Eco-Office Gals» green business

The Green Job Front – Five Tips to Find a Green Career

Jen — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:49:01 +0000

Are you hoping to find an environmentally friendly employer? It may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually getting easier every day. Here are five tips that you may want to keep in mind:

Brand yourself green. Environmentalism starts at home. To find a green job, you need to be green yourself – that is, if you want to land that green job once you find it. Start showing your own commitment to the environment. Remember that actions speak louder than words. Telling interviewers that you feel strongly about the environment is a good start – but it isn’t enough. Make sure that you are taking actions to reduce your own carbon footprint, like taking the bus or biking to work, buying sustainably grown local produce, and finding ways to reduce your consumption. Try volunteering with a local conservation organization (or an organization dedicated to whatever environmental issue you feel the most strongly about). You might also want to start your own blog or regular podcast, or even a video blog, on environmental issues. You obviously feel strongly about the environment, so don’t be shy – speak up! Another wonderful way to brand yourself green is to start an environmental initiative in your current workplace. You could organize a walk/bike to work program, or start an e-waste recycling initiative. Doing so not only shows your commitment to the environment, but also shows your leadership skills – something that is also in demand.
Turn to your personal and work networks. If there is one thing that most people love, it is being confided in and asked for advice. Let the people in your network know that you are looking for work, and tell them a little about what you’re looking for. Let them know that you are especially looking for a job at an environmentally-friendly company or organization. Be specific – if you would not consider working for a company that encourages reckless consumption and spending, then say so. If your primary concern is recycling and conservation, let your network know that. You may be surprised at how helpful your personal contacts can be.
Decide what you are looking for. One way that your network may be able to help you is in the area of focusing your vision. Exactly what kind of job are you hoping to find? Is there a nexus somewhere, a special niche, where your particular unique background and training meets an organizational need that is connected with environmentalism? Your friends, family, and colleagues will probably have more questions for you! Talk with them at some length if they are willing to take the time, because these discussions will help you to narrow your job search. You are a busy person. You don’t have time to look for all the green jobs in the world. You only have time to look for that particular subset of jobs that is a good fit for you personally. Remember to ask yourself not only what kind of green job you hope to find, but also what other factors are important in your job search. Are you willing to move? Do you care how big or how little the organization is? Do you need to have regular 9-5 hours?
Broaden your personal and work networks by joining green networks. In many parts of the country, green networks are forming that are dedicated to business practices. Below are a few networks that you may want to look into. You might also try your local Chamber of Commerce or business groups, or check for local news and events through social networking sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. While you are at it, you can use accounts at those sites to broadcast your interest in the environment (as long as you are not constantly tweeting or posting – if so, you run the risk of appearing to spend more time socializing than working, unless updating social networks is part of your job).
- Clean Economy Network
- Green Business Networking
- Idealist.org
- Sustainable Business.com. Sustainable Business also covers news stories
  related to green businesses.
Remember that not all green jobs are advertised as green. Some companies and organizations made a bigger deal about their green policies than others do. Likewise, remember that not all organizations that claim to be green really are. Some companies are starting to engage in a practice known as “greenwashing,” where they use the language of environmentalism as a marketing ploy and claim to donate profits to environmental organizations. In some cases, these companies really are committed to making a difference. But in other cases, the greenwashing is for marketing and advertising purposes. Think about whether that is enough for you (I’m not judging – it’s your choice!)

It’s important to find a job that you feel enthusiastic about, with an employer that you are proud to work for – so don’t give up. Give it a little time, and soon you’ll find the eco-friendly job you’ve been dreaming of.

Brendan Cruickshank (Vice President of Client Services) – Brendan is a veteran of the online job search and recruiting industry, having spent the past 8 years in senior client services roles with major sites like Juju.com and JobsInTheMoney.com. He is quoted regularly as an expert in employment and jobs trends in major media outlets like the Washington Post, US News & World Report, and Forbes and has spoken at recruiting industry events such as Onrec and Kennedy Information’s Corporate Recruiting Conference.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

The Green Job Front – Five Tips to Find a Green Career

Blog Post Sponsorship and Product Reviews

Jen — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:13:31 +0000

Due to increasing requests, Eco-Office Gals will begin offering Sponsored Posts on occasion. Eco-Office Gals believes in full transparency and following FTC guidelines. Guest Posts and Sponsored Posts will be clearly disclosed. All posts must be relevant to the focus of Eco-Office Gals mission. The following guidelines below take effect November 10, 2010 any guest posts dated prior to November 10, 2010 may not fall into these guidelines.

What is the difference between a Guest Post and a Sponsored Post?

Guest Post:

A guest post is free of charge. The post may not promote your business, it must be relevant content (green business, virtual assistant, wordpress, etc). No links relating to your site may be contained in the post content itself. Any links contained in the site must be in reference to the content, business or person you are referring to. I go by the policy if you mention Eco-Office Gals, link to Eco-Office Gals, it’s good practice. You must include an image to use with the post. I will review the content and discuss any changes to the text before posting.

Your guest post will include a byline about the author. In the byline you may include a linkback to your own website only, not a company you are writing on behalf of or keywords/phrase linked to the company you are writing for. Please see Sponsored Post guidelines for these options.

EarthTalk®

From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been following reports about President Obama’s stimulus package and what it may mean for creating green jobs. Beyond that, are there programs in place to help businesses switch to greener raw materials and/or to green up operations overall? – Diane, via e-mail

Even though the push to create green jobs is getting the lion’s share of business news headlines right now, almost $7 billion of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, the stimulus bill President Obama signed into law earlier this year, has been allocated to help businesses reduce their environmental footprints in any number of ways.

For starters, the stimulus package rewards businesses (as well as individuals) for investments in energy efficiency—that is, for doing more with less power. The federal government has extended its tax credit program for energy efficient business improvements—whereby 30 percent of qualified expenses up to $1,500 can be credited against your tax bill—through 2010. No one knows yet if the program will be extended beyond that, so 2010 could be a great time to finally go for that upgrade you’ve been putting off.

Qualifying upgrades include the installation of central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, windows, doors and roofing that meet efficiency standards set by the government’s Energy-Star program. Likewise, the costs of upgrading to code-appropriate insulation and sealing as well as installing solar water heaters and biogas or biomass stoves also qualify for the tax credit. Business owners beware, though, that they can only claim a maximum of $1,500 combined for all efficiency-related upgrades.

Stimulus money—some $2.3 billion over the next 10 years—is also available to businesses, institutions and government agencies that green up their vehicle fleets and/or take steps to encourage or subsidize employees to go green with their commutes. Companies that install alternative fuel (ethanol, biodiesel or hydrogen) pumps on site can qualify for tax credits for between 30 and 50 percent of installation costs through 2010. Likewise, businesses that buy electric or plug-in hybrid cars or trucks for their fleets can score credits of between $2,500 and $7,500 per vehicle depending on battery size and fuel efficiency.

Another way businesses can make use of tax credits is to install on-site wind or solar power systems. The federal government will pay up to 30 percent of the set-up cost. Congress has also allocated $1.6 billion for Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) to help finance construction of renewable energy facilities run by public utilities, electric cooperatives and city, state and tribal governments.

Businesses that qualify for any of the aforementioned tax credits should be sure to file IRS Form 5695 with their tax returns and keep all relevant receipts and copies of manufacturer certifications and Energy-Star labels where applicable. Tax advisors can provide more details on how to qualify for these federal incentives, and can also advise as to what additional incentives might be available from states. Be sure to check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), which provides a continuously updated list of both state and federal ways for both businesses and homeowners to save cash by going green.

CONTACTS: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, www.recovery.gov; DSIRE, www.dsireusa.org.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk® is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

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Stimulus Package Rewards For Businesses Greening Up

GreenWorks NYC – Ally LaTourelle on Starting up a Green Business

Jen — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:56:32 +0000

Green Business Consultant Ally LaTourelle of Earthventure Capital LLC offers advice about starting up a green business. GreenWorks NYC

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GreenWorks NYC – Ally LaTourelle on Starting up a Green Business

Eco-Office Gals: What Are You Reading?

Jen — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:50:07 +0000

Happy Sunday! This morning, I thought I would go to Google Analytics and share my top 10, non-flaunt it! traffic makers. Enjoy what we can call “The Best of Eco-Office Gals To-date”

So there you have it, the top 10 most read posts that are non-giveaway related for your reading pleasure. If you have only been to Eco-Office Gals for our fpast giveaways, take a minute to see what else we have to offer. Read, Comment, Share & Enjoy! If you are interested in contributing a post to the Eco-Office Gals collection, please feel free to contact me with your details!

All the best!
Jen

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Eco-Office Gals: What Are You Reading?

Green-Up Your Office For Free or Cheap!

Jen — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:18:25 +0000

The economy is taking everyone for all their worth so why not try out a few free or cheap ways to green up your act in the office without hurting the green in your wallet?

The Green Office is giving away some office supplies. Just become a fan on Facebook and comment on their wall. That’s it, once a week they will pick a winner. Check out details.

How about a HUGE discount on green business cards? I recently connected with PrintingForLess. They really cover the spectrum of being green if you have to print. Their standard is to use FSC certified paper, non-toxic ink, wind-powered facilities and more. For first time clients I can also offer my readers a $25 Off your first order! Use my referral code RP1D6SEJM and $25 dollars will get knocked off your first order!

I was recently introduced to a new company O’Bon and I am drooling to try a few of their products. Recycled newspaper pencils, sugarcane paper and more. You can request to review a product, enter to win or for more immediate gratification they have some great low cost specials.

I have to mention my tried and true favorite, Echosign. Paperless, e-sign contracts that are SO easy to use. Don’t have too many contracts each month? They offer 5 per month for free. If that doesn’t cut it you can go unlimited for as low as $14.95 per month.

I couldn’t close this up without offering Eco-Office Gals own green web hosting. Starting with plans as low as $9.99 per month you can feel good knowing your site is being hosted with 130% wind powered hosting.

So, go ahead and make a few baby steps to grow your small business green without hurting your green. Every step counts!

Image credit TheCubeKing Blog

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Green-Up Your Office For Free or Cheap!

Guest Post – How to be Green with your Writing

Jen — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:00:56 +0000

One of the daily tasks that small businesses of all kinds must do is writing. This writing may include content writing for your website or blog, writing for promotional materials such as brochures, drafting of legal documents and business plans and many other types of writing that go into the launch and maintenance of a business. Because we do so much writing for our small businesses, learning to be greener with our writing is a key way to become a greener business overall.

Here are some top tips that you can follow to green your writing:

Add a green note to the bottom of all of your writing. The easiest thing that you can do is to put a note at the bottom of all written communication (whether email or printed) stating your goal to be a green business. This helps to remind people that you care about being green and they should as well.
Write promotional articles about green issues related to your small business. The fact that you are an eco-friendly business is marketable. One way to promote your business is to write about the green issues facing your industry. Submit this writing to blogs and magazines. You gain attention for your business, reduce the amount of other promotional printing that you may need to do and spread the word about green issues at the same time.
Feature green articles on your site. Create a specific area of your site where you write about green issues. This may be a category on your blog or a section for articles on your main site. Write regularly to keep informing others about eco-friendly issues that matter to you. Promote these articles through eco-friendly groups on sites like Facebook and Mixx.
Recycle your paper and buy recycled paper. The first thing that all businesses should do is to recycle all of the paper that is used in the office. Ideally, you will re-use some of this paper. It can be used as scratch paper or turned into homemade paper which can then be used for special cards and gifts. Shredded paper can be used for packing. Alternatively, it can be sent to the recycling plant. Also be sure that you’re buying recycled paper for everything from computer paper to business cards.
Recycle ink and printers. Much of the writing that we do today is done by computer and printed out in-house. Be sure to always re-fill or recycle your ink cartridges. When the printer itself needs replacing, make sure that you use proper electronics recycling practices.
Learn about green computing practices. If you haven’t already started implementing green computing into your small business then now is the time. This means using an energy-efficient computer and turning everything off when you leave the office. A good trick related to your writing is to save all documents to be printed at the end of the day and keep the printer off the rest of the time.
Don’t print out your writing unless you have to. You would be surprised how many people still print out hard copies of drafts they have on their computer to edit them by hand then enter the changes into the computer and re-print the document. Stop printing out your drafts, do your editing on the computer and print out only a final copy as needed.
Use eco-friendly writing utensils. When you’re not using a computer, you should be using pens that are green. Plastic ballpoint pens are bad for the earth. Old-fashioned pens like fountain pens that can be re-filled when the ink runs low are a much better option to use for your writing.
Add a green donation button to your blog. If your business has a blog then you can add a donation button there to support a green cause of your choosing. People can donate to you through PayPal and you can turn around and donate that money to your favorite green charity. Every time that you blog, you’ll be spreading the word about another way people can be green.
Hire green writers as needed. If you outsource any of your writing to freelancers then you should make the added effort to hire writers who specialize in being green. These writers work to reduce energy and paper waste in their in-home offices and to support green businesses with their writing. Root for Green and A Little Greener Every Day are two examples of green writing service providers.

Greening your small business writing practices will benefit your business in a number of ways. It will reduce your waste, save you money and improve your ability to be eco-friendly in the office in small ways. It’s a great area to start with if you’re working on expanding your green office practices.

Guest post by Kathryn Vercillo. Kathryn is a writer for Promotionalcodes.org.uk which gives away free voucher codes (like this Travelodge promotional code) and also publishes a frugal blog.

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Guest Post – How to be Green with your Writing

Eco-Options: Electronic Publications

Jen — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:46:09 +0000

Electronic Publications are taking over these days. With e-books, e-magazines, blogs and gadgets like the Kindle, there really isn’t any excuse if you’re serious about going paperless. Since I have been working on and with others on publications such as these lately, I thought I would share some of these options.

Ebooks: Electronic books have become quite mainstream these days, but how can you use them for business? Employee manuals, budgets, handbooks there is really nothing you can’t replace with an e-book to reduce paper. An example of an e-book I recently completed is the Indie Shopping TV Information Kit.

Open publication - Free publishing - More video

E-Media Kits: Gone are the days where you have to ship big bulky packages to Media and Publishers to get your information out to the masses. Your Media Kit summary, articles, reviews, logos, etc can all be made available on your site for the public use. Eco-Office Gals worked with Erin at Ely Organics to build her Media Resources page, no shipping required!
E-Magazines: You can grab almost any popular magazine in it’s electronic form this days. However, you can also get a wealth of great information from the not-so-mainstream. Smaller publications are taking advantage of electronic resources to get their information out to their readership. One such publication, A Distinctive Style, was recently introduced to me by the publisher Denise Marie. This magazine is full of great articles and beautiful artwork & photography.

We invite you to escape, take a new and exciting adventure while reducing your carbon footprint. Join thousands of other readers who have already taken Green to the next level by reading A Distinctive Style Magazine. We’re an interactive, online publication that brings you the latest news and trends in the world of ecology. A Distinctive Style Magazine is your one-stop source to live a greener, healthier and happier life.

Immerse yourself in the pages of our publication and journey through a world of art, fashion and inspiration, while discovering new ways to go green! Find every variety of the newest eco products, functional gifts ideas, recycled products and services, and allow yourself to be swept away by breath-taking art that will stir your soul and reconnect your inner spirit with the beautiful side of life.

Visit ADistinctiveStyle.com and travel through the pages in wonderment – it’s just like a printed publication, only you’re not contributing to the 7,400 thousand tons of paper waste that go into landfills each year* – (that means you’re helping save our planet!) And unlike a printed magazine you can click and shop, crop or clip articles, bookmark links and send feature stories to your buddy list and post them to your social networking pages too.

And with the growing need for sustainable products and services many eco-businesses have already taken advantage of our unbeatable advertising specials. So, for all you Green Businesses out there, live up to your reputation and advertise digital! Right now we are offering 50% off a full-page advertisement. Another great advantage to advertising with us is, we do all the work for you! We don’t just design an ad., we throw in a professionally written story about your company at no extra charge!

As you peruse through the pages of our magazine we know you’ll be amazed at the capabilities to link directly to the digital storefront of the businesses and services we advertise. More than that, you’ll wonder why you didn’t discover this way of reading before and it will definitely change the way you look at magazines forever.

Embrace Life and Enjoy the Journey!
Denise Marie – Publisher

publisher@adistinctivestyle.com

*Source: www.data.un.org

So, spend sometime looking around your work or home office – get inspired – go paperless!
All the best
Jen

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Eco-Options: Electronic Publications

Eco-Options: Job Hunting

Jen — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:49:07 +0000

Pounding the pavement is hard on the feet and with the current economy there is a lot of competition! So, why not consider getting a little green around the collar when searching for potential career options? After all, that’s how I ended up starting Eco-Office Gals and our new President Obama has hope that green collared jobs will keep Americans working and help the economy.

The best advice I can give is this: figure out what it is you know how to do, do well & love doing! After that the world is the limit, you’re no longer restricted to your local classified ads. There are great green job boards online to help you grow virtually, often from the comfort of your own home! Here are some great links to help you explore your green collar career option:

Green Gigs – Lori not only eliminates the need to search over the vast sea of main stream job boards and freelance site for virtual, green collared jobs, she shares green business ideas & tips and interviews green business owners. This is a great site to help you get your virtual, green biz juices flowing.

Green Collar Blog – This site lists probably every green collared job board available. Mind you many of these jobs may not be virtual, but you may find that perfect job right in your home town.

Thinkspace – This site offers virtually unlimited possibilities to grow your office space green. Whether you want to lease LEED certified brick and mortar space or enhance your virtual office options, Thinkspace has you covered!

Do you have a link you live by for greening your collar? Please leave a comment and let us know about it!

All the Best!
Jen

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Eco-Options: Job Hunting

Eco-Options: Business Cards

Jen — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:41:39 +0000

One area of your business that is easy to overlook when growing green is your business cards. There are so many cheap, or free options these days. I have been quick to slap some images and text on a template and check out without a second thought of what kind of paper or ink is being used or even the shipping method used to have them brought to my door.

As an ecopreneurists, your most ideal option when going paperless in your office is not to have business cards at all. Personally, I have not ordered business cards for Eco-Office Gals and since I am a 99.9% virtual business, I don’t miss them. Yet, that .01% of the time that I find myself in the “real world” and someone asks what I do, I could kick myself for not having some to hand out.

So, what are your options when paperless is not an option? Here are a few companies that have been recommended or I have come across with a little background from their site:

PrintingForLess – (Use code RP1D6SEJM for $50 OFF your first order, no expiration) This company seems to have taken great care in covering every aspect of sustainability! Beyond being FSC Certified and 100% Wind Powered (from the site)

Our paper is milled Elemental Chlorine Free. Trees are a renewable resource, but dioxin (used to bleach paper white) is forever!

Our inks are vegetable-based, primarily soy, which is both gentle on the environment while producing bright, high-quality images.

We package our products with biodegradable padding materials instead of those that are annoying and harmful to the environment, such as petroleum-based foam “peanuts.”

We use water-based aqueous coating to protect your printed pieces. It provides a high-gloss surface that deters dirt and fingerprints and is more friendly to our environment than UV coatings.

We are focused on reducing waste. By using top-grade paper with highly-trained press operators, we have considerably reduced the number of test or “make-ready” sheets needed to run through the presses as we set up your printing project.

Moo.com – Is a fun twist on the business card and they have a 100% Recycled Fiber, Totally recyclable and biodegradable & Totally Chlorine Free (TFC) paper option.

Your business isn’t like anyone elses, so why should your cards be? With MOO, every card can be different, allowing you to show your product range, your portfolio or your full list of services.

US Business Cards – Eco-Office Gals really loves the idea behind these Cereal Box Cards!

Breakfast Cereal Boxes – Precision cut by guillotine paper cutter. Sharp, clean edges. Randomly cut from popular cereal brands such as Wheaties and Cheerios, plus colorful ones like Fruit Loops. Standard size is 2″ x 3.5″. Printing is on the blank side.

So, next time your business card supply runs low, consider some of the above “greener” options. Additionally, check out this post from Reencoded for fun ideas and design your own green business cards!

Grow Green!
Jen

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Eco-Options: Business Cards

Eco-Office Gals» green business

The Green Job Front – Five Tips to Find a Green Career

Blog Post Sponsorship and Product Reviews

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