Going green isn’t exactly easy to do by your lonesome. Few of us are experts in the fields of energy innovation, nor do we have the skills to assess our individual circumstances and lifestyles and come to practical conclusions about how to save energy. Sure we can make the switch to CFLs, carpool three days out of the week, and properly insulate our homes, but in many cases the biggest contributors to our carbon footprint are ignored in favor of these more apparent and easier issue to tackle. The result is a whole lot of good intentions that unfortunately do not equate to a whole lot of difference being made.

In order to get the right idea about your own carbon footprint and ways to lessen its size, take advantage of resources available to you online. In particular, utilize the following four calculators that can make it easier to determine how to go about leading a greener life:

Household Emissions Calculator: This handy tool provided by the Environmental Protection Agency estimates your household emissions based on the data you enter and provides you with possible solutions to lower these levels. It breaks it down in both a dollars perspective and an emissions perspective, which comes handy for those who can’t help but calculate the cost benefits of green living.

Fuel Economy Calculator: Choosing the most fuel efficient vehicle you can afford is easier than using Anywho’s reverse phone number finder thanks to the fuel economy calculator provided by the U.S. Department of Energy. Every car is cataloged, from the ’57 Chevy to the 2012 Toyota Prius. Say goodbye to the days of the gas guzzler!

Home Energy Saver Calculator: Utilizing a whole range of data from your zip code to the age of your home to the price of your current kilowatt hour of electricity, the Home Energy Saver Calculator gives you a concise formula for ways to save on energy. As user Nick Wilder said: “It is one government service that makes paying taxes worthwhile.”

Carbon Footprint Calculator: The only one not available through a government agency, this incredibly detailed service featured on the Nature Conservancy website calculates your entire carbon footprint. In addition to such specifics as estimated air travel, the Carbon Footprint Calculator also factors in your dietary habits, an often overlooked aspect of our impact on the environment.

You don’t have to attempt going green alone. In fact it’s probably in both your best interest and the best interest of the planet if you don’t. Take advantage of all the free information that exists online, but particularly the useful eco-friendly calculators that make going green a lot easier and a lot more effective.

Alex S. is a freelance writer who has a passion for being eco-friendly, in addition enjoys learning about business and technology.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Use Online Calculators to Reduce Emissions and Save Energy

Eco-ski destinations and resorts provide a greener alternative for skiing and other recreational and sports enthusiasts. Private hotels and lodges are now incorporating green and environmentally friendly initiatives in their building and design practices and day-to-day operations as a way of contributing to the preservation of their local environment. Listed below are just some of the best eco-friendly global destinations for skiing and other recreational activities. You can get great late ski deals online so grab a bargain and see you on the slopes.

Nipika Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canadacaaa

Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies is the Nipika Mountain Resort, a self-sufficient and sustainable accommodation property. Its proximity to the Canadian Rockies makes it an ideal lodging option for skiing enthusiasts. Nipika Mountain Resort is completely off-grid, all cabins and rooms are powered by natural solar and wind sources. Cabin building materials and furniture in Nipika are made from dead wood procured from the surrounding forests.

Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole, U.S.A.

Located near the Jackson Hole Mountain Ski Resort and the Grand Teton National Park, Hotel Terra Jackson is a LEED certified hotel that integrates eco-friendly components in its architecture, design, operations, and energy utilization practices. Energy for the hotel is produced from green sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. Even the toiletries, beds and bedding ensembles are made from organic and natural materials. Recycling is highly encouraged and practiced in the hotel main rooms and guest rooms.

Aravis Lodge, La Clusaz, France

Aravis Lodge is one of the best eco-ski accommodation properties in St. Jean De Sixt near the La Clusaz ski commune in the French Alps. The Aravis Lodge is situated in a century-old chalet with 17 bedrooms and comfortable guest amenities like sauna and massage facilities.
The hotel incorporates an impressive array of eco-friendly practices including utilization of solar energy to produce heat and hot water. Even the in-house restaurant incorporates sustainable practices and uses free range local produce and free trade products in their menu.

Going green isn’t restricted to the house and office, by far. Choosing eco-minded destinations such as these Ski Resort options or Eco-Spa Resorts can make your green efforts even more enjoyable! Have fun!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

3 Fantastic Eco Ski Destinations

As concerns over climate change and our impact on the environment increases, there has never been a better time to start going green. Many businesses still believe that going green is too expensive or time-consuming, with the current economic climate adding to the notion that reduction of waste is not a priority. However, there are many simple ways a business can reduce their impact on the environment and it doesn’t necessarily have to involve drastic or expensive changes. By investing in changes now not only can it improve the profile and reputation of your business it could potentially save money through proposed tax cuts and reduced wastage.

Some of the easiest ways of being energy efficient are making sure lights, air conditioning and computer monitors are turned off when not in use, using motion censored lighting wherever possible. Surprisingly, the need for air conditioning and central heating can be reduced significantly by choosing the right blinds for your office windows. By opting for insulating honeycomb or cellular blinds rather than the standard vertical or roller blinds you can drastically reduce heat loss, keeping the office both warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Ask your waste disposal suppliers about recycling options as you may be able to recycle anything from paper and exhibition display materials such as banner stands to broken computer equipment and hazardous waste. Consider changing to suppliers that are dedicated to reducing their carbon foot-print, as there are many companies offering environmentally friendly products and services ensuring that your supplies do not contribute to damage caused by other businesses. Although recycling is an excellent way to improving your company’s green credentials, the best way (and most cost effective) is to avoid unnecessary waste in the first place. One of the easiest ways of doing this is reducing paperwork and print-outs. If possible print on both sides of the paper, send memos via email and store documents digitally. Keep any unwanted non-confidential print-outs for use as scrap paper and use recycled paper when possible, not only will you produce less waste, but help minimize those costly stationary orders.

There are many ways you can take charge of waste management, but as with any change it is most effective when everyone involved is equally committed. Many businesses offer incentives for employees to car share and use public transport, why not make it a team effort by getting your staff on board? Provide all necessary facilities for staff to heat, prepare and enjoy their lunch on-site to avoid the need to drive to local restaurants and cafes. Either provide mugs and cups or encourage staff to bring their own, reducing the need for wasteful paper and plastic coffee cups. By getting everyone involved you’ll not only boost team moral, but make the smaller changes more effective in reducing your business’s impact on the environment.

Liberty-Belle Howard is a UK blogger with a keen interest in green issues. She is currently writing on behalf of Marler Haley.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Go Green And Minimize Business Waste

Times are tough and money is tight for a lot of us. Here are a few tips you can easily implement to reduce your household bills whilst you save energy.

Go Paperless

Companies such as phone/energy providers, credit cards and catalogs have all been known to charge a little per month for printing and sending paper bills. It might take a while to check everything and switch, but all those little bits add up, so with a bit of a time investment you could save a significant amount – and a lot of paper that would have otherwise been wasted.

Cheap Insulation

If you don’t have double glazing, investing in weather stripping or even drought excluders to fill any cracks around windows and doors is a cheap and effective solution, as is installing heavy curtains or Roman Blinds to keep the heat in after dark. Likewise, conservatory blinds can keep heat in a conservatory in the winter months, and have the added bonus of keeping it shady and cool in the summer.  Those of you without loft insulation should consider placing a thick blanket over the loft hatch before closing it, making sure it overlaps the edges. This will create a thick seal which should prevent heat from escaping into the loft and out through the roof, and less lost heat means lower energy bills!

Wasting Water?

The simplest way to save water is to put an unused brick in your toilet cistern. You’ll use half a gallon less per flush, which is great if you’re on a water meter. If you don’t have a spare brick lying around, lots of water providers will give you a “water saver” for free which serves the same purpose, and if they don’t, fill an unused plastic bottle with sand or gravel, and it’ll do the job.

Turn Down The Boiler

We all know that keeping the heating in our homes low can go a long way to saving both energy and money, but did you know that doing the same with the hot-water thermostat on your boiler can do the same? Having the hot water temperature anywhere above 140F is a waste of energy as your boiler has to work harder to keep it hot, and turning it down means your baths and showers will be a far more pleasant temperature.

This post was written by Liberty-Belle Howard, a UK blogger with a keen interest in green issues. She is currently blogging on behalf of Hillary’s Blinds.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Reduce Your Household Bills By Going Green

What is the business cost of going green?

In today’s society most of us are becoming more environmentally conscious, particularly in our personal lives. If the adoption of greener habits and practices are going to accelerate then we need to see more green initiatives in business.

The larger organizations and the public sector often have the resources to appoint a green “Tsar”.  However, for most small to medium business, green often is tagged with a perception of additional cost which is clearly not popular in these more austere times.

Personally, I think taking a greener approach is not about making massive wholesale changes; it’s about evolution not revolution as the saying goes. Here are some simple examples :

Don’t Write Off The Paperless Office

The paperless office is a slightly tired phrase and fundamentally it is often perceived as flawed; people just love to print stuff off, don’t they? However, is it achievable in parts. There are examples of organizations who have successfully eliminated unnecessary paper waste in their organization by digitizing key business processes, such as the mail room, accounts payable, expenses. This takes away the need for people print and sign physical documents and helping to change habits.

Think about your own organization and how many paper based systems you still
use; holiday forms, purchase order sign-off, invoice sign off, expenses, just to name a few. I bet you can also come up with half a dozen significant issues associated with these
processes that impact the costs in your business as well. These are often exacerbated when your business is spread over multiple offices.

Then, consider the impact of managing these processes electronically or digitally. Other than the important role of eliminating waste there are some pretty significant advantages for businesses taking this approach, improved productivity, less errors, less staff time to manage the processes and less cost. I would also suggest that in most cases the benefits are measurable.

In the past this kind of automation has been the preserve of large corporates with huge IT budgets, but these days with the maturing of cloud based computing and software as service (SaaS) the cost of deployment and cost of ownership are significantly reduced.

A purist may say that there is still a green cost to running the IT equipment and my argument would be – fine – I agree. However, we cannot operate a business today without IT and suspect in most cases the incremental service cost and carbon footprint required to make these changes are significantly less the storing and shipping around unnecessary paper based files.

For instance, if you need, but don’t have high speed scanning equipment then don’t bother going out and buying more expensive equipment. Use a specialist service provider who has already made that investment. In most cases the equipment used by one of these specialist providers are significantly more superior than the equipment most of us would be able to purchase.

My suggestion – start with something small and very achievable.

Working From Home

The average worker spends 140 hours a year commuting to work and back. That’s 3 to 4 weeks a year. Most of this is by car and some by train.

Over 750,000 people commute into central London daily.

I am not sure what the carbon cost is for these kinds of figures, but I bet it’s substantial. Again, technology plays a part allowing people to work remotely and collaborate. Sure, there are some jobs that will simply never allow people to work from home.

The trend for home working is traditionally associated with sales and call centers. However, what about your administrative staff? Do they really need to be in the office? If you don’t adopt the philosophy of the paperless office this could be difficult. Also,  working from home 5 days a week for some staff members could be impractical. What about offering it as a benefit?  Allowing staff to work from home 1 or 2 days a week on a rotation may work for your office. It is well documented that staff that work from home are often more content, more organized and more productive and they take less sick time!

As a business you have to be organized. If your accounts payable clerk works from home a couple of days a week you have make a point of scanning the post every morning and delivering the post by electronic means. You don’t have to be in the office., there are a plethora of affordable document management tools available in the market place today that would work.

Not only do you have more content staff but you have more effective staff and just think of the carbon saving that could be achieved through simply reducing the amount of commuting time.

I believe the green price tag is a myth and I also think there are so many things that we can do that are simple, achievable, practical and cost-effective, but many of us miss these opportunities through this common misconception. If you need to reduce your office budget and have been looking at ways to eliminate unnecessary cost; then take this opportunity for change try taking a greener view.

The above sponsored post was submitted by Dajon. Dajon provides complete document and data management solutions helping  reduce costs and improve staff productivity.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Little Green Footsteps

Going green is in and looking for ways to keep our bodies healthy and the planet healthy at the same time is revitalizing and every little bit will help preserve the Earth for future generations. There are several ways to reduce our carbon footprint while sweating through a cardio session or pumping iron at home or in a gym. Let’s take a look at six ways you can go green with your workout.

Grab A Workout Partner
Teaming up with a workout partner is one of the best ways to stay motivated and accountable with your workouts. When lifting heavy weights, a partner can spot you to ensure that you avoid getting injured. In terms of going green, having a workout partner is a great way to help the environment when it comes to carpooling to the gym. By carpooling, you can cut emissions by only driving one vehicle. Better yet, a workout partner may be the motivation you both need to bike or jog to and from the gym together and keep the trip emission free.

Get Outside
If your aerobic workouts consist of using a treadmill or cycling machine, get outside for a change of pace. Using workout machines that use electricity can be a huge electrical energy drain. By getting outside to jog, walk or bike, you’ll be a big help to the planet. If you own a treadmill at home, you can save wear and tear on it by going outside instead. It will also reduce your energy costs.

Use Bodyweight Exercises
Bodyweight exercises are a great way to get a complete workout. They are versatile in that they can be performed just about anywhere and at anytime and they don’t require expensive equipment. Also, they keep your workout green by releasing you from the requirement of working out at a gym. Your gym becomes anywhere you choose to workout with bodyweight exercises. Some great bodyweight exercises include push-ups, crunches, reverse grip pull-ups, bodyweight squats, and planks.

Join a Green Gym
If you live in a larger city, you might be lucky enough to find one in it. A green gym basically modifies their cardio equipment so that the energy that exercisers generate when using a machine like a treadmill or stair-stepper is returned to the facility to power things like ceiling fans, lights, and televisions. As a bonus, since a gym will have reduced energy bills, they might pass along the  savings to members with lower membership fees.

Use Your Own Towel
Laundry machines use a significant amount of energy and can really increase a gym’s carbon footprint. Instead of using the towels at the gym, bring your own hand towel for wiping your hands or wiping down machines. Also bring your own towel for showering. For further energy savings, hang the hand and shower towels up to air dry and use them more than one time. By using your own towels, you will be doing your part to save the environment. If everyone started using their own towels, it would mean a huge carbon footprint reduction for the gym and less energy costs as well. The gym might pass these cost reductions to you in the form of reduced membership fees.

Refill That Water Bottle
Instead of buying bottled water or energy drinks and tossing the bottles away, hydrate through your workouts with a water bottle you can wash and refill. By buying fewer plastic bottles, you can keep landfills from filling up with the empties. It will also mean less energy is spent by companies producing the plastic bottles and less energy spent transporting them to grocery stores.

This post has been written by Carson from Building Body Muscles.com. Buildingbodymuscles is all about gaining muscle. If you are looking for tips to gain muscle naturally then subscribe to their RSS.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Guest Post: Six Ways You Can Green Your Gym and Workout Routines

As recent headlines suggest, going green in the workplace is a steadily growing trend. There are even awards for companies that can do it the best. While going paperless and switching to recycled office supplies is usually an executive decision , because going green can be challenging, inconvenient, and let’s be honest, expensive—employers might not be so gung-ho about turning their facilities into an eco-friendly workplace. But that doesn’t mean that you as an individual can’t do small things around the office
that will help in the preservation of the environment. Here are some simple yet effective ways you can go-green at your place of employment.

Green Transportation

Rather than driving to work every day, risking the emission of harmful toxins into the environment, try arranging a carpool with co-workers. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but you can also save a bundle on gas money as well. If your place of employment is generally close in proximity to your home, you can also consider riding a bike to work. You don’t have to necessarily ride your bike every day, but once or twice a week can substantially reduce the amount of carbon released into the air. If your job doesn’t necessarily require you to be in the office, let’s say for instance you’re some sort of writer and can theoretically work anywhere as long as you have computer and internet access, ask your employer about the possibility of working from home. Make sure to tell your boss telecommuting is a good way to eliminate cars on the road and can  also be very cost effective—one less person in the office means less toilet paper and office supplies will need to be ordered.

Green Office Attire

Even if you have to wear stockings and a blazer to work every day, that doesn’t mean that you can’t wear clothes that are safe for the environment. Believe it or not, there are tons clothes made from organic cotton, wool and hemp-based materials. Another option is to buy clothes from thrift stores and consignment shops rather than purchasing them new at department stores. And if at all possible, try to avoid purchasing clothes that need to be dry cleaned as most facilities use cleaning chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Green Office Practices

There are tons of easy things you can do in your office to go green. The first is to bring a few desk plants to decorate your cubicle. It will make your desk look more pleasant and absorb many indoor pollutions. Bring reusable containers for your home lunches and reusable dishes, silver and glassware to prevent the waste of paper products. Also remember to bring a dishtowel—you’ll need to wash these items and drying plates with paper towels is a no, no. You can also try to eliminate paper all together by emailing letters and converting all you files digitally. If you need to use paper for printing purposes, print on both sides of the paper. Whatever you do, make sure that if you do use paper to dispose of it in the proper recycling bins.
Another good way to go green in the office is to invest in a power strip chord. Because all electronics can be inserted into this strip, including computers, printers, lamps and chargers, conserving energy can be as easy as flicking off a switch.

Strike Up A Conversation

If you want to persuade your coworkers to go green as well, sometimes it’s as simple as leaving your bicycle helmet on your desk. It can spark a lot of questions of why you ride your bicycle to work and you’ll have plenty of answers.

This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes on the topics of nursing schools. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Guest Post: Simple Green Office Practices

Going green has become a popular thing to do, and thankfully this also means that you are taking better care of yourself. These methods can keep you feeling healthy and also ensure that you are doing your part to maintain healthy and eco-friendly living.

1. Go Organic: Not only does organic food taste better as it lacks the usual pesticides, but that also makes it better for the environment. Picking organic fruits and vegetables ensures that no pesticides or additives are used, and this means it’s healthier for you and for the environment.
2. Choose to Walk: If you have the option to walk to a chosen destination rather than jumping in the car, then try it out. This ensures that you get in some exercise which contributes to a healthy and natural lifestyle. In the process, you are also doing your part to eliminate dangerous emissions from your car. So walk it out!
3. Quit Smoking: Smoking isn’t just bad for you; it’s also bad for the environment. You are literally polluting the air when you exhale the harmful smoke from cigarettes. So if you quit smoking altogether, you are keeping the earth safer and ensuring that you are maintaining a better picture of health in the process.
4. Open Your Windows: If you’re at home or in the car, open your windows rather than running the air conditioning. This ensures that you get fresh air that keeps you feeling good. It also means that you are doing your part to conserve energy and going green as you do so. This is another instance of what is good for you is also good for the environment.
5. Use Green Skin Care Products: If you want to ensure that you maintain healthy and beautiful skin, buy organic or green products. These are tested appropriately, use natural ingredients, and are far better for your skin. They are also far better for the environment, so it’s a true win-win!
6. Only Clean with Green Products: Household cleaners can be one of the worst sources of pollutants in your very own environment. So rather than using the typical household cleaners that have a long list of potentially dangerous ingredients choose healthy and green alternatives. Go for natural options such as vinegar, or even those that have certain standards and ingredients in their creation.
7. Grow Your Own Garden: Who doesn’t love that taste of fresh produce? You can have it for yourself by growing your own produce. This ensures that you get healthy and natural fruits and vegetables, and gives back to the environment in the process. It’s easy to do and good for you and Mother Earth!

Going green is a lot easier than you might think, especially these days! If you want to take care of yourself and the environment at the same time, find effective ways such as these to do both. You’ll feel better and be taking care of the environment in the process.

M. Ward blogs about how to study to obtain an <a href=”http://onlinebsn.org/”>online BSN degree</a>.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Guest Post: 7 Ways to Go Green and Improve Your Health