Reputation Armor an online reputation management firm has taken more steps in January to creating a more environment friendly office atmosphere. Reputation Armor is a web based company with hundreds of clients and several employees. Each client and employee Reputation Armor has usually creates a paper file and uses up some sort of energy, just like any business. Reputation Armor has taken new steps in 2010 to offset the carbon footprints they are leaving behind.

A few of the Green steps Reputation Armor has taken include: Using Less Paper, Using Energy Saving Light bulbs, Reusing Paper for Written Notes, Unplugging Equipment When Not in Use, Encouraging Employees to Carpool, Incentives for nearby Employees to Bike or Walk To Work, and many more.

A few unique Green Techniques Reputation Armor uses in the office may sound strange like the fact that on bright sunny days they do not use the overhead lighting system is most areas of their 2,500 square foot office. One Reputation Armor employee says “It seemed a little dark at first but it creates a neat work environment. We can see with no problems. Our computers and natural light from the xx-large windows let light pour in on certain days. ”

The office also banned paper clips and staplers from being used; Reputation Armor encourages folding paper together on the top left hand corner to create a batch of papers without using a staple. Something as small as saving a staple can make a huge GREEN difference in the work place. 120 is the number of tons of steel saved if every UK office worker used one less staple a day.

Keeping it cold keeps it Green in the Reputation Armor offices also. Reputation Armor is against over using the heat and air conditioning system. It is not to save money since the lease covers the electric bill, it is to save energy. Some employees at Reputation Armor wear sweaters, Blazers, and Even Coats in the office! Heating a drafty office consumes a huge amount of energy; Reputation Armor believes in saving energy at all levels and hopes that other offices will take steps to make a more Green Friendly Office also.

Biofuels are also a green energy source. It has been around for a very long time and lately, people are beginning to take notice.

Liquid biofuel which is the one used in cars is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils mostly soy and corn. The nice thing about it is that it contains no petroleum, is nontoxic and biodegradable.

By fueling up with biofuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit anything. Right now, it is the only fuel approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

One example of this is biodiesel which is made from alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. Aside from methanol, some countries have also experimented with corn and sugarcane to create their own version of biofuel.

Glycerine is a common products and this is used in making toothpaste and soap. Since it is quite new, the process of converting it is quite expensive and right now, this is still much more expensive per gallon compared to petroleum.

But if you look at what you pay for it, the returns are huge because you get to do your share to preserve a cleaner environment, an improvement in air quality and a reduction of cancer-causing agents.

A cheaper and primitive way to make bio-diesel is by collecting cooking oil and then processing it. This may not good your car’s engine so be careful if you decide to use it.

If you are skeptic about biodiesels, studies have shown that its performance on the road is just as good as petroleum in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing. You can use this in its pure form or blend with petroleum fuel. The most common mix in the market is 20/80 and is referred to as “B20.” This means that 20% is biodiesel and the remainder is 80%. Another version is the E85 which is fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

The best part about using biodiesel is that you only have to make a few changes in your engine to be able to use it. Aside from making the car run, it also helps clean the engine. If you are concerned that this will void the warranty of your vehicle should there be a problem, don’t worry because it doesn’t. In the US, B20 is the most common one available but there are only a few gas stations that carry it.

When car’s first rolled out in the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to make these vehicles especially the Model T’s run using ethanol. Tests have even shown that these may also run using peanut oil.

This never materialized because huge oil deposits were discovered and diesel was cheap. It was only when our demand for oil increased in the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and in the early part of this year that people began to realize that to reduce our demand for foreign oil that we should try using biodiesels and other forms of alternative energy.

Is it too late? Not yet because there is still time to use biofuels and others as green energy sources.

It would be great if we can produce our own green energy source? If we can do that, we don’t have to pay electrical bills or gasoline anymore for our cars. While we can buy some of the equipment, the rest will have to be done on our own.

Take solar or wind energy for example. We already know how to harness and make it. If you want to make one, do some research online and then set up the system yourself.

To have solar energy, you will need to buy an inverter, battery, charge controller, solar panels, some wires and support structure. The only difference with wind  energy is that you need a fan. Once you have everything you need, you can put it all together.

If you are not skillful, you will be happy to know that some companies sell the entire system. By buying it from them and having it installed by their experts, you are sure that there won’t be any problems the moment you switch it on.

There is one more thing you need before you can use one or the two green energy sources. Before you buy the materials or the system, make sure you have a flat area that is about a hundred square feet or so because it occupies a lot of space.

For those who don’t have the space or the budget to use these two energy sources, another option is to create your own biofuels.

Biofuels are used in many countries and they get it from harvesting corn, sugar and other crops. Luckily, you don’t need a farm to produce it because you can also make your own using some recycled waste.

A good example of this is vegetable oil which we use for cooking. To turn this into a biofuel, we first filter it by warming up the liquid and then filtering this with a coffee filter. The next step is to remove the water also by boiling it again at 100 degrees for a short period of time.

We need to know the amount of lye present in the vegetable oil and we do this by a process known as titration. When we are done with that, we now mix sodium hydroxide to produce sodium methoxide.

The process of converting used vegetable oil before it becomes a biofuel takes quite awhile and it must be heated the entire time. This is done so the fuel we produce is pure and only when this is achieved that we give it time to cool.

Just how much biofuel we make after all the work varies but you will have an idea of how much you have produced since this is the one you see floating at the top. If there is still some glycerin present, filter it again. From there, you already have your own backyard biofuel which you can use and even sell to those who are just as concerned with the environment as you are.

By making our own green energy sources, we make ourselves less dependent on gasoline in its various forms to power our heater, home or car. Why don’t a lot of people do it? Well simply because they don’t have the time to make it and would rather rely on someone else to do it for them.

More and more people are becoming environmentally aware as they realize the impact their actions have on the environment. Small and large business alike all impact the earth, and while some business have a large impact than others, all businesses can implement practices that are environmentally friendly.

Being a green company is not as hard as it may seem, and even small changes can have a positive impact on the planet. There are a few different things you can do to right away to adopt green practices, which are simple and easy to implement.

One way that your entire company can do something green is to start a company wide recycling program. Instead of throwing recyclables away in break rooms and offices, put recycling bins in convenient places near trash cans so that cans, plastic containers, and paper can be sorted. Many places have free or low cost recycling pickup in addition to trash pickup, or recyclables can be dropped off at local recycling centers.

Another easy way to start being a green company is to take advantage of technology for communication. Presentations can be made via laptop or projector, instead of printed, and email can be utilized instead of memos and printed messages. Online advertising can be very effective and is more environmentally conscience than printed ads.

Making sure your company’s building is insulated, uses energy efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems, and has other environmentally friendly features is a great way to be a green company. Reducing the amount of water used for landscaping and using plants native to your office’s area are ways to be a green company outside your building.

There are many ways to be a green company, and many benefits of being a green company for the earth. Even small changes can have a big impact over time, and the more changes you make the more you will help the earth.

There is no doubt that recycling reusable materials is healthy for the environment. Recycling paper, metal, and plastic reduces the need to create more products from natural resources, and allows consumers to get the products they need created from materials that have already been used. Many people already recycle the things they use in their homes, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of recyclables are made into new products every year from the products private consumers don’t throw away.

Many employers have also begun company recycling programs, to do their part for the environment and encourage recycling throughout the workplace. Company recycling is a relatively simple office policy to implement, and can have a great impact on office morale and community spirit.

A company recycling program can begin small, with recycling bins placed in convenient locations, such as in break rooms. Trashcans or storage containers labeled for plastic, metal, and paper, are simple to make and can be placed just about anywhere. A few simple signs reminding employees to recycle will help to ensure recyclables make it into their appropriate containers.

To take company recycling to a higher level, employers can offer incentives to collect recyclables or hold competitions to see which offices or staff members can collect the most. Many towns and cities have recycling pickup for free or for a small fee, and if these services do not exist where your business is located most towns have localized recycling facilities where recyclables can be dropped off.

Creating a company recycling program will show your employees and customers that you care about the environment and community. It creates a positive image for your business, and helps to cut down on the use of natural resources in a bigger way than one person can do alone. A company recycling program also influences everyone who enters a business from employees to customers, and encourages them to recycle at home, further propagating the cycle of re-use and environmental awareness.

Written by Payton Williams
http://www.Greenedup.org

New Green Building initiative by Capital Remodeling

Green building, also called sustainable design, is a term that is sweeping across the construction industry. Green building involves making a concentrated effort to reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint. Obviously this involves certain decisions that affect decisions and practices during the construction phase, such as transport of resources and supplies, worker practices, and the proper disposal / recycling of left over materials. Green building practices go far beyond the immediate reduction of a construction company’s carbon footprint, however. It should extend well into, and beyond, the life of the building project to have a positive and long term impact on the surrounding community and, by extension, the environment in general.

In order to effectively streamline resources and practices, and truly maximize the efficient usage of materials and resources, careful attention must be paid to design, construction, and maintenance.

Green building practices will concentrate on three specific areas and resources; environmentally friendly materials, energy consumption, and water efficiency. Of course a fourth area, the health and well being of the building project’s intended occupants as well as the community, of which the building project will become a part of, should also be heavily considered.

The main focus of green building and design is to create a neutral to positive impact on the environment. The rewards for choosing to work with the environment instead of against it are obvious and numerous. There are, however, many financial benefits associated with green building practices, as well. A green building project that has been thoughtfully and skilfully designed, constructed and, of course maintained, will reduce overall construction costs by as much as 25%, will significantly lower maintenance costs, and provide other forms of monetary savings and benefits. On top of this, tax breaks, rebates, and positive branding will also contribute to the financial benefits that will result as an outcome of green building and business practices.

In order to effectively streamline resources and practices, and truly maximize the efficient usage of materials and resources, careful attention must be paid to design, construction, and maintenance. Design involves an emphasis on minimizing materials and waste, reusable and recyclable resources are chosen over other materials, and energy and water efficiency is planned at every stage. Along with reusable materials, cool roofing options are also utilized. Guidelines and restrictions for cool roofing colours vary from state to state so it is a good idea to look into exactly what is required before you build.

While looking into guidelines for cool roofing, it is important to also look into LEED certification requirements. LEED is put in place to provide standards of practice for sustainable design, or green building.

Learn more about Capital Remodeling by contacting them directly.

Recently a company called Vacation Travel Club contacted us to let us know they have joined the GreenedUp family of Green Companies. A company that goes Geen is one that cares out our earth and the future of like on our planet.

Following the footsteps of thousands of companies around the world, Vacation Travel Club will also be teaming up with Carbonfund.org in fighting global warming. Vacation Travel Club is aware that the fight for climate change starts with education and Carbonfund.org can provide the knowledge and climate solutions needed toward a “zero-Carbon” world. A partnership with carbonfund.org offers businesses like Vacation Travel Club a way to calculate, reduce and offset carbon footprint for a clean energy future.

Vacation Travel Club provides year-round discount vacation packages and travel membership, allowing travelers to save up to 65% on selected Vacation and Travel services and products. To learn more about Vacation Travel Club, visit http://www.VacationTravelClub.com or http://www.VacationTravelClub.org.

Recycling as a company is all about habit. Think about it. When you have a piece of trash you instinctively toss it in the trash bin. That is a habit built up over many years. I find the same is true with recycling. If you have a blue bin in your office for recycling copy paper all you have to do is get everyone to get in the habit of tossing their used paper into it instead of the trash bin. It takes a while but it is very effective.

When I started recycling as a company I offered positive reinforcement at the beginning to motivate staff to recycle. For instance, when we put a recycling bin in the break room for aluminum and plastic bottles and cans, I offered a prize for the person who deposited the most items in the can. I tied a permanent marker to the bin and had everyone put their initials on the item they were tossing. At first people were doing it for the prize, but after a couple of months they were just habitually tossing their cans and bottles into the bin. It worked like a charm.

Recycling as a company is a great way to contribute to protecting the Earth and when done as a group it is a lot easier to make a difference. You can motivate your staff like I did through prizes or you can just educate them on how they are helping the green cause. Once they see examples of how recycling as a company makes a difference they will no doubt be happy to partake in recycling part of the daily routine. One thing I have done is reward staffers who come up with interesting and new ways to recycle too.

Here is something to think about for recycling as a company. Instead of buying all new office furniture when you need it, why not buy used? Sites like Craig’s List are great for finding gently used office furniture. This is the ultimate in recycling because you keep the furniture from getting into landfills by using it over and over again. It also saves you a lot of money. Recycling as a company is all about attitude and habit. Doing your part as a company to help the Earth is not just the right thing to do but it can also help the bottom line.

Being a Green Company – Green is the New Black

I have found that being a green company is a lot easier than I originally thought. My thinking was that going green was going to be a big pain in the neck and would cost a lot of money. The truth is that going green is easy and can save a lot of money. They say that green is the new black in terms of bottom-line black ink and that is always a good thing. The thing to keep in mind when you take your company green is to start small.

Every little bit helps and being a green company doesn’t mean you have to do everything at once. You can start by just having a recycling program in the office. Recycle paper, bottles, cans and things like toner cartridges. That is all really easy to do, doesn’t cost anything and is a good start. You will find that once you get people into the habit of recycling daily that pretty soon you are really making a difference. Recycling can be attributed to anything, even furniture. In fact, instead of buying new office furniture all the time, look for gently used furniture on sites like Craig’s List. You will save money and help the environment by not letting those items go into the landfill prematurely.

Curbing your energy use is probably the easiest way to begin being a green company. Shut off electric machines and appliances when they are not in use. Install energy efficient light bulbs in all your fixtures. They are not expensive and they will save you close to 40% on your electric bills. This goes for the heat and AC too. Turn it off when you are not using it or put it on a timer for the most efficient use.

Being a green company is more about discipline than anything else. All I did was start a routine and kept with it and my company has been continually getting greener and greener all the time while I continue to add to the bottom line. Going green is not just good for the Earth it is also good for business. These times make it hard enough to stay in business and compete and being green offers a great new way to make money and be more profitable. I also enjoy some tax benefits to being green and you probably can too, just check with your government.

Tru Talent Management has been in business for over 12 years. During that time, we have established ourselves as a leading talent agency, guiding the careers of many Actors and Models. Our agency has carved out a distinctive niche in the entertainment industry, earning a reputation for putting artists’ interests above all else.

Tru Talent Management’s select, yet diverse client list allows us to effectively compete with other talent agencies while guaranteeing personalized attention to every client. Our agents and staff have many years of experience and are committed to providing excellent service and quality in a professional manner.

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