Green Your Future

Green Summer

2009-05-06T10:24:00.001-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

Because this is my last blog post I wanted to provide you with some last tips for making this summer a green one. Here are five ways to green your summer:

1. Download your music. Summer is a time for music. With concerts, new CD releases, and music festivals you can save a ton of money by downloading your music. By using a medium like iTunes you are not only saving yourself money, but also the environment. CD packaging is often made with polyvinyl chloride which does not recycle easy. By downloading you also reduce the amount of CD packaging that ultimately ends up in landfills. Listen to your music with ease by knowing you helped save the Earth and your wallet.

2. Turn off power sources. Summer is the time to spend outdoors, therefore when you are enjoying the sun… make sure to turn off all power strips and electronics that are sucking up energy and increasing your utility bills. Things like TVs, DVD players, computers, or coffee makers should be turned off while you are outside, not home, or just going to sleep.

3. Drink tap water. We have stated this before, but in times of hot weather we tend to consume more liquids, especially water. By drinking tap water or using a Brita water filter you will save tons of money on bottled water. Don’t encourage companies to make a priceless public resource a commodity! Even expensive, eco-friendly plastic bottles can leak contaminants into your water. Not to mention that millions of water bottles are clogging landfills each year.

4. Open your doors. Before turning on your energy sucking AC, open all your doors and windows to give fresh air a chance to ventilate your home. Fresh air feels great, helps the plants grow in your home, and is FREE! You can’t top free!

5. Green barbeques. Summer is the time to drag out your barbeque again and grill out. Hotdogs, brats, and burgers are an American tradition during summer; therefore let’s make it a green tradition. According to Move, Inc., “Nationwide, the estimated 60 million barbecues held on the Fourth of July alone consume enough energy in the form of charcoal, lighter fluid, gas, and electricity to power 20,000 households for a year.”

Traditional charcoal briquettes give off more carbon monoxide than any other form of grilling. One way to switch to a more environmentally friendly grill is to use a cleaner electric or propane grill. However, if you can’t give up that charcoal taste, switch to lump charcoal rather than briquettes. Imagine the decrease in harmful toxins emitted during summer if all Americans switched to an electric grill.

Think of ways you can save money and the environment this summer. Now is the best time to enjoy the environment around you… why not save it too!

Eco-friendly Swimming

2009-04-29T16:47:00.001-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

Swimsuit season is upon us therefore we are presented with another opportunity to bring green into our lives. Here are some top designers who have produced eco-friendly swim lines for us to support the environment with.

1. Aaron Chang International- Aaron has been a leader in the green industry created swimsuits from polyester yarn he made from recycled soda bottles. To see his collection visit www.aaronchang.com or www.faeriesdance.com.

2. Anna Cohen- Anna’s vision for her collection has always been to create products using sustainable resources through globally responsible business practices and she would like to inspire the fashion industry to do so as well. She created a swimsuit line using mill-end fabrics (fabrics at the end of their life cycle) as well as organic cotton and bamboo. Visit www.annacohen.com or www.btcelements.com for more.

3. Jungle Gurl- Jungle Gurl has made a name for itself with celebrities like Nicole Richie by making a swimsuit line from vintage fabrics around the world. With a variety of colors and sizes that range from 0-22 Jungle Gurl is setting the pace. It is however a little pricey, with suits that start just above $200. Visit www.junglegurl.com for a look at the entire collection.

4. Kelly B- Kelly is making suits from bamboo and organic cotton that is grown, processed, and produced without using pesticides or other harsh chemicals. For around $100 you can get a beautifully and responsibly made suit. Visit www.kellybcouture.com or www.faeriesdance.com.

5. Meadow- This line is made from hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, and soy and comes with a variety of designs. Priced reasonably around $100 as well you can view them at www.bymeadow.com or www.shopmodify.com.

6. Niksters- My personal favorite collection is made from soy and organic cotton as well as bamboo. They also donate a portion of their proceeds to worthwhile causes like saving the sea turtles. Niksters is also a little pricey with bikinis and monokinis starting around $100 to $130. Visit www.niksters.com for more information.

7. REI- Another great line of eco-friendly swimwear that is made from hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, or post-recycled materials. Not all of REI’s clothing will be but if it is made from those materials it will sport a tag saying it is “Eco-Sensitive” to let consumers know. For suits under $100 visit www.rei.com.

Swimsuit season has been kicked off in full force so make sure you are taking all the necessary steps to think green while you are diving into the blue. Everything from suits, to towels, to beach totes, to cover-ups can be more eco-friendly so take the steps to make them so. Now is a great time to be thinking about the environment while you and your friends are enjoying it.

Green is your style

2009-04-24T16:09:00.003-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

Spring is a time for change, both internal and external. Spring is the time that a lot of people want to change the look of their home or just a specific room. Below is a list of 10 categories of design that can be taken to a green level. These are just a few examples for you to build from.

1. Bedding and Bath- there are many companies that provide organic linens. Two of them are Natura. Natura provides pillows, bedding, and mattresses that are filled with wool and covered with organic fabrics. They aim to provide better sleep and organic fabrics help because they more pure. People with allergies or sensitivities tend to benefit from organic fabrics because they are more pure.

Also, bamboo products are beneficial as well. Bamboo is a sustainable and eco-friendly product that is anti-bacterial and deodorizing. The fiber structure is also four times more absorbent than cotton. These qualities are great for buying towels, shower curtains, bedding, and bathrobes.
Visit www.naturaworld.com and www.bambooandorganiclinens.com

2. Fabrics: Mod Green Pod is a great alternative to fabric. They produce 100% percent organic canvas. The fabric is grown, woven, and printed in the U.S. and uses non-toxic pigments. Visit www.modgreenpod.com to order or just get an idea of what organic fabrics offer.

3. Lighting: One designer that provides an inspirational, creative alternative to lighting is Jerry Kott. He hand makes lighting out of recycled wine bottles. Color Block Hanging Lights by Jerry Kott uses recycled wine bottles that are cut and reassembled to produce lighting art. Visit www.jerrykott.com to discover them.

4. Rugs: There are many options to green flooring. Angela Adams provides wool rugs at an affordable price or go to FLOR for carpet tiles that allows you to decide color, pattern, and size. With carpet tiles from FLOR you can pick up one tile to deep clean or dispose of. Also, when the tiles have reached the end of the life cycle return them to FLOR to reuse or recycle them properly. Visit www.angelaadams.com and www.flor.com for more ideas.

5. Furniture: Around this time outdoor furniture at an affordable price is what everybody wants. World Market provides that with their Kona Collection made from plantation-grown, fast-growing Acacia wood. The collection includes a dining table, dining chairs, side chairs, a coffee table, a side table, a lounger, an occasional chair, and even barstools. All of the pieces are sold individually for you to mix and max your perfect look. Visit www.worldmarket.com for pricing and pictures.

6. Candles: BsaB Candles provide the perfect green alternative for smell. They are made from 100% natural beeswax or soy wax with 100% cotton wicks. Their beeswax bamboo pillars are refillable with their soy wax refillable kits. They are also packaged with plant materials and made with fragrances from essential oils. Check out www.BsaBcandles.com for more.

7. Art: Art is a tricking situation but the following two designers create some great looks. Alexander Girard makes ply prints out of hand-screened prints made in the U.S. from sustainable harvested plywood. He reduces waste by using wood that could not be sold due to imperfections in the wood.
Dolan Geiman also used green solutions by making eclectic art from salvaged wood and found objects. He puts them together and uses recycled paint from Chicago Paint Exchanged Program. Check out www.maximodesign.com for Alexander Girard’s designs as well as www.dolangeiman.com for his.

With all of these designers and tips is gives you the opportunity to think outside the box for green home décor ideas. All of these ideas are inspirational to bring green into your home no matter what room you trying to redesign for Spring. Visit www.greenhomedecor.com for tips on every area of design like storage, windows, pillows, and more. Remember how to make every facet of your design more eco-friendly. Reuse, recycle, rethink, and reupholster everything you already own to reduce your consumption on new items to redesign your home with.

Earth Day 2009

2009-04-14T08:31:00.000-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

With Earth Day coming up in less than a week many organizations are jumping on the band wagon, hosting events, gathering volunteers, etc; but no other organization is doing it as globally at the Earth Day Network. The Earth Day Network and their Green Generation Campaign are attempting to take Earth Day to the next level.
Held on April 22nd, Earth Day has been important to citizens since 1970 when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson put together a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment. Since then organizations have dedicated themselves to protecting the Earth and producing education for others to do the same. The demonstration was meant to thrust our environment into the national agenda and for 39 years it has thrived. But now the Earth Day Network is responsible for another major environmental step for our nation.
Starting this year, the Earth Day Network has introduced us to a two year initiative that launches the Green Generation Campaign. Green Generation Campaign comprises their efforts to educate, protect, and conserve the Earth. The campaigns core principles are as follows:
- Carbon-free future based on renewable energy that will end our common dependency on fossil fuel, such as coal.
- An individual’s commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption
- Creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty by creating millions of green jobs and transforms the global education system into a green one.
Thus, the Earth Day Network is holding a celebration in conjunction with Green Apple Festival. America’s largest Earth Day celebration will be held April 17th-19th of 2009. In which time, volunteers from all across the globe can log on and sign up to help in the following locations: New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, Austin, San Francisco

During the Green Generation Campaign launch, the Earth Day Network will be introducing a worldwide education and media campaign to mark this new beginning. With many major sponsors like Timberland, FedEx, Planet Green, TreeHugger, USA Today, and more this event looks like it will be a success.
To read more about the Green Generation Campaign or to volunteer in your area log on to: http://ww2.earthday.net/.
To show your support for the Green Generation Campaign you can even sign their petition dedicated to show the government we need help getting out of our environmental crisis. Visit: www.earthday.net/greengeneration.
Even if you can’t participate on this large of a scale to show your support for Earth Day, come April 22nd, 2009 grab some friends and enjoy the day outside. Plant trees, work in your garden, help pick up trash and recycle. Whatever you do, remember to honor our planet like it deserves.

Deep Green Living

2009-04-09T10:33:00.003-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

There are many ways you can start to green your home. For many the process of greening your living space can be very overwhelming. Where to start? What to do? What makes the biggest impact? What am I doing wrong? Well now there’s a company to help you get started or help you through the entire process. This company is called Deep Green Living.

Deep Green Living is a company started by a woman name Susan Short. She recognized a need to provide a support network to homeowners seeking to match their environmental values with their everyday practices. According to their homepage, “Deep Green Living helps clients create healthier lives which reflect personal values and global ideals of ecological responsibility.”
In essence they perform three major duties:

1) Come to your home and analyze everything
- Utility bills
- Products under the sink
- Appliances

2) Identify green opportunities
- Explain your right decisions and areas for improvement
- Implement immediate changes
- Answer questions

3) Set up appointments with a network of service providers
Help make green changes in your home

Log on to their website, www.deepgreenliving.com, and you will see they have a variety of programs offered to green your home living areas as well as your business areas. For example, here are a couple available programs related to your home:

1) Deep Green Living Launch- provides a general overview of energy use and water practices. They will look at light bulbs, power strips, energy efficiency, junk mail reduction, recycling, and composting. All of your basic green details that can be changed pretty quickly.

2) Home Purity- provides education about harmful toxins that occupy your living space, your air, and your water. It provides an overall guide to eliminating those harmful toxins from your home.

3) Energy Efficiency- an overview of where in your home do you emit the most harmful CO2 emissions and how to eliminate them.

4) Deep Green Living Signature- provides a complete package of the above three: Deep Green Living Launch, Home Purity, and Energy Efficiency.

These are just four of the nine programs they offer. Deep Green Living even offers specific programs for the individual like Baby Well-Being, Cocktail Presentation, and/or Green Office. Visit the website for more information regarding this great company. You can even write to them asking what a service like this would cost and if they are able to visit your area. Deep Green Living is changing the world… one living space at a time.
www.deepgreenliving.com

“Save the trees… save the world!”

2009-03-31T09:50:00.004-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

From a young age we were all taught to not be wasteful; to not waste paper, water, and food. We heard this from our parents, our teachers, and even our friends. Little did we know that we grew up learning one of the most valuable lessons before it was cool to “be green”. This lesson is even more crucial to live by today.

Trees are the most important natural resource we have, supplying us with oxygen while eliminating CO2 levels from the atmosphere. According to a study “Helping Companies Reduce Greenhouse Gases” by James DeRosa, Director of Research and Development for Global Warming Initiatives, Inc., there are one billion people worldwide that attend work in an office environment everyday.

We are all guilty of tossing paper out before both sides are used, rewriting a letter/note more than once, and/or printing an article before we knew we needed it for long term use. One ream of paper equals five pounds. The average world office employee uses around 7 reams of copy paper each year. This fact has set the world’s average paper consumption at 123 pounds of paper per person each year.

This average is causing one billion trees to be cut down each year to satisfy the world’s paper demand. Global Warming Initiatives is only expecting this number to grow in future years causing more harm to the environment.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing benefit of trees, they impact the Earth in some major ways:

- Trees remove 100 to 120 billion tons of carbon each year from man-made sources like (cars, trains, planes, etc)
- Trees moderate climate, improve air quality, conserve water and also harbor wildlife
- Trees cut down energy costs- air conditioning and heating costs are lower in shaded areas. The less energy used by consumers the less CO2 emissions in the atmosphere

According to DeRosa’s article, one tree cut down can produce 173 reams of paper. A total of 7 million reams of paper is equivalent to 12 pounds of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

What many people forget is that not only is cutting a tree down harmful to the environment but the process by which it goes through to become paper is harmful as well. All 12 steps of the process- from logs to chips to pulp to paper- all emits heavy levels of CO2 into the air by using large amounts of electricity and chemicals. (6.5 pounds of CO2 emitted per ream during the industrial process). It’s evident that the pulp and paper industry is very harmful to the environment:

-represents 10 percent of all global CO2 emissions
- uses more than 23.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year
- 74 million metric tons of CO2 to produce paper each year
-uses more water than any other industry

The pulp and paper industry needs to be cut down, not the trees! Many programs online, like Adobe Reader, are doing their part to reduce the statistic that 28 percent of paper consumption is used by printing articles alone. Their use of Green PDF documents is a direct solution to the heavy paper consumption world wide. Green PDFs are electronically circulated articles that are not allowed to be printed.

Each ream of paper not printed due to Green PDFs equals 18.5 pounds less of CO2 in the atmosphere. In America right now, 173 reams of paper are used every five seconds. THAT’S ONE TREE USED EVERY FIVE SECONDS!

DeRosa explains that “if all 700 million Adobe Readers users decided not to print an article ten pages long each year, there would be 3 environmental effects:

1) less waste due to 14 million reams of copy not used
2) 80,000 trees wouldn’t be cut down annually
3) 118,000 less tons of CO2 in atmosphere.”

Right now each ream of paper costs $5.00 for your company. If the world could reduce printing by just 10 percent it would save over 100 million trees, and 100 million metric tons of CO2 in the atmosphere, and $3.5 billion.
This is what you can do to help:

1) Use both sides of paper: don’t buy new notebooks for classes or work until the first ones are used up!
2) Read articles by way of Green PDFs: don’t print articles you don’t need, save them and refer back when you need to.
3) Encourage: your company, friends, and family to make important documents into Green PDFs
4) Save paper at every chance: reuse newspaper, magazines, wrapping paper, etc.
5) Use the internet to your advantage: send Evites, Ecards, and Emails. Download map, directions, and recipes right to your cell phone (that’s what you’re paying for!)

For more information or to check out the article yourself: visit www.greenpdf.com or www.gwi-nc.org.

Growing Green

2009-03-26T09:17:00.005-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

Spring is a time for a rebirth. People start to bring out the swim suit, rock the flip flop, and find any excuse to be outdoors. It also means leaves start to come back, flowers are blooming, and the grass becomes green again. But how green will it be? Now is the time to rethink our lawn care as well.

According to the Idiot’s Guide to Green Living, there are 27.6 million areas of turf grass in the United States, 21 million of which are household lawns. Thus the lawn care and gardening industry generates nearly $40 billion for the economy… an area of which can afford to grow a little greener.

The World Group for the Evergreen Foundation suggests that 93 percent of homeowners value their green space and 90 percent actually believe that their lawn increases the value of their property. This is why we as homeowners should be helping our lawns like they help us.

James Beard, a Ph. D. expert on turf and chief scientist at International Sports Turf Institute claims that the ecosystem benefits from a good lawn in many ways:
- lawns help cool hot air through evaporation
- grass produces oxygen and keeps dust and pollutants out of the air
- lawns and plants help control erosion, keeping soil from ending up as dust or in bodies of water
- trees, shrubs, and bushes are also great sound insulators, helping to keep traffic and street noise out of your living space

Thus Americans need to take care of their lawns, not just in upkeep, but in green, eco-responsible ways. Here are 7 ways you can help green your lawn for this Spring:

1) Instant Change:
- Stop using commercial pesticides that in some cases are leading to cancer, birth defects, reproductive complications, or problems in nervous systems for lab animals, or worse if it gets into our water supply.
- Cut your lawns before weeds go to seed therefore preventing them from spreading (cutting down use for pesticides altogether)

2) Disposing of Pesticides/Chemicals:
- Contact local waste management facilities to inquire about hazardous waste collection programs in your area to get rid of your pesticides or other chemicals on hand
- Call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687)

3) Soil Analyzing:
- Have your soil analyzed to test nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus levels
- It will help let you know what your lawn and soil lacks
- Find out what plants will most benefit your individual lawn and plant them

4) Grass:
- Choose grass seed that’s specifically beneficial to your region and doesn’t require much watering
-Buy seeds that are disease free and certified from a lawn center
- Add clover seed to your lawn- it resists drought, is green and flowers for a great look

5) Watering:
- Water early in the day so lawn has a chance to dry before night time
- Watering right before the hottest time of day discourages fungus from developing
- Don’t water too much – that’s wasteful

6) Mowing:
- Keep blade sharp (blunt blades are unhealthy to grass)
- Leave mower blade high- never cut below 3 or 4 inches- this will dry out your lawn
- Use lawn clippings in a compost bin or leave them where they land- they provide necessary nutrients for the soil

7) Planting an Organic Garden:
- Check out www.kitchengardeners.org
- Home food production is declining
- Average distance traveled for ingredients used is between 1,000-2,500 miles- 17 times more fossil fuels used than two decades ago
- Organically grown produce is proven tastier
- Check out www.organicgardening.com
- Learn about “companion planting” that will help your garden thrive
- Learn how to build a better composting bin as well as other tricks

No matter how you decide to take care of your lawn… remember that little green steps along the way make a big difference. The greener our grass grows, the safer we are, and the healthier the planet becomes. Spring forward and start growing green!

Say “I Do” to Green

2009-03-24T11:51:00.004-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

When it comes to planning your future most people are planning trips, working to land a promotion, and trying to have a family; while others are incorporating living green into their plans. Some people are even considering green lifestyles within their relationships and now is the time to do that. With this years’ wedding season coming up – an industry that rakes in $125 billion/year in the U.S. alone- more and more people are finding ways to make “their special day” green!

Invitations, etc: When planning your wedding the first thing you must do is “set the date”. With this comes an endless amount of paper being used. Between save the date cards, invitations, wedding announcements, menus, programs, place cards and not to mention all the thank you cards, countless pieces of paper are thrown away. To eliminate paper waste you have two options:
1) use recycled paper for all of the above and recycle what you can afterwards – go to www.invitesite.com to use tree-free paper or www.earthlyaffair.com for 100% post consumer paper and FSC Certified Cotton Paper and
2) send out Ecards/ Evites. Visit www.weddingwindow.com to test out a wedding webpage for you to create that will provide your guests will all the necessary information and you can even download a keepsake CD afterwards.

The Dress: With the date set the next important step, as any bride knows, is to pick out the dress. I hear brides saying all the time, “once you find the dress its all down hill from there.” (Meaning everything else is a piece of cake to decide on) For the most part though, a wedding gown can be the biggest expense in your wedding budget, that’s why you should make it the greenest! Check out sites like www.getconscious.com for hemp/organic gowns or www.perfectbridal.com for gowns that range from only $500-$1500 as well as items for the rest of the wedding party.

Flowers: Now that the gown is picked out, flowers seem to come next. Most couples’s mistake is that they choose flowers based on color or their dream, instead of the flowers that are in season. Thus, couples spend money on shipping flowers internationally for the big day which is the opposite of green. Consider ordering organic flowers from www.organicbouquets.com or buying them locally to cut down on transportation costs. Then reuse the flowers throughout the night. Take the flowers used at the ceremony and dress up your reception with them, and finally take leftover bouquets to a local hospital or senior citizen home to brighten someone else’s life.

Centerpieces: Speaking of the reception, there are many ways you can keep the table centerpieces spectacular but also make them green.
1) Choose recycled glass vases and glassware
2) use small bushes or plants that guests can take home to plant in their yard
3) use fruit for a touch of color that can be donated afterwards to a local shelter. Check out sites like www.vivaterra.com which feature beautiful candlescapes out of old fruit scraps as well as other eco-chic décor items.

Favors: You may also decide to keep the wedding favors green too. A great way to share something with each guest and stay green is to speak with the National Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) who help you give trees as a wedding favor. They will deliver the trees and the guests can take them home to plant in their yards. Looking back on it years later they will remember that tree is a gift from you and it will remind them of your wedding day. Or you can simply go to I Do Foundation Favors for Charity (www.idofoundation.org) and make a donation to the charity of your choice on behalf of all of your guests. Now your big day has become a day of giving love and giving back!

Extras: The above ideas are only just the start of planning a green wedding. Some other places to try:
- Green jewelry – www.taraluna.com
- Custom/recycled gold wedding rings- www.greenkarat.com
- Recycled glasses made from car windshields- www.uncommongoods.com
- Eco-friendly gift wrap bags (suggest to your guests)- www.luckycrow.com
- Organic champagne & eco-friendly gift baskets- www.ecoexpress.com
- Organic wedding night fashions- www.faeriesdance.com

No matter how you choose to keep your wedding dream green, remember one rule of thumb… purchase items that can be recycled or reused on the “big day” or afterwards. You will not only save money but you will help save the environment and that is something to feel wonderful about on your honeymoon.

Green is Growing

2009-03-09T09:35:00.003-04:00

By Melinda Toussaint

“It’s a tough economy right now.” Everywhere you look people are concerned because money doesn’t grow on trees. But with the advancements of greener technologies you can be confident that green employment opportunities will open up.

According to an article titled, “Green Jobs: Toward Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-carbon World” produced by United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) there are many areas in which green practices are increasing opportunities/products and therefore jobs and expenses. These include:

1.Energy Supply:

- Integrated gasification/carbon sequestration
- Co-generation (combined heat and power)
- Renewables (wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, small-scale hydro); fuel cells

2. Transportation

-More fuel-efficient vehicles
-Hybrid-electric, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles
- Car Sharing
- Public Transit
- Non-motorized transport and changes in land use policies/patterns

3. Manufacturing:

-Pollution control
-Energy and materials efficiency
-Clean production techniques (toxics avoidance)

4. Buildings:

-Lighting, energy-efficient appliances/office equipment
-Solar heating/cooling, solar panels
-Retrofitting
-Green buildings (energy-efficient windows, insulation, building materials)
-Passive-solar houses, zero-emissions buildings

5. Materials Management

-Recycling
-Extended producer responsibility/product take-back
-De-materialization
-Durability and repair ability of products

6. Retail:

-Promotion of efficient products/eco-labels
-Store locations closer to residential areas
-Minimization of shipping distances
-New service economy (selling services, not products)

7. Agriculture:

-Soil conservation
-Water efficiency
-Organic growing materials
-Reducing farm-to-market distance

8. Forestry:

-Reforestation projects
-Agro forestry
-Sustainable forestry management and certification schemes
-Halting deforestation

This means that we have potential growing industries providing us with employment beyond the economy presently. We are working in a fear of loss world but it can all change with job security presented in these growing green fields. In order to keep up with the world’s growing interests all job industries need to stay ahead of the green game to survive, thus more jobs.

These are only a few areas increasing employment. Green jobs are spanning many other aspects such as research and development and professional fields like engineering and architecture. Opportunities are also rising in everything from blue-collar areas (plumbing and electrical wiring) to government offices (standard setting, rule making, permitting, monitoring/enforcement, and/or support programs) to science and academia, civil society organizations (advocacy group, community organizations).

This article only proves that possibilities are out there and plans for a greener future are already set in motion. All you have to do is take action yourself by strongly pursuing a career in one of these areas or mold another career path to greener ways. Your future and career is what you make it. Help the world and you by making it green.

You can download the entire UNEP article here.

Save Gas by Car-sharing!

2009-03-05T10:14:00.004-05:00

By Melinda Toussaint

With the combination of the tough economy and environmental pressures many people are learning to give up luxuries they’ve grown accustomed to; ie: venti vanilla lattes, spending an afternoon parousing a shopping mall, or a long hot bath. Now we are making bitter coffee, shopping online, and taking two minute luke warm showers.

It’s no wonder that with inconsistent gas prices, the inconvenience of carpooling, and the possiblitiy of missing the bus, a couple major companies are presenting us with an alternative: car-sharing. Hertz Corporation’s new service Connect is a car-sharing service provided to citizens in which they pay a monthly membership fee or an hourly rate. Members pick up cars at one of the numerous locations in specific cities and off they go. Connect was launched last December in response to international Zipcar’s success.

Zipcar pioneered their car-sharing business in Europe and have had success stateside as well by offering 5,500 cars to approximately 250,000 members in the U.S. as well as London. Hertz Corp.’s Connect, currently has 100 cars in two American and two European locations with plans to expand to 40 other states/countries after it’s launch in Boston, Mass. Car-sharing lessens harmful emissions, reduces congestion, and more energy efficient than owning your own car. Zipcar believes that every car they offer takes 15 to 20 percent personally owned off the road and they also believe that growing success means that approximately 10 percent of the population to adapt to car-sharing.

Scott Griffith, Zipcar’s Chief Executive, said “It’s not about individual sales but about building a brand around understanding the urban lifestyle, being attentive to the needs and desires of members, and building relationships”. Thus Hertz Corp. plans to reshape the corporate culture to broaden the global reach of their new Connect service.

Over the next few months Hertz Corp. will be working hard to introduce Connect to the world by this Spring. Soon we as a community will be able to share cars with cities and citizens around the country because Hertz and Zipcar are amongst many companies expanding to this new found consumer need. Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s WeCar has provided car-sharing for companies, government agencies, and colleges that wanted cars for their workers and students. UHaul also launched their UCar Share last year a program that is currently available in Portland, Maine, Berkeley, Cal., Madison, Wis., and Portland, Ore.

Both with Zipcar and Hertz’s Connect it seems you can share a car for around $9 per hour or a monthly membership of $50. A huge plus however is that both companies pay for your fuel and insurance while you share a car! Go online now and check out these companies and see if it’s right for you. The more members these companies acquire, the more possibility of expanding to every major city in the country.

Going green isn’t just sharing clothes, recycling plastic, and turning off the lights when you leave, it is a conscious choice to go the extra mile and cut out the luxuries that are the most harmful to the environment as well as to our wallets. Car-sharing is only an alternative if it can work with your lifestyle. Visit www.connectbyhertz.com and www.zipcar.com to check out rates and more environmentally benefits.

Car-sharing companies have plans to take over the car market, especially amongst college students that can’t afford their own vehicle but are too young to rent one. If you do decide to turn yourself over to the car-sharing industry you can save yourself almost $500 per year! Think of all the other green movements you can support with that money.... or you can just support yourself during these troubled times. Either way car-sharing can go a long way, if you let it!

Operation: Adaptation

2009-02-26T09:24:00.003-05:00

By Melinda Toussaint

Looking ahead to warmer weather many of us are anticipating summer, concerts, and fun; i.e. Summer Fest, Country Thunder, etc. But some of us don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy the music and fun. Some of us can even give back to the Earth while enjoying those pleasures. It’s called Operation: Adaptation and it will be held on April 24th and 25th of 2009 in Sullivan, WI (40 minutes from Milwaukee or Madison).

Operation: Adaptation is a common ground for vendors and visitors to promote, network, and learn new eco-friendly ideas. It is a two day music festival unlike any other. With green activities and alternatives you can car-pool away with a new perspective on your contribution to the world.
For every ticket purchased ($45) Trees For The Future will plant one tree in the grounds of rural areas spanning Asia, Africa, and Central America. This will help eliminate CO2 emissions from the air.

For that ticket you will experience approximately 25 bands on three different stages; one of which is powered entirely by the people there. The Human Powered Bike Stage is powered by eight people riding bikes (you may also contribute by riding) to keep lights, instruments, and PA systems working. But that’s not all that has gone green; the utensils for food have as well.

The food will be provided by Totally Baked Pizza and will be served with corn-based dishes and utensils. Corn-based products decompose much faster than regular plastic, thus better for the environment.

Lastly, camping grounds are helping out too. To camp on the grounds for those two days it will only cost $5 and the best part is that 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Jammin’ For Jamaica fund, an organization dedicated to raising money for supplies and music education for Porus, Jamaica.

As you can see, every aspect of this festival is green and you can be part of the green team too! If you or your business wants to volunteer, sign up at www.operationadaptation.com because they need help in all areas, especially set up and clean up. Or if you just want a chance to witness the future in the making, go online and purchase your ticket now!

However, for those of you not near Wisconsin, take note from Operation: Adaptation and take your music to a green level. This upcoming concert season try to:

- print your tickets off online on recycled paper
- download directions to the venue directly to your mobile phone
- try out corn-based or compostable dishes and utensils on your next camping trip (check out www.letsgogreen.biz to order yours in bulk)
- carpool or ride your bike to the venue (Operation: Adaptation even rewards their visitors for doing so)
- volunteer for a music festival in your area to help them recycle materials and stay green (it will help your resume as well)

Visit www.operationadaptation.com for more information and make sure to enjoy your upcoming concert season in the greenest way possible. Who knows it might make the music sound even sweeter!

Wax On, Wax Off

2009-02-17T09:49:00.001-05:00

By Melinda Toussaint

When making decisions about vehicle maintenance, gas is not the only thing to consider cutting back on; car washes are a huge concern as well.

The problem: on average a full service car wash uses 37 gallons of water per wash and washing at home consumes even more. A driveway wash can consume between 80 and 140 gallons of water while sending oil, detergents, and other pollutants down your storm drain. Yet washing your car is important in many areas of the country during the winter to keep road salt from corroding the vehicle.

Did you know that your average garden hose sprays 10 gallons of water a minute? And how much of that is just when you leave it running? Well it doesn’t have to be that way. One solution: waterless car washes such as Fast Wax, by RGS Labs, Inc. It is a waterless wash and wax in a normal aerosol can, and provides 5-10 car washes, depending on how you apply it.

The average person washes their car every month, so using a waterless wash, you can save the environment up to 444 gallons of water per year. At that number, there’s no reason not to use it!

Keep your cars looking good at a fraction of the cost and feel good about it. You will be helping the environment tremendously! For more information, visit http://www.fastwax.com/.

Work Green

2009-02-10T13:32:00.004-05:00

By Melinda Toussaint

It’s not always easy finding a green job but that doesn’t mean you can afford to wait to work green. Whatever job you have whether it is retail, office work, or manufacturing, there’s many ways you can green your job. Here are five ways:

1. Coffee: Use your own mug! According to True Green by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin, 1.9 million tons of paper and plastic cups/plates are thrown away in the U.S. each year. By using your own mug you can help eliminate that. Also, talk to your manager about switching your coffee to Fair Trade-labeled brands to support the farmers invested in your coffee.

2. Paper: I’m sure you’ve heard it before but use BOTH sides of the paper before you recycle it. Especially working in an office that creates a lot of unnecessary paperwork. Paper is 70 percent of the office’s waste; help cut that in half but putting old papers right back into your printer. You’ll be surprised how much paper you’ll go through.

3. Let your computer sleep: Electronics such as computers, TVs, and cell phones use the bulk of their energy when not in use but still on. Turn off your computer at close of the night and during the day. While you’re on break, in meetings, or generally not using it and you could reduce the power consumption by five percent.

4. Buy a plant: Buy a plant for your desk or office and it will benefit you in the long run. Plants act as natural air filters, absorbing airborne pollutants and computer radiation. Plants will help protect you from germs of your colleagues as well. They will help you not get sick but also help to reduce your stress level.

5. Green Machines: If your just starting out or in need of new machines at your work choose Energy-Star compliant machines for your printers, fax and copy machines. Machines that can power down when not in use can cut energy wasted in a huge way. By having the machines produce less heat you’ll help reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent, and your machines will work better too.

Many companies are already on the right green track, including:

1. General Electric- they have committed to innovative solutions for their environmental challenges through “Ecomagination” to help meet customers' demands for cleaner products.

2. Marriott- they run 2,800 hotels in 68 countries, 151,000 employees, and revenue of $10.4 billion. But in 2006, it was names a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency climate leader for their pledge to reduce greenhouse gases by 6 percent per guest room by 2010.

3. Google- the world’s largest search engine has committed to solar energy production, launching the largest solar panel installation to date on a corporate campus in the U.S. They are also hoping to boost plug-in hybrid car technology through RechargeIT- an initiative that aims to reduce carbon emissions and cut oil use, amongst many other green projects.

Take these companies examples and try little green steps at work on a daily basis. After a while you’ll be able to notice your impact and could branch out on a larger scale. Good luck greener your work, and remember the biggest part of it is to influence those around your to green their efforts too!

Travel Green

2009-02-03T09:51:00.004-05:00

By Melinda Toussaint

The green movement is expanding at a large rate, so much so that it’s important for business owners to catch the green wave. Becoming an eco-friendly business is as important for your image as it is for the environment.

If you’re in Wisconsin, one great way for your business or the business you work for is to volunteer for the Travel Green Wisconsin program. Because of the Great Lakes tourism Wisconsin attracts it was important for us to come up with a program dedicated to preserving the land and sustaining natural resources.

Travel Green Wisconsin is a voluntary program that went state wide in 2007 to help review, recognize, and certify tourism businesses that were going green. It formed a green checklist that businesses are striving to achieve to be certified as a green business.
This checklist includes:

-communication and education
-waste reduction, reuse, and recycling
-energy efficiency, conservation and management
-water conservation and wastewater management
-air quality
-wildlife and landscape conservation and management
-transportation
-purchasing
-local community benefits

After a Baseline Environmental Assessment, completing enough sustainable practices from the checklist above, and submitting an application annual fee your business will be Travel Green Wisconsin certified.

Sporting the TGW certification logo benefits your business and customers in several ways. By becoming more energy efficient and conserving natural resources it will reduce your company’s costs and boost your image in the community. Boosting your image will help contribute to new customers that will feel good about supporting an eco-friendly cause.

Travel Green Wisconsin is open to all types of businesses whether it is restaurants, events/festivals, or accommodations. In the last two years TGW has dedicated itself to taking action towards environmental, social, and economic sustainability and for two years businesses that have volunteered have kept the cause going. Set green goals for your company to achieve and send your application in to TGW and in no time you could be an integral part of those efforts.

For more information visit http://www.travelgreenwisconsin.com/. You can also check to see if there are programs in your area (like the Travel Green Minnesota program) or set similar goals from the checklist for your business to achieve.

Travel has become the third largest source of revenue nationwide so take a note from Travel Green Wisconsin by starting your green business practices today!

Start Your Green Career Today

2009-01-26T15:39:00.001-05:00

By Melinda Toussaint

Looking for a job can be tough and during this time in the economy it’s even tougher. That’s why you have to be prepared. If you want to see yourself in a green career you need to set yourself on the green career path now, especially if you are still in school. Here are five steps to get you out there in the green community.

1. Research green jobs:
Go online and find out what green jobs interest you and what you need to do to succeed in getting that job. Find out what courses are necessary to do well in and if your school offers them. If your university does not, it may offer occasional classes or lectures on green ideas or sciences. Also, you can check out surrounding schools to see if there are any special programs. Visit www.greenlivingideas.com to check out Green Collar Jobs.
2. Offer Help:
Look into professors on campus to see if any are conducting their own research in the marketing, engineering, or science fields. Their studies can provide the tools for new green ideas to spring from. Between teaching, research, and personal lives many professors may feel overwhelmed. Offer up your services to help in whatever they may need. Even if it’s just paperwork, it will be a great experience to shadow a professor, not to mention an excellent resume builder.
3. Volunteer:
Lend a helping hand to local or national charities- especially those that give back to the environment, non-profit organizations, and/or businesses that are eco-friendly. All of which will give you direct, hands-on experience that companies are looking for. (An excellent one is Habitat for Humanity)
4. Know the Industry:
Stay on top of the latest green ideas by staying tuned in to the world around you. Read the newspaper and visit websites such as www.greendaily.com or www.treehugger.com to get tips, news, and great green ideas for the season. To find out about upcoming green events go to: www.earthdaynetwork.org or www.care2.com. You can also give back by contributing to some of these sites or starting your own blog. Knowledge is power and will put you one step ahead in the fight for a green job.
5. Know your Carbon Footprint:
The best way to get on a green career path is to ensure you are on a green life path. Try to practice green habits, especially the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) on a daily basis. Your experience in living green will help others and help you land the right green career. Visit www.earthlab.com/carbonprofile to calculate your carbon footprint with such factors as where you live, how your work, and how you travel. Then set a goal to lower your carbon footprint. The hard part will be actually achieving it. If you do, you will have a great success story to share with prospective green companies and their clients.

To find out more about green careers to see if one is right for you, visit the Environment Defense Fund www.edf.org/cagreenjobs.

Environmental Entrepreneurs

2009-01-13T12:23:00.002-05:00

By Kethaki Nair

If you are interested in social change, but still haven’t found a job that excites you, social entrepreneurship could be worth looking into. As a social entrepreneur you can devise your own innovative solutions to your community’s or the world’s biggest environmental issues. Here are two inspiring examples:

Rafael Cancel-Vazquez: As founder of the National Environmental Law Association (ANDA), the first environmental law center in Puerto Rico, Rafael aims empower the community with the resources to use environmental law to protect the local environment. The organization uses a combination of public awareness, training, and free legal representation to accomplish its mission. Rafael graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2008. He says he was inspired by, “The imagination of the citizens that ANDA will serve, since they continuously challenge traditional legal solutions and help us to forge out-of-the-box dreams.” http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/rafa-cancel-vazquez

Iftekhar Enayetullah and Maqsood Sinha: These residents of Dhaka were troubled by the inadequate solid waste disposal systems offered by the government. Together they started Waste Concern, an organization that promotes the composting of organic waste in Dhaka’s slums. To involve the poor residents in the project they encouraged them to look at their waste as a resource. The compost-based bio-fertilizer was sold to local nurseries and local participants got a share of the income. Waste Concern is helping clean up Dhaka’s slums while creating new jobs and income. http://www.ashoka.org/casestudies

There are many organizations out there that fund and train social entrepreneurs to help them realize their dreams. Rafael is an Echoing Green Fellow. As part of the fellowship program Echoing Green provides both funding and training. Iftekhar and Maqsood are Ashoka Fellows and part of Ashoka’s Environmental Innovations Initiative. They provide similar support as well as attempt to bring environmental leaders across the world together.

In case you’re not quite ready to be a social entrepreneur, both Ashoka and Echoing Green offer summer internships that can give you an overview of the field.

A Fair Holiday

2008-12-17T11:48:00.003-05:00

By Anne Consroe

My final suggestion for buying green gifts this year is to purchase fair trade. Fair trade is defined as a market-based trading technique for a variety of exports that promises a fair price. Keeping in mind environmental and social standards, fair trade promotes economic self-sufficiency in developing countries.

Many retail stores in your area sell fair trade products. A personal favorite is Ten Thousand Villages (http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/). Selling only fair traded products in more than 150 stores, Ten Thousand Villages supports small artisans and farmers in developing countries by giving them a significantly higher price for their goods than what importing companies would otherwise pay. They also cut out the middle men, leaving you with very decently-priced merchandise.

Fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate is available in Whole Foods (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/) and My Organic Market (http://www.myorganicmarket.com/).

Fair trade products can also be purchased through Equal Exchange (http://www.equalexchange.coop/).

This year, holiday shop with a conscience. To learn more about fair trade products, please visit http://www.fairtradefederation.org/ or http://www.fairtrade.net/.

Green living and Coffee

2008-12-17T11:29:00.004-05:00

Reducing your personal carbon footprint can be a difficult task, especially since we often don’t realize how much the small things we do impact the environment. Coffee for example is an essential part of most of our lives, especially during the end of semester craziness. According to the in International Coffee Organization, on average Americans drink 9.26 pounds of coffee a day!

Coffee production and distribution methods both have a significant impact on the environment. Fertilizers and machinery used on farms release carbon as does the transportation process. Then there is the environmental impact of the millions of disposable coffee cups that get used everyday (Choosing not to use disposables is a small gesture that can go a long way.) I did some quick calculations to try and put the emissions from coffee consumption into perspective and here is what I got: Over the year your coffee consumption puts over 10kg of carbon dioxide into the air.

Should we all give up drinking coffee? I don’t know. What probably more important to realize is that almost everything we do has an impact on the environment. This impact needs to be part of our decision making process. Here’s another statistic that should get you thinking: 1000 Americans would have to give up coffee to compensate for the emissions from 1 car! So if coffee is too dear to you maybe its time to think about taking the train.

Sources:

http://www.hrnstiftung.org/carbon-footprint-coffee.html

http://www.ico.org/historical.asp

Give More

2008-12-10T10:42:00.002-05:00

By: Anne Consroe

Striving to give even “greener” gifts this holiday season? Why not give a gift of a donation? Many charitable organizations offer printable or mail-order cards when a donation is made around the holidays.

Heifer International strives to end hunger through charitable gifts of livestock and resources. Following the proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” Heifer uses livestock to change the lives of countless people worldwide. Recipients are taught how to care for the livestock, and reap the benefits of milk, eggs, or fur. They receive nutrition they otherwise would have gone on without, and many have the opportunity to sell excess eggs or milk (and profit) for the first time in their lives. Recipients are also instructed to spread the wealth after their animal has procreated, by giving offspring to their neighbors. Communities as a whole crawl out of poverty.

Sustainable Harvest International provides nutrition, education, and economic development to needy families in Central America, while reforesting endangered natural resources. This season, reforest a family farm, provide a woman with a small business loan, or plant gardens and trees. With donations starting at only $25, Sustainable Harvest International provides training, tools, and seeds to overcome poverty and spur community development.

This season, instead of buying something that will sit in a closet, give your loved ones charitable gifts that will make a significant and unforgettable impact in lives across the world.

Nanotechnology Could Thrust Us Light Years Forward

2008-12-09T10:28:00.003-05:00

By: Shane Sabine

“Energy is a national security issue, and it is an international security issue of the highest order,” states president-elect’s National Security Advisor, Jim Jones. America’s reliance on foreign oil must cease, and innovation regarding solar energy might lead us in the right direction.

Nanotechnology may be our answer according to Cornell University. Research is being conducted at some of the world’s leading universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, and is supported by the likes of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. Please refer to Mr. Bill Steele’s report: Cornell Chronicle.

Ms. Marlow Epstein of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office in Arlington, VA provided four convincing reasons to implement nanotechnology:

1. Today’s flat rooftop solar panels are a little more than 20% efficient and could be limited to about 30% efficiency.
2. High-energy photons generating multiple electrons with solar cells made of silicon nanocrystals could convert more than 40% of the energy in light into electric power.
3. Reduced manufacturing costs as a result of using a low temperature process similar to printing instead of the high temperature vacuum deposition process typically used to produce conventional cells made with crystalline semiconductor material.
4. Reduced installation costs achieved by producing flexible rolls instead of rigid crystalline panels.

The aforementioned points have validity, and nanotechnology is certainly a hot issue. Please remember to read about the associated potential risks at "How Nanotechnology Works" in order to educate yourself more fully.

Fuel-Efficiency

2008-12-09T10:11:00.001-05:00

By: Kethaki Nair

The emphasis on profit has discouraged many corporations from investing in sustainable technologies. As gas prices continue to plummet the incentive to invest in green projects across the board has decreased. For example, T. Boone Pickens, the Oklahoma oil tycoon has delayed his giant wind farm project in West Texas. It is now harder for wind energy to compete with cheap fossil fuels. Unfortunately stopping such projects mid-way can set them back many years.

Green projects may now have to rely on government incentives and regulations to keep them going. The United States has a history of inadequate policy support for fuel-efficiency. Among other regulation weak CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) standards have played a big role in creating the current crisis, but change may be on the horizon. One step towards this direction is the $25 billion in government subsidized loans being given to auto-makers to develop fuel-efficient cars. It is still too early to say how successful this measure will be, but it is reassuring to see large and small auto-markers addressing fuel-efficiency. Government policy and businesses decisions both play a part in determining research priorities, and it is about time fuel-efficiency became a priority!

Finally, as Anne talks about in "Green Thanksgiving Travel," we can all make small decisions to reduce the impact of our travel on the environment. Changes in policy and business priorities may happen slowly, but you can change the way you choose to travel now!

Photo from: http://inglis.house.gov/images/issues/gasoline2.jpg

The Future of Innovation

2008-12-09T10:06:00.001-05:00

By: Kethaki Nair

When looking for jobs, especially in green organizations, creativity is a highly valued skill. Its value emerges from the importance of innovation within the green industry. Constant innovation can make green technologies commercially viable as well as help green businesses.

As the economic situation gets worse many people are worried about the impact it will have on innovation. In general, as money becomes harder to come by businesses start cost-cutting and research is often the worst hit. This can halt the development of green technologies like solar energy generation. An alternative perspective is that the economic crisis could actual increase investment in innovation!

This perspective is based on the assumption that success is bad for innovation. It’s somewhat counter-intuitive (Interestingly it’s the basis on many popular movies! Think of Pixar’s Lightning McQueen). Companies that are forced to re-evaluate their approaches can move resources towards areas that are more sustainable. This can mean more resources for green innovations and ideas.

Most organizations will probably go through both these processes. The cost-cutting is going to be hard on many people. On the bright side it has forced many corporations to rethink their choices, and perhaps their commitment to sustainability.

The Little Seed: Green Your Baby

2008-12-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

By: Shane Sabine

Fear not, job seekers: there will certainly be work in the green field for quite some time. Refer to www.thelittleseed.com, where you will find baby products available to parents. New mothers and co-founders Soleil Moon Frye and Paige Goldberg Tolmach opened this store in Los Angeles, CA about one year ago. Having found toxins in toys, bottles, and mattresses during their own searches motivated the two to make safe products available to consumers.

Interestingly, Paige’s husband co-owns a production company with Ashton Kutcher. This tie to the media allows The Little Seed’s message to be broadcast quite effectively.
Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine featured Soleil and Paige recently and the company was mentioned in an article on MSNBC’s website.

If anyone is particularly intrigued by The Little Seed’s movement, please welcome yourself to an internship. The business itself expects to grow very much so and could use an extra hand.

Green Gifts

2008-12-02T11:22:00.000-05:00

By: Anne Consroe

The panic that ensued a few years ago over two of the biggest toy manufacturers in the United States selling products made with Chinese lead paint led many to think twice about the products they purchase. Many people began to research where and how their goods were manufactured. Many switched to domestically-made products.

Lead-paint, carcinogens, plastics, sweatshops, and imported products in general are getting me thinking about my holiday shopping list. Use the following suggestions for guilt-free green gifts this holiday season.

Check out http://www.treehugger.com for a green gift guide. Find a wide array of eco-conscious gifts made from recycled, safe, and wholesome products.

Worried about your plastic water bottle? Swiss-made Sigg water bottles (http://www.mysigg.com) sell a variety of healthy alternatives to plastic water bottles. BPA-free and built to last, Sigg bottles are great for everyone.

Tom’s Shoes (http://www.tomsshoes.com) takes a unique approach to gift giving. Manufactured in factories that operate according to fair labor conditions and pay fair wages, Tom’s Shoes are donated to children across the world. For every pair of Tom’s Shoes purchased, the company donates a pair to a child in need. Since May 2006, more than 60,000 pairs of shoes have been donated to children who desperately need shoes to prevent injuries and infections.

Keep in mind who makes your gifts this holiday season, as well has how the environment is impacted in your gift’s production and shipping. Domestically-made products result in fewer emissions than products shipped half-way around the world. Lots to keep in mind this holiday season. Happy shopping!

Building a Green Network

2008-12-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

By: Kethaki Nair

Job hunting has required me to rediscover many skills that I thought I would never have to use outside the college application process. There’s the how-to-blow-my-own-trumpet-as-loud-as-possible skill, especially useful while writing cover-letters and resumes. In case you’re not sure what I am talking about think back to what it was like writing you ‘personal statement’ for college. Then there’s the need to summarize yourself for the, ‘Describe yourself in three words’ interview question, strikingly similar to the 100-word ‘essay’. I could go on.

So if you successfully navigated yourself through the college application process you should be well prepared for job-hunting, except for one thing- networking. Networking is an essential part of job-hunting, and for me it was new and intimidating. As in most other industries building a green network is essential for anyone planning to enter the field. It can help direct you to relevant information and connect you to people who could help you find a job.

As a student it is difficult to build a network. The two things that I have found are very useful are: clarity and starting early. It is important to be able convey your interests and aspirations clearly. This can help people remember you as opportunities come up. Starting early is also essential; networking can be a time-consuming process. The best resources are friends and family who can introduce you to people working in green industries. Most introductions happen via e-mail and are followed by a phone conversation. Other useful resources are your school’s alumni network and professional networking services like Experience Connections. Both can help you broaden your network and give you the opportunity to add a personal touch to your application.

Connections are important. So if you know somebody who knows somebody who may know somebody working in the green field, call them! Learn from their experiences and let them know what you are looking for.