Is Your Company As Green As It Should Be?

It is a fact that companies who take a clean and green approach to the way that they operate are more trusted by customers, and the public in general, and also incur fewer costs. What then can be done to become an environmentally friendly company?

Reduce wastage – Practically every company produces waste of some sort, whether it be paper or left over raw products, and where there is waste, there is a way of reducing it. Being more careful and precise when creating products, using less packaging, and sending invoices electronically, are just a few examples of ways that wastage can be reduced.

Buy Recycled Paper – Producing one tonne of recycled paper saves 3000 liters of water and 78% energy use. Air emissions of gases such as CO2 are cut by 95% and there is less pollution because recycled paper is not bleached with chlorine. As for purchasing recycled paper, it is no more expensive than virgin paper, and nowadays the quality is as good.

Re-Use Plastic Cups – Plastics are harmful to the environment both when they are produced (various chemicals are emitted) and when they are disposed of (taking hundreds of years to decompose). Therefore, it really is inexcusable to not re-use the same plastic cup throughout the day, or to even do away with plastic cups altogether and just use mugs instead.

Recycle Printer Cartridges – Around 2 million printer cartridges are discarded every year. Recycling cartridges is easy as many suppliers offer a return scheme for used cartridges. Using recycled toner cartridges reduces demand for raw materials and they can be purchased for as little as half the price of non-recycled cartridges.

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Technorati Tags: business, environmental, green, Recycling, reference, society

Should We All be Using Bamboo in the Future?

Ok, so Bamboo PC’s were just gimmicks. The laptop launched at the Hanover computer fair last March, with a laminated bamboo casing around a pretty conventional computer won’t make a dent in the rising tide of plastics sold around the world.

Even though these bamboo PCs won’t save the environment, they did prove how versatile bamboo really is.

Bamboo must be the only plant on the planet that is a source of food, works as building materials and woven fabrics. Even one of Edison’s original light bulbs had a bamboo filament. Due to bamboo being so strong and cheap, it has become a widely used product for scaffolding in parts of Asia. Fibres from bamboo poles are extremely strong, it both tension and compression terms. It’s compressive strength works out around twice that of concrete, bamboo also has the same tensile strength to weight ratio as steel. And now there’s a bamboo laptop!

Bamboo ticks lots of boxes for anyone buying eco-friendly home furnishings. For a start, it’s a highly sustainable raw material. Some bamboo species are able to grow more than one metre every day. The locals that live close to these fantastic plants are able top cut down as much bamboo as they need while still having the same sized forest at the end of the year as they did at the beginning. As for the global warming problem, because bamboo is a plant, all products made out of the sustainable material contains a large amount of atmospheric carbon. Any plastic equivalent has added to the atmosphere’s carbon level!

Another point would be, because bamboo is a natural material, there are huge variations between the plants, this makes it a very difficult material to be used in mass production. You can be pretty sure that a craftsman has produced any bamboo item you buy. If you buy from a reputable source of eco-friendly products, you’ll know that the craftsman that made the item was paid a fair wage for their time and skills. Finally you’ll be sure that the product you buy hasn’t accumulated air miles in its journey from craftsman to your home.

With eco credentials as strong as these, it’s amazing how beautiful bamboo products are. Just picture a hand crafted bamboo box, layered 15 times with natural shellac. All natural, and really lovely. Only the other day, I bought an amazingly crafted bamboo knife block and am now seriously considering investing in some other bamboo kitchen accessories such as salad bowls. Stylish and ethical. Win.

 

Technorati Tags: eco, eco-friendly, green, home furnishings, kitchen accessories

Recycle The Items Around You

We are constantly being told to recycle as much of our waste as we can. plastic containers and cardboard items can be recycled with relative ease as lots of people have separate bins for this stuff or can drop it off at a recycling centre in town. Larger items are another issue however, and we don’t really get told what to do with these. Things like chairs, windows and kitchen units usually find their way to the tip and often get destroyed. This is not only a big environmental concern but also a financial one, so here is some advice for making the most from the items already in your home.

Wood. Lots of people are very quick to get rid of their old chest of draws or bookshelf without taking some time to consider if they still have some use. With a little imagination you can make a great coffee table by bolting a 2 or 3 kitchen cupboards together, removing the handles and placing them door-side-up on the floor. The best bit is that the coffee table will double up as storage space as you can just open the lid and pop stuff in. You can also use wood to make lots of little things such as door stops and chopping boards and even wine racks

Glassware. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be an expert in glass melting in order to reuse an old glass. Glasses can be used to pot house plants, store knick-knacks in, and even create feature walls with if you’ve got the time to make it. Glass is a very versatile material to use but people tend to just get unnecessarily scared trying to recycle it.

Furniture. This is one of the hardest things to recycle and I’m not saying that you will be able to make tableware out of your old sofa, but sometimes there is scope to get a few more years out of items you thought were at the end of their life. If items have exhausted their use in the home, they can often be put to good use in the garden. If you take off the padding, most dining chairs can be used outside if given a good coat of varnish. Old curtain poles also come in very useful for attaching a clothes line to, or running cable through to the shed or garage.

Technorati Tags: green, homeware, house, Recycling, Reuse

A couch potato’s 10 steps to fight global warming

The Green Effect

During this economic crisis and continued global warming, the need for sustainable development has become a now issue instead of a later issue. Both private and government entities (including the EPA) have come up with programs and products that promote “green” production and consumption. These environment-friendly practices are now being used in numerous firms and industries.

But what about the apartments we rent? Are our homes as “anti global waming” as they should be? Continued efforts to sustain the environment should first and foremost be undertaken under our own roof. These can be done with the use of products that consume less energy and other resources. Over time, the use of these products can result not only in savings but also in the reduction of waste and materials harmful to our homes and the environment.

Here’s a quick list of 10 items I’ve discovered that can make a world of a difference.

1. Heat-energy recovery system

· Sensible Heat Energy Recovery System (SHERS) uses heat generated from an air-conditioner or refrigerator to heat water. Payback period is anywhere from six months to two years

2.The Eco Bio Block

· Made of volcanic stones and beneficial bacteria, is used to purify water in home aquariums, water tanks and big bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and marshes. When used in home aquariums, there is no need to filter, clean and change water for a period of one to three years.

3. Biowash ball

· Washing clothes without using a detergent may seem strange. Introducing the Anabess biowash ball, it’s made of natural ceramics & alters the chemical composition of the water so it can wash clothes more effectively without liquid detergent. It should last 3 years. Think of the savings in gas from running to the store for more detergent.

4. Air-con with inverter technology

· The Panasonic Envio series of air-conditioners makes use of an “inverter technology” that changes compressor operation speed to match a changing room temperature and adjust power output accordingly, which leads to reduced energy consumption of up to 50 percent, while product only costs about 14% more than the average AC. The payback period may be expected in about seven months..

5.Low Flow faucets

Moen has mother natures call for water conservation by coming up with a line of WaterSense-certified bathroom faucets. With the help of new aerator technology these Moen faucets use 30% less water than other models but still feel just as powerful on your hands.

6. Compact fluorescent lamp

· Much has been said about the efficiency of compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs. They last about 5x longer than incandescent lamps and consume 80% less energy with the same level of brightness. Companies such as Purely Products even carry CFLs that double as ionizers for the room, eliminating the need for an unsightly ionizer on the floor.

7.Reusable shopping bags

· The impact of just one person changing to reusable bags over a two-year period is significant. Used twice a week for two years a consumer would save 832 plastic bags from going in a landfill.

8.Biodegradable Cellulose Sandwich bags

· Typical plastic bags are derived from petroleum and take well over a lifespan to decompose. These biodegrade in 1-3 months in soil BUT actually keep food lasting longer, unlike evil plastic, they don’t release gases which spoil food taste.

9.Smart Surge Protector

· Green Home introduced a smart surge protector. The power strip can ’sense’ the flow of electrical current through the strip’s control outlet. This unique option enables the Smart Strip to turn off selected equipment when it’s not in use saving you time & greenbacks!

A small electronic device inside the Smart Strip monitors the current on a single outlet. Let’s say the computer is plugged into that single outlet. When your PC is finished powering off, the current draw from the computer drops to its idle current — and the Smart Strip monitors the current change, automatically powering down all of the computer peripherals.

The Smart Strip Power Strip is the only surge protector on the market today with energy saving electronics. The 10 outlet surge protector version has 1 Control Outlet, 3 Constant Hot Outlets, and 6 Switched Outlets.

10.Compostable Trash Bags

· These BioBags are made from GMO free starch and are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable.

Now that you know about these products start using them daily. By changing just a few things we use daily, we each can do our part.

Technorati Tags: Climate change, eco-friendly, environment, environmental protection, Global Warming, go green, green, save the earth, save the planet, sustainabillity, the green effect

Become green at work

why not go green at work too? That’s not as hard as you think. Just a few adjustments and your office is on its way to being green!

1. First, think about paper. Buy the recycled paper and products. Not quite sure how to tell? Just take a look at the pacage and it will show if it’s recycled or not.

2. Try hunting for treasures at yard sales or resale shops instead of purchasing new furniture. Or if you have time, just give your old stuff a face lift! Got creative.

3. When you leave the office for the day,try unplugging everything instead of just turning everything off. It will save energy in the long run.

4. Try arranging your office place, so you don’t need to turn on any lights during the day. Move your desk next to a window so it can be provided light by Mother Nature!

5. Instead of printing office memos, try sending co-workers an email instead. That goes for employeers manuals also, if it’s possible, have all employeers read the manualls online instead of using paper.

6. Make a habit to recycle everything in your office. Keep a bin where other employees can pitch in as well. You can recycle everything in office, like fax paper, envelopes or junk mail. You can recycle your pc and equipment in your office. Check with your local colleges and schools; they might be able to use them in classroom.

7. When possible, try getting to work by using public transportation, carpooling or riding a folding electric bike or scooter. Walk if you live not very far,it helps the environment ,and also helps you getting more healthy!

8. When you clean the office, be sure to use nontoxic cleaning products and brighten up your office with plants. They actually absorb indoor toxins and also pretty!

9. If you have a kitchen area at the office, bring your own dishes and reusable containers and silverware. Try to avoid plastic cups and Styrofoam products. Try to encourage other employees to do the same.

10. Use green marketing tool. Let your customers, and the public know that your company is environmentally friendly. It will enhance your company’s image.

11. Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. They last much longer and are good for the environment.

12. If your office receives newsletters or magazines, find out if you can receive them online instead of through the mail. When you have read them,delete them instead of tossing them to the wast basket!

13. Try to keep your office at a steady temperature. In the winter, instead of turning up the heat, try wearing warmer clothes.

And last but not least, who says you have to have an electric pencil sharpener? Buy the old timer type, you know, the ones that require a twist of the wrist to sharpen. That goes for staplers too. With just a few adjustments, you can make a difference in the workplace and the world!

Technorati Tags: bike, Efficient energy use, electric, Environmentally friendly, green

How Green Is Your Workplace?

Stop Talking Start Doing – IBM’s ad shows the way

We’ve all seen the TV campaigns, news stories and general buzz about reducing your carbon footprint at home. An army of newly-enlisted eco-warriors are going about switching to energy saving bulbs, insulating their lofts and stopping putting their TVs on standby.It’s commendable stuff, but unfortunately CO2 emissions from individuals are only a minority of the problem.The truth is that the largest part of the global enviornmental burden comes from businesses and organisations.  And just like any economy of scale, in larger organisations even a small change can have a huge impact.

This may be all true, I hear you say. Not my job though. Reducing the company’s carbon footprint is my boss’s job, not mine. Hell no. If you have a workplace, you can make big changes to your employer’s carbon footprint.Plus it can be a lot more effective than the actions you take at home.

Here are some pointers, small and large, on achieving a greener workplace:

1. Recycle office waste. The amount of paper, cans and plastic used at work is many times more than what you throw away at home. Why not try bringing in recycle containers in accessible locations. Its simpler than you think, as there are countless government and charity programs to do this for you for free.
2. Drive less to work. Emissions from car exhausts are so harmful, and they can be cut by starting a fairly simple car pooling system. Or better still, think about cycling or walking to work.
3. Switch to energy saving lightbulbs. Switching a few bulbs in the house conserves only a small amount of energy. But think of how much more energy is used in lighting up your office and you begin to see how powerful a simple thing like switching to energy saving bulbs could be.
4. Green Information Technology. The energy usage of IT systems is huge for the majority of companies and organisations. You can make a big difference simply by making sure your monitor isn’t left on standby when you finish work. Or better still, get on to your IT department to review their “green baseline”. Get them to perform some proper asset tracking on all office IT equipment, using professional asset management software, a business can dramatically reduce its carbon footprint and help meet increasingly stringent government environmental requirements.
5. Campaigning. Go to the next level. Get like-minded colleagues together to run green campaigns and the real revolution begins.By putting pressure on our bosses to take seriously their green duties we little guys can make a real difference. Very often going green also saves a lot of money, as the TV ad above shows.  For example, companies involved in transporting goods and supplies often generate millions of tons of CO2. Pushing them to properly review their transport and logistics management and make the smallest of improvements can save them big money and dramatically reduce their carbon footprint in the process.

This is just a starting point on the subject. This article was primarly aimed at getting your juices flowing about this issue. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to air your thoughts!

Technorati Tags: campaigning, carbon emissions, Carbon Footprint, environment, green, green at work, workplace