February 18th, 2008 categories: Green Living, Trends
Whether you have your own office or are part of a larger office environment, you can make some dramatic changes for your pocket book and the environment quickly and easily. Here are some ideas from RISMedia to get you started.
- Use both sides of writing paper. Copy documents on both sides as well. This reduces paper costs enormously and saves a considerable amount of wasted paper.
Statistics: It is estimated you can save 20% on paper by everyone following these simple rules. This can save $70 per employee, per year or $7000 in just a 100 employee office! An employee in a typical business generates 1.5 pounds of waste paper per day, most of which is NOT recycled.
- Paperless payroll can create a large savings as well. Asking receivers of your e-mails and documents to only print them out if it is absolutely necessary. Create a common statement that is at the bottom of all your e-mail communications.
- Buy office supplies that disintegrate in landfills. Avoid aluminum, PVC, and styrofoam.
- Buy recycled paper that is PCF (processed chlorine free). Use unbleached or uncolored paper. If you need to use colored paper, use pastels. Buy products in bulk to minimize packaging.
Statistics: A ton of 100% recycled paper saves the equivalent of 4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air emissions and three cubic yards of landfill space. In the U.S., 40% of solid waste is paper!
- Change light fixtures to compact fluorescent lamps. Replace old fluorescent lighting fixtures that are likely using T-12 lamps with T-8 fluorescent lamps. You’ll get better color, less flickering and use 20% less energy.
- Use occupancy sensors in conference, break and bathrooms. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive.
Statistics: Changing to more efficient lamps can achieve 50-80% savings, and they last 10X longer. Lighting is generally 29% of the energy use in an office.
- Need new heating and cooling equipment? Opt for the highest energy efficiency equipment possible. Go to the ENERGY STAR Website for information. Turn your thermostats down by one or two degrees and save about 10% on your electricity bill!
Statistics: Heating and cooling office space is responsible for 40% of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and it eats more than 70% of electricity usage.
- If you are searching for office space, look for green certified buildings. Contact the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the US Green Building Council to start.
Tax Savings: Building owners and tenants who can reduce energy costs by 50% or more can get a tax deduction. Go to the government’s ENERGY STAR Website for more information. Many local utility companies are now offering energy audits for free. Contact your local utility and get started.
- Use power strips for all equipment that can be turned off at night in your home, as well as your offices.
Statistic: 40 watts of energy can be lost for each piece of equipment remaining plugged in, but not in use.
- Upgrade older computer equipment by adding memory capability or RAM and make repairs.
Always purchase new energy efficient equipment if you must replace it, and make sure it has expandable memory slots. For computers the Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool can help.
- Place equipment into sleep modes automatically - screensavers do not count - they actually waste more energy.
- Always recycle older equipment & cartridges with the manufacturer or at recycling drives in your community. Never just throw away cartridges or equipment in the garbage.
- Recycle cell phones and rechargeable batteries at sites such as www.call2recycle.com
Statistics: Office equipment typically uses about 16% of energy costs. If every US computer and monitor were turned off at night, the nation could shut down eight large power stations and avoid emitting 7 million tons of CO2 every year. And the energy savings in just your own office will add up to real dollars!
- Have a recycling program for paper, glass, plastic at your office. Many times recycling bins are provided free of charge. Search the Internet or phone book for your city’s program and get started. Make sure everyone knows where the recycling bins are and what you expect.
- Reward employees for good energy conservation and recycling behavior. You can even give incentives for ride sharing, bicycling and walking to work, paper savings, energy savings and more. Communicate what they have saved in money, energy and materials. Create office Green Guidelines.
- You will find many ways around the office to eliminate landfill waste and conserve energy if you look. Even smaller items like eliminating styrofoam coffee cups, plastic forks, knives and spoons. The kitchen is a great area to review. And, again, it will save money too!
- If you are too busy and have a large office or numerous offices, consider hiring an energy manager/transportation coordinator. This person can pay for himself in a very short time and preserve the environment for future generations. Full Story
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February 15th, 2008 categories: Green Living, Home Ownership, Trends
When it comes to the environment, being a good global citizen starts at your doorstep. From recycling to using alternative cleaning materials, minor changes at home can add up to real benefits for the planet, not to mention your own health and happiness.
It may be a cliché, but the best way to be Earth-friendly is to cut down on what you consume and recycle whenever you can. The U.S. generates about 208 million tons of municipal solid waste a year, according to the National Institutes of Health. That’s more than 4 pounds per person per day. Every little bit helps; recycling just one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
Here are 10 more easy ways from MSN.com to green your home:
1. Green up your appliances. Getting rid of that old refrigerator in the garage could save you as much as $150 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Appliance use comprises about 18% of a typical home’s total energy bill, with the fridge being one of the biggest energy hogs. If any of your appliances is more than 10 years old, the EPA suggests replacing them with energy-efficient models that bear their “Energy Star” logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.
Also, consider what you put in that energy-efficient refrigerator. Pesticides, transportation and packaging are all things to consider when stocking up. Buying local cuts down on the fossil fuels burned to get the food to you while organic foods are produced without potentially harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
2. Watch the temp. Almost half a home’s energy consumption is due to heating and cooling.
3. Save water. The Web site “Water — Use it Wisely,” created by a group of Arizona cities, lists 100 simple ways to save water. We’ll share just a few here:
Of course, you don’t need products to save water — behavioral changes also add up quickly: using a broom instead of the garden hose to clean your driveway can save 80 gallons of water and turning the water off when you brush your teeth will save 4.5 gallons each time.
4. Clean green. Stop buying household cleaners that are potentially toxic to both you and the environment. In his book, “The Safe Shopper’s Bible,” David Steinman suggests reading labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively. These include grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve, commonly found in carpet cleaner and some window cleaners as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary or sage rather than triclosan, an antifungal agent found in soaps and deodorant. Or, skip buying altogether and make your own cleaning products. Use simple ingredients such as plain soap, water, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar, washing soda (sodium carbonate), lemon juice and borax and save money at the same time. Check out these books by Annie Bertold-Bond for cleaning recipes: “Clean and Green” and “Better Basics for the Home.”
5. Let there be energy-efficient light. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
6. Save a tree, use less paper. You can buy “tree-free” 100% post-consumer recycled paper for everything from greeting cards to toilet paper. Paper with a high post-consumer waste content uses less virgin pulp and keeps more waste paper out of landfills.
Other tips:
Finally, here’s a third answer to the old “paper or plastic” question: No thanks. Carry your own cloth bags to the store to avoid using store bags.
7. Want hardwood floors? Opt for bamboo. Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself. It takes just four to six years for bamboo to mature, compared to 50-100 years for typical hardwoods. Just be sure to look for sources that use formaldehyde-free glues.
8. Reduce plastics, reduce global warming. Each year, Americans throw away some 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags — from grocery and trash bags to those ultra-convenient sandwich bags. Unfortunately, plastics are made from petroleum — the processing and burning of which is considered one of the main contributors to global warming, according to the EPA. In addition, sending plastics to the landfill also increases greenhouse gases. Reduce, re-use and recycle your plastics for one of the best ways to combat global warming.
9. Use healthier paint. Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause smog, ozone pollution and indoor air quality problems with negative health effects, according to the EPA. These unhealthy ingredients are released into the air while you’re painting, while the paint dries and even after the paints are completely dry. Opt instead for zero- or low-VOC paint, made by most major paint manufacturers today.
10. Garden green. First, use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Compost provides a full complement of soil organisms and the balance of nutrients needed to maintain the soil’s well-being without the chemicals of synthetic fertilizers. And healthy soil minimizes weeds and is key to producing healthy plants, which in turn can prevent many pest problems from developing to begin with.
Finally, consider using an old-fashioned push mower. The only energy expended is yours. Full Story
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February 13th, 2008 categories: Moving, Trends
According to a recent article by RISMedia, additional results from a new retirement study conducted by Gray Hair Management, one of leading career coaching, networking and job search resources for professionals with base salaries of $75,000 to $300,000+, reveal that 70% of America’s corporate executives plan to pursue hobbies, travel or golf during their retirement years, and half are planning a post-retirement relocation.
Gray Hair Management’s 2007 Executive Retirement Survey was conducted in December 2007 and included almost 1000 senior level executives age 40 or older. And according to the article, results related to retirement age, financial readiness and top retirement concerns were reported earlier this month, revealing that 75.2% of America’s corporate executives plan to retire after age 60 and only half believe they are on course, financially, to retire at their planned retirement age. Additionally, health care and finances top their list of retirement concerns.
Leisure Pursuits
Contrary to reports that most baby boomers plan to work or start businesses during retirement, Gray Hair Management found that the majority of corporate executives (70.4%) plan to pursue hobbies, travel or play golf in their retirement days. Specifically, 30.9% said they plan to pursue hobbies, 25.9% plan to travel and 13.6% plan to play golf. However, 9.1% plan to start a business, 5.7% plan to go back to school, 5.4% plan to do volunteer work and 3.8% plan to work part-time (primarily as teachers or consultants).
“As baby boomer executives postpone retirement until their late sixties, seventies and beyond, it appears that most plan to enjoy leisure pursuits, rather than work, in their post-retirement days,” said Scott Kane founder and managing director of Gray Hair Management. “For those who plan to work after retirement, they will pursue volunteer opportunities, entrepreneurial ventures or part-time work as teachers or consultants.”
Retirement Relocation
The Gray Hair Management retirement survey also found that 50.7% of corporate executives plan to relocate when they retire. Almost 40% (38.5%) cited climate is the biggest reason for their planned post-retirement move, while 23.5%% want a smaller home, 17.5% said they need to downsize financially and 13% want to move closer to family.
Of those who plan to relocate after retirement, 74.4% plan to move out of state, with 8.5% planning to move to Florida, 7.6% to Arizona, 2.7% to Texas and 54.1% to other states. Additionally, 12.4% plan to move within their existing city/area, while 5.6% plan to move out of the country.
For more information, visit www.grayhairmanagement.com. Full Story
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February 8th, 2008 categories: Trends
You have information to share. Wonderful and insightful knowledge about your business and changing industry. You are an expert. You are smart, alert, and creative when dealing with change. With RSS you can share that knowledge with the world 24/7. According to the a recent article by RISMedia, RSS allows you to become the information source and the authority of your profession, virtually distributing it to the desktop of the very people you want to reach.
In the past year “RSS Feed” has become a very popular buzz word in Internet marketing. Questions like “What is RSS?” and “Why do I need RSS?” are commonly heard at industry conferences and coffee shops around the world.
What is RSS?
Really - Simple - Syndication.
RSS may be defined as being simple, yet the concept and application of RSS is anything but simple. An RSS feed at the most basic concept level collects content on the Web and categorizes it into a simple structure so that another person can easily download the content and be notified of when it is updated.
The technology can be used for many purposes:
- Product information
- Opinion and observation articles
- Business and professional tips
- Travel logs
- Press releases
- Personal and professional journals
As a business owner, RSS gives you many advantages in distributing your information online and promoting it to the right demographic.
Easier Distribution: RSS doesn’t have the many pitfalls of mail or e-mail marketing. There are no permission lists or databases to maintain. Everyone subscribes by choice and has complete control over the distribution of your information to them.
Control of Information: RSS supports the ability of teaser paragraphs and introductory information. You don’t need to send out everything through RSS- which allows you to include links to other information, lead generation forms, and industry partner information that is hard to squeeze into one communication.
“Pull” or demand marketing, rather than PUSH: Subscribers are in complete control. They don’t endlessly worry at six o’clock that they are going to get a telemarketing call interrupting personal time. If they choose- they can get more information or simply cancel the subscription. Giving control of this process increases the quality of distribution channel and strengthens the relationship.
Link-building, traffic, and promotion: everyone wants more traffic and eyes viewing their site information. By including links within articles going out on RSS feeds, a percentage of readers will be pulled back to the main site and source of the information. This means that one newsletter distributed via RSS could result in a reader flipping through ten pages of your site: which means more education, better branding, and a possibility of having a new client.
Up-to-date content: One of the main reasons that RSS (which is supported by blogs, community sites, and other social media) has gained popularity is that users have learned that 95% of the content is recent information. Rather than read about last weeks news, RSS subscribers are reading today’s news. If you compared it- it is just like have the nightly news on your desktop, laptop, or mobile phone 24 / 7 on demand.
Search Engine Marketing with RSS
Before you run out and get a RSS feed setup on your site, understand a critical item in having one. The words you choose for your RSS feed name, description, and source files are very important.
If you are a real estate broker, you probably know that having a domain for your site such as “newyorkrealestate.com” will drive traffic to a New York real estate office. The same is true of RSS feeds.
When naming the file structure of your RSS feed-don’t choose something like “tomsdailynewsartcles,” but choose a detailed three to four keyword phrase for your feed. It will help you rank for those key phrases. If you have several areas of content, more strategic uses of search marketing are possible by using multiple RSS feeds for your search marketing goals.
Getting People to Subscribe to a Feed
Feeds should be prominently displayed on your site with a call to action to subscribe. Users can use many different methods to read your feed, including built-in services in an Internet browser, e-mail application, or mobile phone. As your audience subscribes to the various RSS feeds on your site, those subscribers help add to the overall recognition and strength of how your site produces natural, organic traffic through multiple sources. An important call to action on any site, newsletter, or feed is to encourage current readers to share the information and articles with like-minded friends and associates. Full Story
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