Furniture/Design

Contrary to popular belief, going green in the office isn’t restricted to computer-based technologies.  While they’re certainly a large part of it, building a green office literally begins from the ground up.

Flooring:  Choosing a decidedly green flooring option like bamboo, linoleum, wool, or other FSC certified hardwood is a good place to start saving: the environment and your money.  Wool for example, is a great substitute for common synthetic carpet materials because it’s stain resistant and retains heat during the colder months, while wicking heat and moisture away during the hotter parts of the year.  This means big savings on both energy and maintenance costs.  So if you are designing your own office, or get to tell your leasing manager how you want your office to look, be sure to request green flooring to maximize savings.

Furniture: Plenty of local places offer green solutions for furniture.  Whether you be looking for New York or san diego office furniture, green furniture companies will work with you to get the best deals on ergonomic, cheap, environmentally sound cubicles and other green office goods that not only increase the comfort levels for your employees, but also offer cost-effective, and aesthetically superior green solutions for your work place.

You can also opt to purchase previously owned furniture. By purchasing previously used furniture from an office resale supply store, you will get great products at a lower price and will be adhering to green standards through minimization and reusing.

Cloud Computing

In order to understand exactly how cloud computing can help your business save money, it’s important to understand the basics of how it works.  A simplified definition of cloud computing is internet-centralized business software.

Instead of purchasing in-house technical products (computer software, devices, tangles of wires, etc.) companies will have a cloud provider furnish them with an Internet destination that acts as their software hub.  This hub can be accessed remotely by anyone in the company, from any computer or internet-connected device.  What does this mean for the environment, your business, and saving money?

Lowered IT costs/wastes:  Without fancy in-house software and equipment comes a drastic reduction in IT costs.  The fact that the cloud can be serviced remotely makes it much easier to maintain and keep running effectively.  It also usually includes upgrades, product enhancement, and support.  Right there you cut tremendous capital investment, as well as upgrade and software update costs.  You also eliminate much in the way of energy costs associated with tangible software products and wasteful paper goods.

Mobility, Risk:  The remote access afforded by cloud technology gives employers options for greater mobility.  Having employees work remotely saves a business money on office space and even more so on salary costs because employers don’t have to factor in transportation costs into paychecks to make a commute worth it to their employees.

Working from a remote platform also reduces the risk of security breaches as these internet-based technologies are laden with encryption software and other measures that fortify your business’ intel.  It’s also a vastly smaller monetary risk one takes with cloud technology as services can simply be canceled, as opposed to being stuck with purchased in-house goods and software that often becomes quickly outdated and needs repairs.

Lighting

Another often-undiagnosed cost to small businesses comes in the very light under which they operate.  No longer are we resigned to the ancient, inefficient Edison-designed bulbs of the past.  With the advent of LED technology, companies can save huge amounts of energy by making a simple switch.  LED use is growing rapidly and offers numerous benefits for small business owners out there.

LED Facts:  LEDs use 50-80% less power, cutting annual energy/electricity costs drastically.  A standard CFL usually lasts around 6–8 thousand hours, or, less than 1 year.  A similar LED version can last up to 50-80 thousand hours – that’s almost 10 years if it’s left on 24/7 – meaning serious savings in new light purchases and maintenance costs over time.  Users also get increased tax benefits for switching to LED lights.

At this point, it would be hard to denounce the many benefits associated with green business options.  And as the market for these products continues to grow and expand, you can certainly look for higher energy and monetary savings in the way of green technologies in the near future.  By keeping your eyes open for the latest green office ideas, you ensure not only a healthier environment for all of us, but also a smoother, more cost-effective business for you and your employees.

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Going Green to Save Green: 3 Money-Saving Office Solutions

Supply them: To help your employee’s get on to the eco-friendly band wagon, supply them with the tools to get there. There are plenty of eco- friendly office supplies sites that you can use, like pens, paper, toner, ink and other things. Most of the time, people have a hard time spending the extra penny on something eco-friendly, so look into buy coffee mugs and water tumblers so they aren’t using paper cups and what not.

Incentives: Just like when your company hit’s a team goal or does something well, you reward them. Host mini-contests that lean on the green side, the employee to use the least amount of paper, or that recycles the most while at work gets a small prize. (And don’t forget to give them an eco-friendly prize!)

Keep positive: Be careful not to harp on your employee’s, you don’t want to annoy them with your constant pestering. Keep it light hearted and fun. The more you make it an exciting and fun thing, the less they will resist. Make sure that you do not force your personal reasons on going green on them.

Educate: Teach your employees why you and your company have chosen the path you have. Leaving literature for them to read in the work/break room is a good start. Don’t be afraid to hold a small meeting on your decision. As stated before you do not want to bombard them with your personal views and what not, so focus on why it is beneficial within in the company and avoid talking about why ’you’ have chosen to be eco-friendly. Posters, brochures, occasional, email links and blogs will also educate your employees. The more they know, the more your employees will understand and want to be more green conscious.

Once your employees understand why eco-friendly is the best way to go, they most likely will jump on board. Remember to make it fun and don’t force your green ways on them. Good luck and have fun being an eco-friendly office!

This Guest post is by Christine Kane from internet service providers, she is a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about a wide-variety of subjects for different blogs. She can be reached via email at: Christi.Kane00 @ gmail.com.

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How to get your Employee’s to be Eco-Friendly

Years ago a computer teacher told the class “You will not find a BUB on your keyboard!” Huh?? Blow Up Button – Ohhhhh! I’m not saying wordpress has a blow up button but if you don’t take simple measures – it might as well! WP hacks & crashes have become a concern the past week or more including sites like WooThemes and one of my own valued clients site and I’m sure that is far – far from the end of the list!

I feel it warrants some attention. I recommend a read through 4 Simple Ways to Secure (and Maintain) Your WP Site for some valuable information.

In a nutshell:
1. UPDATE, daily if needed: I know I sound like a broken record, but this is the most basic item on the list and it can literally make or break your site! WP 3.3.2 was just released and it addresses some important security issues – do not ignore it! Additionally, update plugins and themes as will. Remove any plugins or themes you are not using while your at it. WP is in the beta phase of 3.4 as well so look out for this.

2. Secure your computer – keep anti-virus software, and all software for that matter up to date, don’t ignore update messages there’s a reason they are there! Mac users beware! Viruses are gaining popularity. I had malware pop up the other day, it was written for Microsoft, it may not have hurt me but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t pass it along to others that have PC’s.

3. Passwords & Usernames: passwords, make sure they are secure, change them up, don’t use “admin” for your WP username, don’t use the same password everywhere, remove user profiles from your dashboard which no longer require access to your site.

4. Research plug ins & themes before activating them. Research the stability of a WP update before running it. Run a full cpanel update before a WP update. Don’t just install any plugin that you think will be neat to have. Read the details, research popularity, conflicts etc.

5. Hosting: Have a host that offers a standard cpanel and is secure. Run full cpanel back ups periodically and before doing WP updates. WP back up plug ins are good to have in place, but from experience when a full restore of your site is needed, the host needs the full back up. I have yet to find any use of the WP generated back up. IMPORTANT: I didn’t say don’t install/use them, I just said back up various ways. Find a host with 24/7 phone support as well as one recommended by friends and fellow site owners. There is nothing worse then discovering your site is down – having a host on the other side of the world – they only use a ticket system so no one to call – and when you get a response it’s too tell you they don’t have a security department – good luck with that!

All the above has NOTHING to do with how much traffic you get on your site! Too many people say, I don’t get much traffic – or my site isn’t that big. I don’t know why hackers and malware coders do what they do, but I promise they don’t care if you have high traffic or a huge page count. If your site is unsecured it’s fair game!

Trust me giving your WP site a little TLC is WAY better then waking up one morning and your whole site, all your hard work (and the hard work of your site designer) is gone! If you need help getting your site up to date Eco-Office Gals offers one-time or monthly maintenance services. Contact us at anytime.

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Does WordPress have a BUB?

Making Your House a Green House

Thinking about ways to save the planet can sure keep you up at night. But what if the answer to going green was literally right under your pillow the whole time? It turns out that the furniture you pick for your bedroom can make a big impact.

The synthetic plastics and chemicals that go into the making of some bedroom furniture can have detrimental effects on the environment. In addition, certain paints and dyes used to add colour to furniture are also potentially toxic to
the environment. When you decorate your bedroom with sustainable green furniture, you are not only creating a healthier planet, but also a healthier home environment for you and your family.

If you are committed to decorating your home in a way that is green friendly while still beautiful, you may want to consider wooden beds. Wooden beds made of sustainable materials are a wonderful alternative to today’s highly
manufactured and processed toss away furniture. Not only are they good for the environment, but wooden beds are high quality, durable and will last a lifetime. This means a winning situation for you and for the environment.

Be a Gem to the Planet

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but a woman who wears eco-friendly jewelery is truly the planet’s best friend. Simply by purchasing handmade jewelery by local artisans, you can cut down on the pollution and toxicity
that is created by the fabrication of much of the retail world’s costume jewelery. Some shops have begun selling jewelery made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. The market for green, eco-friendly jewelery has truly
blossomed in recent years. With such beautiful craftsmanship and artistry in such a wide scope of styles, you will never have to sacrifice style for sustainability when selecting from the amazing jewelery pieces for sale. For gift
giving, there is no better gift than giving a friend or loved one a stunning piece of jewelery that you can proudly tell them does not harm the environment.

Take a Stand for the Environment

Instead of standing around wondering how to go green, why not stand around in a lovely pair of eco-friendly shoes? That’s right, you can outfit your feet in shoes that are good for the earth. In recent years, the demand for stylish and
affordable shoes that are manufactured with natural, non-animal ingredients has rocketed. Fashion lines have responded with footwear lines featuring vegan shoes. These ethically manufactured shoes come in all the styles you
love of traditionally designed shoes. From sneakers to work attire to fun sandals, eco-friendly styles have your feet covered. If you want to start living a green life, vegan shoes are a step in the right direction.

Small changes today can have a big impact on tomorrow. By implementing small, but often overlooked, changes like the ones mentioned above you are on your way to a greener life.

My name is Patrick and I’m guest blogging about how to live a greener life for Warren Evans a retailer of ethically sourced, hand built beds

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

A Green Life is a Good Life

The TDS meter helps put a number on what your taste buds already tell you about what’s in water. The higher the reading on the water, the more things dissolved in water. It shows the total number of detectable dissolved solids.

When I first received the pitcher, I tested the water from the faucet and it read 048 this is actually not bad – I had heard SC had some of the best water in the country and now I see this is apparently true. Now funny enough just before starting this review I was staging the pictures in this post and the reading was 094, we had rain all day yesterday so I am assuming it must have stirred up the well water a good bit. My Zerowater reading is 000 every-time to-date and the water tastes great!

What I loved most about the pitcher I thought was going to be it’s biggest flaw. The spout at the bottom of the pitcher was an instant hit for me, no more waiting for the tap water to run through the filter before filling my glass. Especially since this household seems to love cold air (putting the pitcher back in the refrigerator empty). However, upon the first fill up my daughter was calling me into the kitchen – water was pouring everywhere! The button had popped out and water was pouring out! Luckily we fixed it quickly and the issue hasn’t happened again.

I love that it holds much more water then my former competitors pitcher, less fills up. Granted it takes up a bit more room, but that’s an acceptable trade off.

I’m very happy with the results of ZeroWater and I’m sure you will be, too! Want one now? Use coupon code MC30, for 30% off a 10 Cup ZeroWater pitcher. Or why not take your chance at winning one first?? My readers have a chance to win one of TWO 10 Cup ZeroWater Pitchers!

To enter for your chance to win complete the mandatory entry below and additional optional entries plus comeback and share each day for additional points! Two winners will be announced 4/25/2012 Due to shipping restrictions, we request that your giveaway winners live in the continental United States. – Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ZeroWater and received a water pitcher to facilitate my review, two pitchers to giveaway, and extra filters to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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ZeroWater Review & Giveaway {2 Winners}

The following is a list of the top 3 most eco-friendly flooring options that you might consider for your business space.

Wool Carpeting

Wool isn’t just good for keeping you warm; it’s also a great option for your floors if you prefer carpeting.  Durable, soft, fire-retardant, and great for heat, humidity, and temperature absorption, wool is a great option for a number of reasons.  In the warmer months, wool floors will help keep the office cooler by wicking away humid moisture and repelling heat.  Conversely, in the cooler months, it will retain heat and keep the office warmer.

As it’s recyclable, stain resistant, and very renewable, wool becomes a great eco-friendly option for those in need of office carpeting.  Companies like Prosource Carpet offer great wool carpeting products as well as other green carpeting options for your consideration.

Bamboo

Not only is bamboo a beautiful choice for flooring, it’s also very easy to install and highly sustainable as it grows in abundance in the U.S. and abroad.  Cured bamboo, as is used in most flooring operations, is very resilient and is available in a large variety of styles and textures.  Bamboo flooring is becoming hugely popular for these reasons, and is both a great visual and environmentally sustainable way to dress your office.  Also, bamboo is a great choice for those suffering from asthma and allergies, which could be a great benefit for some of your employees.

Linoleum

Linoleum flooring, despite what many think, is actually made from renewable materials often including limestone, pine rosins, wood flour, and linseed oil, among others.  If you’ve ever seen or owned any linoleum floors, which you likely have, then you already know how durable and easy to maintain it is.  Another big perk for existing businesses especially is the fact that linoleum flooring is offered in just about any color conceivable, making it an easy match for any existing office décor.

While going green certainly doesn’t end with the physical designs and building materials for your business, it does make a great starting point, and can help guide you down a greener, more sustainable path in the future.  Choosing the right flooring for your business needs can be both a painless and beneficial process for all involved.  As far as your style and the environment are concerned, it should be a win-win for both.

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Eco-Friendly Flooring: Top 3 Green Options for Your Business Space

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

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Happy Easter 2012

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The Virtual Office: Can Your Business Go Any Greener?

About Shaklee:

Our mission at Shaklee is to provide a healthier life for everyone and a better life for anyone. We do it by making natural products that are so exceptional, you just have to tell your friends. Every product that goes into every Shaklee bottle is designed to improve health, work without compromise, and be gentle on the planet. That’s the short answer.

Since I had done the round with the cleaning line and was very pleased I was more then happy to do another when I was approached. Since I’m getting up there in age, I’m trying to pay a little more attention to my skin these days. So this was a great opportunity to try some face remedies.

Enfuselle® Time Repair A.M.® SPF 15 -  A five-in-one wrinkle treatment that meets all your skin’s daytime needs for renewal, brightening, moisturization, nourishment, and protection. Your skin becomes measurably brighter, clearer, and smoother. Paraben Free.

I really like this lotion, it’s not heavy. Doesn’t stink with any heavy perfumes and a little goes a long way.

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Eco-Options: Shaklee

Minimize the amount of paper used
A nice starting point; this can be achieved in many ways. Perhaps one of the most obvious is to print fewer documents; with the advent of email this is now easier than ever, and a quick internal email can replace the old fashioned memo, and save a sheet of paper in the process. The same can be achieved with presentation hand-outs, receipts for payments, and many other documents used in the workplace.

If a document must be printed, ensure that double-sided printing is used, as this will halve the amount of required paper. Not only does this save you money, it also reduces the impact of your business’ printing on the environment. Unfortunately some older printers do not offer this function, which brings us to the next point.

Recycle!
This is so easy, yet so effective. Dividing the rubbish bin into two separate bins, one for trash and one for recyclables, allows you and your colleagues to do your bit for the environment with minimal thought and effort. The simple act of separating recyclables and non-recyclables means that cans, bottles, paper and cardboard will be recycled into other products rather than being incinerated or put into landfill.

Out with the old, in with the new!
Though the initial expense may be off-putting, replacing old IT equipment with newer versions can reduce your carbon footprint, and may lower future costs through reducing the need for maintenance. Modernizing computers and printers, for example, is likely to reduce electricity bills and will optimize the efficiency of your office operations (new machines are faster, and may feature settings that were not present in, their ancestors).

• Equipment you may consider replacing includes:

• CRT monitors: replace with LCD monitors (lower power consumption)

• Printers: replace with newer models (more efficient with toner consumption, offer double-sided printing)

• Lights: old bulbs can be replaced with energy saving bulbs (the clue is in the name!)

What to do with the old equipment?
Replacing old equipment is all well and good, but it does lumber you with a large amount of redundant equipment to dispose of. In this day and age, simply throwing old computers in the bin won’t cut it. This is not only because of the environmental impact of doing so; if the thrown out computers are found, important files left on them may be accessed by individuals outside of your business.

In terms of the environmental aspect, the chemicals and toxins found in old electronics can contaminate the area in which they are disposed, and cause lasting effects to the surrounding ecosystems. WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) recycling can help you to dispose of unwanted equipment while protecting the environment and your data. WEEE recycling may be an option worthy of considering for disposing of your business’ electronics.

Author Bio: Chris Lee is studying for a BA in Music, and also enjoys blogging on a range of topics including cooking, being a student, and IT. This post was written on behalf of Equanet; providers of WEEE recycling options.

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How to Make Your Workplace Greener