The GoVacuum Blog

By Michele Kadison

These days green office supplies have become a part of the mainstream.  No longer the province of the few, sustainable business practices now include buying from manufacturers that are producing energy-efficient products.  This means that more office supplies consist of recycled materials such as paper products, furniture, and even electronic supplies.

One of the most prominent suppliers to eco-conscious businesses is Shoplet.com.  With over 200,000 products for sale, Shoplet is making it easier for consumers to find green alternatives to their business needs.  Over the last three years, a demand for these products has increased by 700%, an astonishing figure that attests to our increasing awareness of the viability of eco-friendly alternatives.  Speaking to this expanding awareness, Shoplet has created a Facebook application that calculates the amount of conserved energy, water conserved, and trees saved due to buying green products.

It has long been the notion that green choices meant higher prices with less value than conventional products.  This is no longer the case and customers are discovering that with easy access to finding green alternatives, the choice is an easy one. Shoplet is taking its mission to supply businesses with conscious supplies by extending their reach to the manufacturers themselves.  Experts are working with manufacturing companies to discover better ways to improve products from an ecological point of view.  HP is one example of a company now using more recycled material, and many other companies are following suit.

More and more businesses, government institutions, and individuals are discovering that buying green not only benefits the environment, but also their bottom line.  As the demand increases, so will the supply.

For more information on Green office supplies, see www.shoplet.com.  For information on Green cleaning supplies, see Green Cleaning.

By Michele Kadison

By now we are all aware of how important it is to do our part in reducing waste.  And this is not only at home, but also in the office where there are many alternatives for saving money and helping the environment.  A few shifts in habit, and we can make a huge difference.

One of the most obvious areas to attend to is our use of paper.  According to recent statistics, Americans throw away more than 4.5 million tons of paper per year.  We can greatly reduce this number by making sure our electronic filing systems are up to date and by using email as the main source of both inter-office and out of office communication.  Rather than discarding printed paper, use the blank side for printing out memos and drafts.  Encourage your employees to recycle paper for scrap and make it available at copy stations and on all desks.  If we are responsible for reducing paper use, we can significantly reduce the rampant destruction of trees while at the same time reducing our office costs.
This holds true for paper towel and toilet tissue use in office bathrooms.  According to the WWF, Americans flush approximately 270,000 trees down the toilet…. per day!  By installing hand dryers and using recycled toilet paper we can significantly lower this statistic.

And what about all those disposable coffee cups?  Starbucks is reported to use 1.9 billion cups per year, which results in a shocking buildup in landfill.  Buy a coffee or espresso maker and make ceramic cups available for your employees or encourage them to bring their own.
Plastic water bottles are also huge environmental culprits, with 2.5 million of them thrown away in the United States each hour, according to the Clean Air Council.  Require your employees to purchase stainless steel water bottles and then install a water filtration system that fits easily on a kitchen faucet, which costs a mere $150 to $250.00 per year.
Use non-toxic whiteboard markers such as Auspen.  This brand is an excellent alternative to conventional markers, as it does not contain Xylene, a neurotoxin that also causes that noxious smell!  Auspen markers last a long time and are refillable, making them infinitely more cost effective.

Make sure you communicate all your environmental efforts with your employees so that they will comply with these changes and get on board with their own Green ideas for a more eco-productive office environment.

By Michele Kadison

With every pollution, there is a solution.  Or so it is beginning to seem.  As predictions for our environment become more dire, many scientists are heading for greener pastures as they discover ways to decontaminate ubiquitous toxins in our water, soil, and air.

One of the foremost areas in innovative research is known as Green Chemistry.  Heralded by Dr. Terrance Collins, the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry and Director at Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Green Science, this area is fast becoming a competitive solution for eliminating hazardous chemicals from our environment.

Winning the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 1998, Dr. Collins is an internationally recognized chemist and lecturer. A leader in the discovery of oxidation catalysts that convert harmful pollutants into less toxic materials, his work is helping to turn the tide on contaminated water, air, and soil. Dr. Collins and his team have developed certain chemical catalysts that activate hydrogen peroxide and other oxidizing agents in order to neutralize substances that are normally extremely harmful to the endocrine system and cellular development in humans and animals.

According to Dr. Collins, “Understanding how some chemicals alter cellular development to better avoid these properties in new chemicals is a vital frontier for preventing disease and improving human health.”

Green Chemistry is now proving that oxidation catalysts provide a viable alternative to bad industrial practices by decontaminating water that contains estrogenic compounds, various types of drugs, pesticides, and the like.  Additionally these catalysts are proving to reduce or eliminate hazardous substances from industrial wastewater produced by the textile and fuel production industries, among many others. By disinfecting water of pathogens, Green Chemistry is raising the bar for manufacturers that wish to stay competitive in an environment where more companies are becoming eco-conscious.

Finding more holistic solutions through the introduction of sustainable chemistry is helping to solve a range of problems.  Among them are the reduction of waste in general, the elimination of post treatment costs, the reduction of resource and energy overload, and the creation of safer products.  Supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Green Chemistry solutions are fast becoming the hope of the future. VeruTEk, an FDA approved environmental cleanup technology that dissolves and destroys pollutants in both water and soil by converting contaminants into CO2 and water, is at the top of the list.  Able to clean even sub-surface soil under buildings, this technology is the first of its kind in the environmental market.  Winning Brands Corporation (Pink Sheets) is another Green solution that manufactures environ friendly replacements for hazardous chemicals. According to the company’s CEO, Eric Lehner, their mission is to provide people with positive alternatives to toxic practices..

by Michele Kadison 

Yet another big corporation is on the green bus driving towards greater sustainability and eco-consciousness.  Eastman Kodak Company has created a new set of goals to expand the company’s green mandate in its product line, operational practices, and social awareness. Though the company set up “responsible growth goals” in 2006, it has decided to go even further than its former expectations to reduce emissions while increasing its efforts towards greater responsibility in the marketplace.

So far, Kodak has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions and energy output by 40% since 2002.  This number has prevented 1.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from penetrating the atmosphere.  Kodak now intends to lower this percentage another 10% by 2012, which amounts to a 50% reduction since it began thinking about the repercussions of its ecological footprint.

Kodak also plans to ensure that all of its new products are qualified under Energy Star guidelines.  This would improve the life cycle of these products from inception to eventual reuse or recycling.  The company also is working towards assuring that all of its suppliers are assessed by the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition to make sure that their standards meet the same rigorous expectations that Kodak has set for itself.

The company’s progress is indebted to its use of energy-efficient equipment along with green-minded technicians, allowing for more sustainable design and manufacturing.  Because of Kodak’s new methods of industry, the company was able to retire a 67-megawatt power plant in 2007, which earned Kodak a U.S. Department of Energy “Energy Champion Award.”  Additionally, Kodak’s world headquarters in Rochester, New York was certified by Energy Star in 2008.

Digital transformation is also responsible for Kodak’s hefty transformation to a business others can look to as a model.  Other examples of its growing awareness in the green marketplace is its commitment to a 70% reduction in occupational injury rate by 2012, as well as continuing to fulfill its employee’s expectations as a forward-thinking, sustainable, and consciously eco-aware company.

By Michele Kadison

Bad industrial practices lead to pollution of our atmosphere and deterioration of the health of all living things. The malevolent byproducts from industries that create hazardous waste are becoming more dangerous to the balance of our planet and it is time to become more informed and time to make personal choices that help to support viable alternatives.

A recent study was done on children in Southern California regarding asthma due to high smog levels. As published in The Lancet, the study included over 3,000 kids throughout 12 cities. The conclusion was that those living in cities with high degrees of smog, especially if these children were athletic, were more likely to develop asthma. According to Rob McConneell of USC Keck School of Medicine, these studies clearly show the hazards to children due to air pollution. Many children were followed for five years to determine their propensity towards developing asthma, with the conclusion that this is indeed a problem especially for children who play sports. Because athletic children inhale 10 to 20 times more than children sitting in front of computers, this is an important fact to register in determining what kind of industrial practices are no longer viable.

Other studies have revealed that cancer, leukemia, and mesothelioma rates increase when people are exposed to toxins such as pesticides, industrial pollutants, and radiation. Chemicals from power plants, factories, and vehicles release chlorofluorocarbons, blocking sunlight and leading to highly concentrated levels of ultra-violet light, so damaging to humans and animals. Hazardous byproducts released by the coal and oil industries such as asbestos, benzene, and other chemicals are known causes of cancer, leukemia, and other diseases.

We need to be aware of industries that are using unregulated, old equipment that no longer serves.  There are many alternatives in almost every single industry that are non-polluting, along with available incentives for companies to convert to ecologically sound systems. By supporting solar and thermal power and electrical and hybrid vehicles for public and private transport, for example, we become a part of Earth’s healing process. By supporting research on energy storage, performance, and standards for energy consumption and pollution emission, we become a part of a viable Green future. By supporting businesses that create environmentally-friendly products we are doing are part. By supporting mandates to curb biogenetic modification, especially when it comes to our food and waste treatment, we assure our children of a better life.

By working together towards a goal of zero pollution, we can live in good conscience knowing that each and every one of us is an important ingredient in creating a more responsible and respectful attitude towards our planet.

by Michele Kadison
United States President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus plan is designed to resuscitate the American economy by getting people back to work, with $40 billion of this money designated for creating green jobs. It has been estimated that there are currently between 750,000 to 4 million green jobs avail in the U.S., many of them traditional with the potential for a new green slant. Others are in the realm of new products and company creation, revolving around the need for a more sustainable approach to the environment.

Between retrofitting old paradigms that ultimately correspond to energy efficiency and moving forward with new evolutionary ideas, all are based on the concept of renewable energy, using natural resources, and reducing our footprint on the planet’s resources.

With so many states primed for renewable resources, investment in alternative energy plans is an obvious given. The nation’s sunbelt is ideal for solar energy products; the plains and coastal areas are ideal for wind energy, the South East and Mid West are ideal for biofuel energy, and geothermal solutions are ideal anywhere.

Many automotive plants are in the process of retooling their equipment in order to build solar panels, wind turbines, and other machinery geared towards energy efficiency. Other industries are redesigning their plants to conform with green industry standards, whereby many of them can begin to create parts for eco-friendly machines and products.

Chemical plants are now looking at processes and products that would eliminate the need to use hazardous substances, and agricultural entities are casting their eyes towards more sustainable farming practices.

Additionally, retail businesses are rethinking their strategies to correspond with consumers’ growing attention to environmentally friendly products and services.

President Obama’s concern with modernizing the grid in order to deliver electricity digitally throughout the country implies an enormous change in reducing energy costs. By delivering energy to every part of the country, rural areas that hitherto do not receive reliable electricity would also be able to move forward while saving money in the process.

United States Vice President Joe Biden has created a task force to help strengthen the middle class, an essential ingredient in ensuring a grounded economy. A strong advocate of creating more green jobs, Biden seeks to ensure consistent family wages, health and retirement benefits, ethical work conditions and labor standards, and a workforce that reflects the diversity of American society.

The Green movement is gaining momentum not only due to the efforts of lawmakers, however, but also through the demands of consumers, business owners, community leaders, labor unions, and environmentalists. By supporting a green consciousness, it becomes more obvious that we are solving a multitude of problems, from the need for jobs to the health of our planet.

It is a fact that more businesses on a world scale are finding ways to identify, manage, and reduce their impact on insuring the health of our planet. At the same time, there is also the hard fact that we will not necessarily see marked positive changes in our environment for another 30 to 40 years. Even as we slowly implement greener technologies, the climate continues to change, with its more obvious temperature fluctuations that lead to storms, floods, and other anomalies.

According to a Charted Management Institute survey, 29% of businesses throughout the United States were adversely affected by extreme weather last year. Another survey has revealed that up to 80% of businesses affected by major climate-related incidents never re-open or have to close their doors within 18 months after the disaster.

Many scientists are currently predicting that it may be too late for solutions to the global warming crisis. In meetings held outside of Mexico City with 17 of the world’s largest economic contributors, experts are discussing how to adapt to climate change while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. A future conference in Denmark will hopefully deliver solutions. Experts are also talking about creating an international adaptation fund as a part of the next United Nations climate treaty, whereby billions of dollars would be allotted to finance infrastructure, water, and agricultural technologies, especially in poor countries as they are hit with growing temperature fluctuations and catastrophic incidents.

One of the areas that is impacted the most has to do with water. In addition to protecting coastal areas around the world from rising tides, fresh water needs to be guaranteed to populations. According to Paul Schuler from General Electric’s Water Technologies unit, GE is working on technologies to ensure drought-prone areas of fresh water. This means investing in high-tech purifiers as well as the recourse to recycled wastewater.

Deutche Bank’s chief climate change strategist, Mark Fulton, says that the bank has created a $4 million climate fund to invest in renewable energy. The bank is now shifting some of these funds into adaptation technologies that will provide for future catastrophes. The global banking corporation HSBC has also invested in adaptation as strategists there recognize the reality of what is most likely in store as we wait for the planet to slowly recover from damage.

Because of the continued flow of information regarding climate change, businesses are now looking for methods whereby they can become more resilient. This means identifying both the risks and opportunities involved in adaptation to abnormalities. Water technologies such as desalination, filtration, reverse osmosis are just some of the areas where businesses are recognizing new opportunities. Emergency equipment is another area that promises a new market potential, with companies investing in mobile water filtration units and the like.

With foresight comes the ability to develop measures that can offer assistance to populations while creating revenue. As our natural resources diminish, we not only are discovering ways to slow down the decline, but also coming up with viable and profitable management techniques for surviving in a new global paradigm.

Source: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/06/25/pm_adaptation_funds/

In a victory for the Democrats, the House of Representatives has passed the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Bill. Sponsored by Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, the passage of the bill represents a large and important step towards completing the energy priorities of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and others who believe that the emphasis on solutions for climate change are essential for our global future.

The Bill
The Clean Energy Bill has been devised to increase our energy security by reducing our dependency on foreign oil, put a cap on pollution, and revitalize the economy through the creation of millions of new jobs in the Green sector. Key measures in the bill are as follows:

Electric utilities will be required to meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by the year 2020.

$190 billion to be invested in clean energy technologies and energy efficiency, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration, electric and other advanced technology vehicles, and scientific research and development .

New energy-saving standards to be mandated for buildings, appliances, and industry.

The reduction of carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 17% by 2020 and over 80% by 2050 as compared to 2005 levels. (Includes the prevention of tropical deforestation).

Consumers to be protected from energy price increases. According to the Congressional Budget Office and the Environmental Protection Agency, the legislation will cost each household less than 50 cents per day in 2020 (not including energy efficiency savings).

Future Victories
Democrats are viewing the passage of the bill by the House as a direct reflection of how the American public feels about changing energy policy today. Chris Van Holen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee affirms this by saying, “the American people understand that we can no longer sweep big national problems under the rug and that we had to have an energy policy for the 21st century.”

All around the country we are seeing community colleges expanding their course roster to include training in energy efficient and sustainable jobs. Classes in solar panel installation, wind turbine repair, and bio-fuel production are just some of the areas that students are pursuing as they recognize the future of green-collar work.

In Michigan, which has the highest unemployment rate in the country (at 12%), many workers laid off from the automotive industry are enrolling in community colleges to train for green jobs. At Lansing Community College, the enrollment for an Alternative Energy degree has risen from 42 students in 2005 to 252 students in 2008. Many of these students are getting their certificates as technicians in the solar, wind turbine, geo-thermal, and energy efficient sectors, often with the backing of the state program that provides $10,000 to unemployed workers for this type of training.

Because many two-year colleges along with students around the country are receiving aid from the federal stimulation package, the investment in green-collar job training is encouraging people to pursue careers in what will surely become a major industry in the future. Because a well paying green job does not necessarily require a four-year degree, this also becomes a plus as entry into the workforce can happen much faster. With government buildings needing retrofitting in order to handle renewable energy paradigms and public housing requiring greater energy efficiency, work in these sectors alone should guarantee green-collar jobs.

Even with current economic factors holding the industry back, the American Solar Energy Society reports that renewable energy has generated 8.6 million jobs and $1 trillion in revenue since 2007. Studies show that industries that concentrate on energy efficiency could employ from 16 to 37 million people by 2030, depending on government policy. Clearly, once the economy rebounds, newly trained workers will find positions as demand and necessity increases.

-Michele Kadison

As companies search for greater product value in conjunction with eco-friendly practices, more are focusing on how to maintain a better life cycle standard for their materials. With the destruction of renewable resources that leads to the degradation of our environment, a greater number of businesses are looking for solid green strategies to turn the tide. While constantly searching for more sustainable materials, forward-moving companies are also paying attention to the management of their products from creation to ultimate reuse or recycling, where each step in development determines product viability in the increasingly eco-conscious marketplace.

Some very important inroads are being made thanks to the help of environmental innovators who are taking a “whole systems” approach, which means attention to the value chain as a product evolves. One company that is heeding their value chain is Starbucks, calling for a summit in May 2009 to research the feasibility of creating a 100% recyclable cup by 2012. The company brought in environmental and academic experts along with raw material suppliers, cup manufacturers, recyclers, and local government officials to discuss how the various segments of the cup value chain interconnect. With Peter Senge, PhD., author of The Fifth Discipline, the seminal book on systems thinking, presiding, the diverse group put their heads together to consider the evolutionary process of a new hot and cold cup, lid, and straw that embraces sustainability. Besides reviewing entire life cycle of these products and how it impacts the environment, the need for stronger packaging laws and greater recycling availability was also acknowledged.

With the direction to create more sustainable products mandated by such visible companies as Starbucks, more businesses will begin to pay attention to the life cycle and value chain of their materials. As they do, consumers will begin to see real change in how products fare in the marketplace as they reflect our environmentally aware choices on deeper levels. Additionally more companies will surface to take care of various steps required on the chain such as identifying materials for recycling or reuse, sorting them, compacting them, and delivering them to appropriate areas for processing. With more emphasis on these interconnections, more awareness and more jobs will develop as we begin to see a viable way to change our consumer habits and heal our planet.

-Michele Kadison