You can make a difference. Making the effort to be more environmentally friendly is easier and cheaper than you realize – and good for both you as well as the environment. Read on for 5 easy ways to do your part.

Recycle.

It is so easy and simple to recycle these days that it’s almost harder not to recycle. Your local council will have provided you with a recycling bin and a calendar so you know which days to put out your recycling.

Have you ever had friends over and they have been confused when they go to throw out something and discover you don’t have a recycling bin? Avoid potential embarrassment and change this as soon as you can!

Glass, plastic, cardboard or aluminum should be recycled wherever possible. If you are unsure, turn the item upside down and look for the green triangle that will let you know if it can be recycled.

Going one step further and making an effort to buy items that are in biodegradable or very little packaging is even better if you can.

Bike or walk.

Cars are the largest contributor to air pollution in the world today and while you can do your best effort to look after your car or invest in a hybrid or greener model, the truly best thing you can do is reduce your car usage altogether! This will save you money AND work wonders for your health.

Switching your drive to work in the morning for a bike will mean you get exercise, fresh air and also save time searching for parking or being stuck in traffic – as well as save you money on petrol.

If biking isn’t your thing, go old school and walk – set yourself a challenge or a limit: if a place is less than 20mins walk away, make it a rule to always walk rather than drive. The more you get used to walking, the easier it will be, the fitter you’ll get, and the cleaner your air.

Cloth bags not plastic bags.

Green bags are very widely available and there is absolutely no reason that you should still be using plastic bags.

Not only are they reusable: they are also convenient. You can fit a lot more in cloth bags, including heavier or sharp items that just tear through plastic bags, and you can use them for pretty much anything.

Make a habit of keeping one handy at all times: there’s nothing more frustrating than heading to the supermarket and realizing you have left these bags at home. Constantly buying enviro bags is just as bad – if not worse – as constantly using plastic bags, and defeats the purpose.

Support eco businesses.

While it’s very easy now for businesses to practice greener habits, to recycle, to buy and stock environmentally friendly products and use eco promotional bags: it’s typically not the cheapest option for them.

Those businesses that are environmentally responsible are making a conscious effort and investment – and we are consumers are responsible in helping make their efforts worthwhile.

There are still so many businesses out there that, no matter what, will always choose the cheapest and easiest option because they only care about the bottom line.

The more we demand that businesses turn green, support those that do and avoid those that don’t, the sooner businesses will relent to pressure and start introducing more environmentally friendly practices.

Encourage your friends.

As one individual you may not think that your efforts alone can have a significant effect: but if you spread the word to your family, friends and all others you know, you can create a ripple effect and soon there will be an extra 100 or 1000 people practicing eco-friendly habits – all thanks to you!

Lead by example and become conscious of how others might be inspired by your habits – and encourage them to do the same.

Ecofriendly buildings are required in present scenario to deal with the increase in global warming and other natural disasters. To deal with it, sustainable technology is developed which offers a complete ecofriendly surrounding and doesn’t pollutes the surrounding and the environment. This has been taken as a step toward a greener tomorrow and people are supporting it in every possible way.

These buildings are not only beautiful, but are also Zero CO2 emission building which is a great contribution toward our green planet. There are many such buildings in world these days, so here we are with the best seven sustainable office buildings for the future.

1. Legion House to become the first carbon neutral office building in Sydney

This Legion house is one of the oldest sustainable buildings in Sydney. It was built 109 years ago and still its there as a symbol of green world. This awesome project was constructed by Grocon Construction Company. By next two years the company will be taking steps to modify this building and make it one of the historical buildings in the sustainable building concepts. There will be a number of features incorporated with this modification like water saving concepts, vacuum toilets, and renewable power generation.

2. Cactus-inspired building for MMAA’s new office in Qatar

This building in Qatar is a famous sustainable energy efficient building. This building is not only sustainable but is also stunningly beautiful. This cool building is designed by Bangkok based architects Go Group which is known for their awesome designs. This building is located in Doha, Qatar.

3. World’s largest solar-powered office building unveiled in China

China has always tried to adopt new technology and has always proved its superiority. This solar building in China is the world’s largest solar building ever built. This building is situated in Dezhou and is constructed in an area of 75,000 square meter and is built in a shape that looks completely awesome. Its inclined structure and the solar panels look gorgeous. The building is completely surrounded by solar cells to continuously generate energy all day.

4. HOK conceptualizes net zero emission office building for St. Louis

This unique concept building is being built by two companies named, HOK and the Weidt Group. This building is located in St. Louis and is believed to be a concept of complete sustainable environment and will have zero emission into the environment. This building is estimated to consume 76 percent less energy than the usual buildings. The building is especially designed to take off the load of heating and ventilation system.

5. StudioDosi designs solar-powered office building for Leeds

This building is a completely different one as it uses both water and the solar energy for its energy operations. This super-cool design was designed by Italian firm StudioDosi which is known for their exotic designs and structures. This building has a total area of 2260square meters with a 360 square meter public space suspended from above. This gorgeous building is completely covered by a green see-through-wall which adds to its beauty.

6. Sauerbruch Hutton to build sustainable office building for BSU

This building is really adorable for its design and awesome structure. This cool building is completely made to work on the renewable sources like solar heat, energy, and power. The development of this building also makes effective use of natural ventilation and harvests rainwater for various purposes. This building has already received awards for its super cool design and is scheduled to be completed by 2013. The complete structure of the building is divided into two parts. One of which is a high tower with two adjacent wing buildings.

7. Studiodosi unveils zero-emission office building for Provincia di Parma

Provincia di Parma is another cool creation by the Italian firm Studiodosi and this one is really stunning. The design again attracts the people and there is no way you can dislike this cool creation. Made completely green conveys a message of green future and a greener world. This building is a zero Co2 emission building and will help environment in all possible ways. It was constructed in 2009 and is located in Parma, North of Italy. This building is what defines a perfect sustainable building and there is no perfect competition to this exotic creation.

Article originally posted on EcoFriend.com.

Almost 4 billion trees are cut down each year to make paper. The average American uses more than 748 pounds of paper per year. Many times paper is used, unnecessarily, to sign documents. What do you do when you get a request to sign a document in your email inbox? Chances are you print the document, sign it with a pen, and fax it back. If you don’t have a fax machine, you get in the car and waste gas driving to the post office to overnight the signed document. The signature requester gets your document, scans it back into electronic format, and then shreds the paper version. This is a waste of resources. There is an environmentally friendly way to sign documents. You can save trees and money by signing electronically. In other words, sign and send documents from your computer or mobile device.

What is an electronic signature?

It is “an electronic sound, symbol, or process logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record” according to the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. There are mobile applications and e-signature web services that enable you to sign electronically. Many of them are free or low cost. One such application is SimplySign by Vignature.

Here is how to sign and send a document from a mobile device with Vignature:

1. Open the document from your email inbox or from Dropbox.
2. Tap to sign, and pose for a live image capture.
3. Email the signed document to yourself and/or another recipient.

Signing documents electronically is a great way to save trees. It keeps documents in digital format from beginning to end, eliminating the need for paper. Try using an e-signature application the next time you need to sign a document. Video below is a demonstration and review of the Vignature app on iPhone. There are also reviews available for Android users by visiting Best Android Apps Review.

Article by Kelly Spradley, Cofounder of Vignature

With the failure of green energy poster child Solyndra – after the California-based company that received a $528 million taxpayer investment — the question being asked in many circles is whether the green industry is a smart investment for either the public or private sector.

Scottsdale-based reNature, which recently received a grant from Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship Initiative, believes its venture and green industry as a whole is a worthy investment for multiple reasons. reNature has a founding team made up of seven Arizona State University students who are studying in a wide variety of disciplines. They came together based on common interests of sustainability and business and applied fore the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative in April. They were accepted into the initiative and subsequently given a grant, office space for one year in the SkySong building in Scottsdale, and mentoring from the initiative and from members of the community that are connected to the university. Like many in the “green industry” CEO David Metoyer, a finance and sustainability major, and his team at reNature want to take something traditionally seen as a liability – like trash – and through natural processes turn it into an asset. “We want to work with nature’s systems and add value to something that is usually worthless,” said Metoyer. “We want to commercialize nature.”

In recent years there have been numerous companies that have had a similar creed to that of reNature. However, like Solyndra, a large number of them have not been able to make it through the hurdles that every start-up business faces. At a hearing last week, Jonathan Silver, director of the Department of Energy’s energy loan office, said that factors such as China flooding the market with cheap solar panels and a tough European buying market have caused solar-cell prices to drop sharply, significantly hurting companies such as Solyndra. The loan office has given $35.9 billion dollars in loans and created 64,776 jobs according to its website. When Solyndra filed for bankruptcy earlier this month the company was forced to lay off more than 1,000 employees.

So, the question that remains to be answered is, how can green companies stay out of the red? Metoyer and his team at reNature believe that they have a green model that is truly sustainable: economically and environmentally. First of all, reNature is “going for the low-hanging fruits now,” Metoyer said. In other words, the venture is entering the industry carefully, fully aware that there are some “green” business models that can survive now, and some that cannot, said Metoyer. “We need to make sure that any new green company makes business sense,” said Will Heasley, director of business development for reNature. “It has to be economically viable – you have to find a method that makes sense financially,” said Metoyer. “This type of cautious entry into the market is something that other companies should mimic,” he continued. He believes that the American consumer may not be ready for all of the green products that are being introduced. “They (consumers) say, ‘as much as I want to be environmentally conscious, I have to make sure I have enough money to simply keep living,’” said Metoyer. And as for companies that “go green” as a way to look good in the public eye, Metoyer says, “It has to be more than doing something green to get good press – It has to be more than PR.” Another question that green ventures need to ask themselves is “the technology may exist, but does it exist at the right scale?” said Metoyer. “Many times the answer is no, it doesn’t.” The failure of Solyndra and other companies like it shows that even with massive help from the federal government, being green does not guarantee profitability. Nevertheless, many believe there is a market for clean and sustainable industry, but like any other market it’s one that must be entered cautiously, said Metoyer. “Every new company has to look at the triple bottom line,” said Metoyer. “What effects will it have economically, socially, and environmentally.”

Sources
David Metoyer: 425-765-8489
Will Heasley: 602-518-8912
Jonathan Silver: https://lpo.energy.gov/?page_id=19

If you want to introduce environment and other automation into your building, hotel or serviced apartment, traditionally you had to dig deep into the infrastructure of your building. With IP based solutions, meaning you are using the internet to manage your smart accommodation, the introduction of this technology is not as complicated as it once was. Energy management software and hardware can be installed into just about any building type.

Installation.

Because the IP systems and solutions are relatively simple, and they run from a single network, they often cost less than traditional systems to install. Updating of the system is much like updating the information on your own computer. Easy to install means these systems can be installed fast. This means the most out of date buildings can now be transformed into green building without lengthy down times.

Use and Management.

Because the systems are based online, anyone who has access can monitor all automation systems as along as they can get on the internet. The systems are integrated and often come in a modular format. You can purchase additional features as you wish. You may opt for security, communication and temperature management only to find you wish to add lighting controls at a later date. Some hotel and residential accommodations have even opted for community groups, which allows their guests and management to communicate in exactly the same way as we do with social media. The best IP based residential platforms bring the best of automation and the internet, and package it as a useful and economical tool for communication and management.

Savings.

Future-proof high tech living will potentially save your operations a lot cost. The cost of wasted lighting and temperature management will be reduced, for example. Higher levels of security will mean other savings.

Marketing Value.

Hotel and paid accommodation guests are looking for hotels and apartments that provide the best services while caring for our environment at the same time. Being green is extremely important for any hotel. Modern technology is appealing to just about everyone, and if you can do that in a fashion that is better for the environment, you more than doubling the marketing value of such a strategy.

Conscientious Living.

As we all continue to care more for our environment, it is more likely that each guest will use less energy if they can see what they are using. You could either introduce incentive schemes for clients to use less, or you could just allow them to decide on their own. Many hotels have asked their guests not to waste water by not having their towels washed everyday to great effect. With this in mind, we can expect guests to have the same attitude with all energy conservation, especially when they can see their own detailed use.

SIM Publishes 2011 Winners of its Annual Contest in Green Building-

Sustainable Industries Magazine recently introduced its winners of the sixth annual Top 10 Green Building Products award. The winners were chosen by an expert panel of judges from more than 100 entries based upon design aesthetic, environmental performance, innovativeness, scalability/market impact, as well as value and compatibility using the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system. “The green building industry has seen unprecedented growth and change in the six years that Sustainable Industries has produced the Top 10 Green Building Products awards. This year’s winners reflect the diversity of exciting opportunities in the green building space,” says Brian Back, Founding Editor & Publisher of Sustainable Industries. Selected winners are as follows:

1. Adura Wireless Lighting Controls, made by Adura Technologies, slashes lighting-related energy costs by up to 70 percent using a system of sensors and controllers that creates a network to turn off unneeded lights while offering consumers complete control over their electricity through a unique web interface.

2. Breathe Living Wall, made by DIRTT Environmental Solutions, improves air quality and conserves energy by relieving the load of ventilation systems. The system fits any flat wall or vertical building surface. Plants are watered at one point at the top of the wall, and as the water moves through the trough system, wicks from other pots bring water up to the plants.

3. Greensulate, made by Ecovative Design, uses mushroom roots to make its innovative insulation and packaging material. The company doesn’t need any light to grow their fungi and only uses heat during the final drying process – making this product almost entirely sustainable.

4. HydroRight Dual Flush Converter, made by MJSI Inc., created a “drop-in” service for already existing toilets which offers water conservation up to thirty percent. To boot, it only takes about 7 minutes to install.

5. Indow Windows, made by – you guessed it! – Indow Windows, uses thermal inserts that can achieve 94 percent of the energy savings of double-pane replacements at a fraction of the cost. The inserts plus installation run about $13 per square foot, so refitting a house with 14 average-sized windows costs about $2,400.

6. Juice Bar, made by Green Garage Associates, (although not exactly a green building product) is an electric vehicle charging station that can either be bought or rented by property owners. The product is considered sustainable by the judges in that it will encourage more widespread purchases of EVs.

7. Mobile Solar Power System, made by Pure Power Distribution, designed its Mobile Solar Power System to replace dirty, noisy diesel generators, which create air pollution in the form of carbon dioxide, particulate matter and carcinogenic compounds. The company also makes a hybrid system that combines solar power with a biodiesel generator that kicks in when needed.

8. Modlet, made by ThinkEco, aims to cut power wasted by plug-in appliances when they’re not in use. For an office or building that plugs in modlets throughout its facility, that could mean a reduction in overall energy costs of about 10 percent – or a cut of up to 80 percent in the amount of power used by each plugged-in device, according to the company.

9. SageGlass, made by SAGE Electrochromics, offers a unique product using electrochromic glass that can change from clear to darkly tinted using a simple light switch. The good news? It offers a significant reduction in energy savings, lowering peak demand by as much as 24 percent.

10. SmartSlope Living Retaining Wall, made by the Furbish Company, took its inspiration from the tightly-populated central European landscape where buildings are designed vertically rather than horizontally due to the lack of space. Using concrete blocks with a cavity for plant roots, the hollow centers offer space for various plants to take root and, apparently within months, covers up the wall with natural growth. It can be built in open spaces near buildings, highways and other not-so-aesthetically-appealing areas while encouraging the growth of carbon-eating plants. And while concrete isn’t exactly environmentally-friendly, it does offer a structural soundness that other building materials don’t. Longevity is definitely sustainable.

Over the past few decades eco-friendliness has become ever more important as devastating effects of climate change have been emerging globally. Almost everyone is aware of global warming to some degree and measures have been implicated so that proprietors and business owners have to adhere to certain rules regarding waste and recycling. With the constant increase in awareness and attempts to prevent climate change, eco-friendly jobs have been increasing in popularity and new roles have been emerging.

When considering a new career path, eco-friendly jobs can not only be interesting they also help local communities and the future wellbeing of the planet. Moreover, there’s likely to be future demand for green jobs as we continually aim to look after our planet. Green jobs can be found on many online recruitment websites, here are some of the top positions and industries to look out for when green job seeking.

Green Car Manufacturing
CO2 emissions are renowned for being huge contributors to global warming. Road traffic emissions are heavily responsible for carbon emissions and many manufacturers are trying to combat the issue by producing cars which are more eco-friendly and fuel efficient. More hybrid and electric car models are emerging, showing a bright future for the green car manufacturing industry.

Renewable Energy Installation
What’s better to homeowners than free electricity that they’re paid to produce? Renewable energy resources are incredibly popular as an investment option and free solar panels are now available for homeowners who lack financial backing. Renewable energy installation is a rather sound industry as there’s a lot of governmental support and funding, in order to increase their popularity.

Climatologists
Climatology is the practice of assessing weather conditions over a period of time. Climatologists play a vital part in evaluating the extent of climate change and predict future climate. Climatologists help forecast future weather which is essential for human survival. They also predict how human activity is affecting the earth, providing us with a guide on how we can reduce our emissions.

Hydrologists
Hydrologists are responsible for the efficient flow of water to homes. Waste water treatment and sewers are covered by hydrologists to ensure all homes have a constant supply of clean water to their homes in a cost effective manner. They not only help the environment, they also play a crucial role in human life.

Forester
Many trees are felled each year for everyday human needs such as furniture, paper and toilet roll. This deforestation is affecting wildlife and endangering vulnerable species of animals whose habitat is a forest. Foresters help to manage and care for forests and trees by measuring biodiversity and air quality.

There are many green jobs available for those who want to care for the environment whilst in employment. Many of these jobs can be extremely rewarding both financially and personally. Protecting wildlife, humans and the Earth can be an extremely rewarding responsibility and many green jobs have exciting future prospects.

It’s no secret that offices are powerhouses and can have an incredibly negative effect on the environment. The realms of wasted paper and abundance of computers that may not even be in use are wreaking havoc with the Ozone layer and contributing to climate change. Working from home is now becoming more popular than ever, due to the advances in technology and communication. Not only is it a convenient alternative for many employees, it also carries environmental and financial benefits.

Commuting

The drive to and from work each day is accountable for a large amount of CO2 emissions. Axing the drive to work reduces this effect, reducing the damage to the Ozone layer. The financial aspects mean the employee no longer has to pay extortionate prices for fuel in an attempt to get to work. Even if the employee doesn’t drive, they may have to pay for public transport which can be equally as cost for long distance commuters.

Renewable Energy Options

When an employee works from home the benefits of renewable energy sources such as solar panels can be even greater. Solar PV panels can be extremely beneficial to home workers who may need to have their computer and other electronic devices plugged in all day. They have the ability to produce clean, green energy whilst supplementing their income with the feed in tariff rates.

Green Office

When working from home, the employee has the ability to choose which accessories and stationery to use in their office. This allows them to be able to buy green accessories which will help the environment such as energy saving light bulbs, recycled office supplies and solvent-free adhesives. When working in a company office, the employee rarely has much control of what kind of office supplies are used, meaning the ones being purchased could be potentially harmful to the environment. Although the employee will have to buy their own stationery, there are office supplies companies which sell stationery at cheap, discounted prices to keep costs low.

No Work Wear

Many office workers buy an entirely new wardrobe for a section commonly referred to as “work wear”. Employees may not have control over what’s acceptable to wear in the workplace, forcing them to pay for more clothing. Working from home, this problem is non-existent. The worker may choose to stay in their pajamas all day if they wish, cutting costs and reducing the likelihood of buying clothes from retailers who don’t support Fair Trade.

Childcare

This is one of the main reasons people choose to work from home. Childcare costs can be extortionate and the worker may not be able to provide sufficient funding. Also, working from home gives the employee the opportunity to bond with their children in between working, which could improve productivity and family relationships. Working from home carries many benefits, making it an extremely attractive alternative to the daily office grind. Employees have the ability to manage their own workload, choose green products and services and save money in the process.

It’s a fallacy that running an eco-friendly business and turning a profit are mutually exclusive goals – there are, in fact, many financial benefits to going green.

Why go green?

As environmental issues assume an increasing importance in all our lives, the concept of ‘going green‘ has really started to take off in many people’s personal and business lives. The world has finite natural resources and, with the global population expected to rocket from its current figure of just under seven billion to an estimated nine billion by 2050, the implementation of sustainable living and working practices has never been more crucial. Add concerns about global warming, pollution and wildlife conservation and it’s no wonder the green revolution has started to gain such momentum.

Many individuals consider the adoption of a greener way of living to be more of a moral obligation than a mere lifestyle choice. Many business owners would doubtless agree – but in difficult economic times, when the financial bottom line can be far too close for comfort – they may also feel that, while they’d like to adopt greener practices, actually doing so is far down their list of priorities.

The fact is, though, greener working practices do not necessarily have to cost more, and in many cases can actually reduce business costs.

Travel alternatives

Traveling can be one of the most costly aspects of any business, in terms of both financial expense and a business’s carbon footprint. Not all travel can be avoided, but with advances in communications technology, virtual meetings are increasingly taking the place of face-to-face.

There are certainly times when face-to-face meetings are beneficial or even crucial but, equally, you may want to consider whether putting a dozen people on different flights for a two hour meeting is really the best solution.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) software such as Skype, traditional telephone conference calling, instant messaging and email conferencing all offer far cheaper and greener alternatives.

Similarly, employees could also be given the option to work from home, whether on a permanent or occasional basis. Again, this depends on the situation, but in many cases, and for many tasks or projects, individual employees could accomplish just as much without making the daily grind to the office. Furthermore, reducing your need for a physical office space not only reduces your resource consumption, but also dramatically reduces your company’s regular costs.

Consider trains over planes

When traveling within your country or region, trains offer a greener and ultimately more productive experience than flying. While a short flight is always more attractive than a longer train ride, a train journey gives you the opportunity to continue working during the time you’d be either checking in, queuing or traveling to and from the airport while flying – and the carbon footprint for train travel is significantly less than flying.

The paperless office

Few businesses can operate without a stationary cupboard of some sort, but vast amounts of record-keeping and communications that used to clog up desks and filing cabinets alike can now be done entirely electronically.

Going as near to paperless as possible will not only make things easier to organize, but can also save on the basic costs of materials and on postage, which can often add up to a surprisingly hefty expense. Important documents should, of course, be backed up to the hilt, and hard copies will often have to be made, but there are savings to be found in the day to day management of most offices.

Energy grants and initiatives

Many countries are now offering incentives for businesses to use greener working practices, and to off-set the costs of changing working practices. In the US, there are a range of national and state energy initiatives encouraging businesses to move to more sustainable energy sources, such as the US Treasury grant Program 1603 for businesses installing solar, wind or hydro energy generators. For an easy one-stop resource to find all available green grants, try the North Carolina State University’s Database State Initiatives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) search engine.

Some business owners may claim there are many pressing reasons in today’s climate (pun most definitely intended) for them not to go green. But with green issues taking on ever greater importance to customers and employees alike, and with clear financial benefits to many green practices, business owners are better off asking themselves if they can afford not to change to a cleaner, greener way of working.

About the author:
Christian Arno is the founder of professional translation services provider Lingo24, experts in the foreign language internet. Launched in 2001, Lingo24 now has over 150 employees spanning three continents and clients in over sixty countries. In the past twelve months, they have translated over forty million words for businesses in every industry sector, including the likes of MTV and World Bank. Follow Lingo24 on Twitter: @Lingo24.

DOE Issues Conditional Loan to “Direct Wafer” Solar Development Project-

The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, has announced a conditional loan guarantee of $150 million to 1366 Technologies, Inc., that is in development of a multicrystalline wafer manufacturing project. This breakthrough process, called Direct Wafer, could potentially slash manufacturing costs of silicon wafers by 50 percent — significantly reducing the price of solar power. The project will create 70 permanent jobs and 50 seasonal construction jobs. “This project is a game-changer that could dramatically lower the cost of photovoltaic solar cells. It is exactly the kind of innovation that puts America at the forefront of the global clean energy race,” said Secretary Chu. “As global demand for solar cells increases, this kind of technology will help the U.S. increase its market share and be more competitive with other countries such as China, which currently accounts for 60 percent of the world supply of multicrystalline wafers.”