a receptacle is flush, which equates to a massive yearly saving.
When choosing suppliers, especially for office goods, try to find somebody with a creditable green company policy that makes good use of recycled materials in the paper or products they sell. If a supplier takes back their packaging for re-use, even better!

Try to make sure these suppliers are within your local area. Having to travel further to deliver leads to more emissions from the delivery vehicles. If possible, try to send a member of staff to pick up small items. It’s good for the environment and good for the employee as well!

When considering buying new office equipment, stop for a moment and see whether or not your existing furniture can be refurbished. This will not only save large sums of money but also won’t produce any waste.

Making a small business greener needn’t be expensive or time consuming. The application of a little thought, some common sense and getting everybody pulling in the same direction will usually be enough.

To learn much more about the things you can do to reduce your impact, visit AllAboutGreenLiving.com where you’ll find this and much more, including eco-friendly products and ways to reduce your electricity bill.

Green Business: 5 Easy Steps to a Greener Workplace

June 20, 2010 · Posted in Green Business 101 · Comments Off 

With the “green movement” taking the world by storm like never before, now is a great time to take a closer look at how your company stacks up. What current green initiatives do you have in place? There’s no doubt room for some improvement. Read on for easy ways to go green at your company and don’t be surprised if your green workplace also saves you some green. Reducing consumption not only helps the environment, it can also help you cut costs in creative ways.


1. Do your homework.

Every company is different and that means that every company should create a plan that is reasonable for them. There are tons of resources out there that can help you set realistic goals for your company. Whether you search online or through a local library, you’re sure to find tips and tricks geared towards your specific industry. Customized solutions are the most effective way to improve your environmental efforts.


2. Get real about recycling.

No matter what industry you’re in, chances are that you’ll be able to recycle some materials. Recycling paper is an obvious choice, but don’t exclude ideas like recycling various office equipment or furniture, refilling ink cartridges, or donating whatever other office supplies or materials you no longer use. While you’re at it, encourage your employees to use real bowls, plates, utensils, etc. to avoid excess styrofoam, plastic, and paper waste.


3. Work from home.

With gas prices on the rise, many employers are becoming more lenient with allowing their employees to work from home. Not only is this easier on the wallet (on account of less fill ups), but it’s also better for the environment since it reduces toxic and hazardous CO2 exhaust. Or, if possible, bike to work and encourage your coworkers to do the same.


4. Take a good look at your current energy consumption.

Examine the way you heat, cool, and light your office throughout the seasons. Are you using low energy light bulbs? Are you making sure to turn out the lights or shut off the heat or air conditioning at the end of each day? Little changes can have a big impact on your energy consumption.


5. Promote lighter attire in the summer and warmer wear in the winter throughout the office.

By encouraging your employees to dress for the weather – even inside of the office, you’ll be able to turn the thermostat up or down, saving your company energy and money. Hawaiian shirt day, anyone?

Laura Watkins is a contributing business writer for Goliath. Goliath is one of the Internet’s largest collections of business research, news and information. Learn more about Goliath.

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