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Padosa


1. How To

  • How to Use Plants to Improve Air Quality in the Workplace - Take a moment to consider the air that you are breathing right now. Many people in today’s world are rightfully concerned about air pollution and the precarious situation of our global ecosystems, but the problem of indoor air pollution is very rarely addressed. In fact, the air inside homes and offices is very often more […]
  • A Green Approach to Office Technology - There are many opportunities for companies to significantly reduce savings through purchasing energy efficient office equipment. This article provides lots of resources about programs available to help businesses save money through sustainable technology initiatives.
  • Reduce Your Company’s Energy Costs: Join Padosa on November 17 - Padosa.com is pleased to host Energy 101: Greening your Building for Efficiency and Profitability. This educational and networking event will focus on the most up to date commercial building practices and technologies that help to significantly reduce energy costs and increase asset value. This event is for the Real Estate Community.
  • Padosa on Facebook and Twitter - Padosa aims to communicate with its membership and create new members through Facebook and Twitter. We view these sites as opportunities to build our community and exchange information.
  • What - Is recycling fiscally responsible? Does it really lower your carbon footprint? Is it worth all the trouble? Implementing a recycling program at work can seem daunting and does present many challenges. However, there are several solutions to making it a bit easier and to saving money and waste. Learn about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle at work.
  • Rant: Increasing Profit Through Sustainability - A brief rant on some sustainability 'unacceptables'. Hopefully these will help you see problems that exist in your organization, and that provoke you into finding some solutions.
  • Conducting an Energy Audit - To become energy efficient, the first step is to conduct an energy audit. In this article, find out how to conduct one at your business.
  • Getting Started: Low Cost Electricity Savings - One of the most common questions we hear is "My electricity bill is too high - how can I lower it? Where do I get started?" There is so much opinion on this. This article details a few of the best ideas we've encountered for getting started quickly.
  • Tax Rebates for Going Green - Looking to get a little refund from the government this tax season? This year, you can get some back while giving something back.
  • Socially Responsible Investing - When is investing about more than money? Learn all about the benefits and drawbacks of Socially Responsible Investing in this article.

a. Get Started

  • Reduce Your Company’s Energy Costs: Join Padosa on November 17 - Padosa.com is pleased to host Energy 101: Greening your Building for Efficiency and Profitability. This educational and networking event will focus on the most up to date commercial building practices and technologies that help to significantly reduce energy costs and increase asset value. This event is for the Real Estate Community.
  • Padosa on Facebook and Twitter - Padosa aims to communicate with its membership and create new members through Facebook and Twitter. We view these sites as opportunities to build our community and exchange information.
  • What - Is recycling fiscally responsible? Does it really lower your carbon footprint? Is it worth all the trouble? Implementing a recycling program at work can seem daunting and does present many challenges. However, there are several solutions to making it a bit easier and to saving money and waste. Learn about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle at work.
  • Conducting an Energy Audit - To become energy efficient, the first step is to conduct an energy audit. In this article, find out how to conduct one at your business.
  • Energy Efficient Lighting - A basic overview of the different types of high-efficiency lighting.
  • Reducing Energy Costs - This document provides an overview on ways to save money by increasing your energy efficiency.
  • How to get started with sustainability? - Step 1: Set sustainability goals Where do you want to be? Focus on where you want to take your business, say 2, 3, or 5 years down the road. Develop 3 to 4 goals that will make your business sustainable over a period of time. For example: Reduce energy bill by 25% in 12 months, […]

b. Save Money

  • A Green Approach to Office Technology - There are many opportunities for companies to significantly reduce savings through purchasing energy efficient office equipment. This article provides lots of resources about programs available to help businesses save money through sustainable technology initiatives.
  • What - Is recycling fiscally responsible? Does it really lower your carbon footprint? Is it worth all the trouble? Implementing a recycling program at work can seem daunting and does present many challenges. However, there are several solutions to making it a bit easier and to saving money and waste. Learn about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle at work.
  • Getting Started: Low Cost Electricity Savings - One of the most common questions we hear is "My electricity bill is too high - how can I lower it? Where do I get started?" There is so much opinion on this. This article details a few of the best ideas we've encountered for getting started quickly.
  • Tax Rebates for Going Green - Looking to get a little refund from the government this tax season? This year, you can get some back while giving something back.
  • Lower Your Trash Disposal Costs - This article provides an overview of ideas for how to limit what goes into your garbage, reducing your hauling charges.
  • Going Paperless and Saving Money - The vision of a paperless office has yet to come true, and it does not seem too close. Paper is very hard to get rid of. It provides security and in many ways is a better medium than the computer screen. There are lots of ways though to reduce the paper in your life.
  • NY and NJ Incentives for Energy Savings - Overview of the incentive programs in NY and NJ for lowering energy. Anyone in these states working on energy savings program should make sure they get their rebates!
  • Green Procurement - Traditional purchasing departments focus on minimizing initial purchase price. Green procurement focuses on minimizing the cost of ownership for the product for its entire lifecycle. This type of purchasing encourages the purchase of longer lasting items even if they cost more initially. It also accounts for the full environmental cost of a particular supply.
  • Energy Efficient Lighting - A basic overview of the different types of high-efficiency lighting.

c. Earn More Revenue

  • Socially Responsible Investing - When is investing about more than money? Learn all about the benefits and drawbacks of Socially Responsible Investing in this article.
  • The Simple Stuff – Seven Sustainable Ways to Improve Your Small Business PR - A side benefit to taking on green initiatives is the positive attention those initiatives can attract. This is a fair practice, assuming the initiative is taken on with integrity. There are multiple ways to enhance the press you get and this article provides some suggestions.
  • Stimulus Package Incentives for Small Businesses - In order to help you better identify the benefits for your company offered in the Stimulus Package, we've prepared the following summary. Please feel free contact us with any questions!
  • Stimulus for Clean Renewable Energy - The recently passed stimulus package - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - provides some very significant opportunities for green entrepreneurs. This is a first in a series of articles to bring some organization to the package and to help entrepreneurs understand how it effects them.
  • Business Opportunity: Making it Easy for Individuals to Save Money - A blog article that challenges business owners to find a way to make it easier for consumers to lower their energy costs.

2. Creating Support

  • Sustainability Drives Innovation - In the September 2009 Harvard Business Review, C.K. Prahalad along with Ram Nidumolu and M.R. Rangaswami suggested that "sustainability is a mother lode of organizational and technological innovations that yield both bottom-line and top-line returns."
  • Engaging Co-Workers to Go Green - You don't have to be the CEO to influence the sustainability efforts of your colleagues, and your companies. All it takes is some commitment.
  • Green Cleaning Resources - A list of green cleaning products, services, and guides. Look here if you don't know where to start with your janitorial program.
  • Save Money During Lunchtime - What you and your employees eat for lunch may have a bigger impact on your carbon footprint
  • Employee Contests for Saving Energy - Engage your employees' competitive spirit by having them create and participate in energy saving contests. As they are your biggest consumers of energy, it is key to rally your troops to help you reduce energy costs at work. Plus, it can be fun!

Employees

  • Engaging Co-Workers to Go Green - You don't have to be the CEO to influence the sustainability efforts of your colleagues, and your companies. All it takes is some commitment.
  • Save Money During Lunchtime - What you and your employees eat for lunch may have a bigger impact on your carbon footprint
  • Employee Contests for Saving Energy - Engage your employees' competitive spirit by having them create and participate in energy saving contests. As they are your biggest consumers of energy, it is key to rally your troops to help you reduce energy costs at work. Plus, it can be fun!

Management

  • Sustainability Drives Innovation - In the September 2009 Harvard Business Review, C.K. Prahalad along with Ram Nidumolu and M.R. Rangaswami suggested that "sustainability is a mother lode of organizational and technological innovations that yield both bottom-line and top-line returns."
  • Green Cleaning Resources - A list of green cleaning products, services, and guides. Look here if you don't know where to start with your janitorial program.

3. Case Studies


4. Leadership

  • Noreena Hertz and a New Economic System - In order to facilitate change on a large scale, the traditional rules of economics need to change. We need to look hard at how well the market forces work. Noreena Hertz's work is suggestive of where some opportunities are to improve business, the environment, and quality of life.
  • Sustainability Drives Innovation - In the September 2009 Harvard Business Review, C.K. Prahalad along with Ram Nidumolu and M.R. Rangaswami suggested that "sustainability is a mother lode of organizational and technological innovations that yield both bottom-line and top-line returns."
  • Sustainable Business Lessons from Green Pop Culture Icons - How do one man's pop culture memories coincide with your sustainable small business? Read this article to find out!
  • Dear Environmentalist, - An open letter to environmentalists, offering some thoughts on how to better bring their message to the business owners, executives and managers they target.
  • Dear Business Owner, - An appeal to business owners, executives, and managers, asking them to step up today to support social responsibility with action. This is action that is good for the world, and for their bottom line.

5. Library

  • Climate Conference in Copenhagen - The Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009 will create a new global climate protocol as the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. Many Clean Tech companies feel the conference will prove to be ineffective as they feel the real responsibilty rests on the national government level. Others advocate for the conference as a way to further strengthen global progress.
  • Solar Energy - A guide to solar energy.
  • Geothermal Energy - A guide to geothermal energy.
  • An Overview of CHP - This article looks at the benefits and drawbacks of Combined Heat and Power and what it can do for your business.
  • What Does “Cradle-to-Cradle” Mean? - A short article explaining what the phrase "Cradle-to-Cradle" entails and how to get C2C-certified.
  • Sustainable Businesses in Australia, Pt. 3: The Fairfield City Partnership - Part three of a three-part series examining different sustainable businesses in the U.K. In this chapter, we look at the collaboration between Fairfield City and The Smithfield Wetherill Park Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
  • Sustainable Businesses in Australia, Pt. 2: the 60L Green Building - Part two of a three-part series examining different sustainable businesses in the U.K. In this chapter, we look at the 60L Green Building in Melbourne.
  • A Green Lease Overview - As companies are increasingly looking for ways to support the environment, a Green Lease is an effective starting point. Learn about specific actions Landlords are taking to be more eco-conscious.
  • Sustainability in Ireland - This article explores the ways Ireland is making itself even greener. Read about the country's alternative energy and recycling programs and see what tips you can learn from Irish business owners.
  • Is Green Building a Good Investment? - This Business Week article from May 18, 2009 provides an excellent overview of the benefits of greening a building, along with some of the challenges.

Building Basics

  • What Does “Cradle-to-Cradle” Mean? - A short article explaining what the phrase "Cradle-to-Cradle" entails and how to get C2C-certified.
  • A Green Lease Overview - As companies are increasingly looking for ways to support the environment, a Green Lease is an effective starting point. Learn about specific actions Landlords are taking to be more eco-conscious.
  • Is Green Building a Good Investment? - This Business Week article from May 18, 2009 provides an excellent overview of the benefits of greening a building, along with some of the challenges.
  • Overview of Transformers - An overview of building transformers, including a quick recommendation on what to look for and how to utilize lifecycle purchasing methods when evaluating a purchase decision.
  • Lower Your Trash Disposal Costs - This article provides an overview of ideas for how to limit what goes into your garbage, reducing your hauling charges.
  • Energy Star Labeled Buildings - A quick overview of eligible of this government program.
  • Green Roofs - Alternatives to a traditional roof, a green roof provides a more temperature stable environment. This enables lower energy costs as the roof is kept warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
  • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) - The quality of the air in buildings is gaining - deservedly - increasing attention. Science has shown the impact that poor air has on health. IAQ effects the health of the building, and of course the health of the occupants.
  • Energy Management Systems - What is an Energy Management System? Energy Management Systems (EMS) are devices that can be used to conserve energy in buildings and industries. Reducing energy waste can have a significant and positive impact on the bottom line of a business. Businesses that want to manage the operations of building systems to run efficiently and effectively […]
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - LEED is a green building rating system which is used for designing, constructing, operating and certifying buildings that have a low impact on the environment, promote good health of its occupants and are profitable.

Country Info

  • Climate Conference in Copenhagen - The Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009 will create a new global climate protocol as the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. Many Clean Tech companies feel the conference will prove to be ineffective as they feel the real responsibilty rests on the national government level. Others advocate for the conference as a way to further strengthen global progress.
  • Sustainable Businesses in Australia, Pt. 3: The Fairfield City Partnership - Part three of a three-part series examining different sustainable businesses in the U.K. In this chapter, we look at the collaboration between Fairfield City and The Smithfield Wetherill Park Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
  • Sustainable Businesses in Australia, Pt. 2: the 60L Green Building - Part two of a three-part series examining different sustainable businesses in the U.K. In this chapter, we look at the 60L Green Building in Melbourne.
  • Sustainability in Ireland - This article explores the ways Ireland is making itself even greener. Read about the country's alternative energy and recycling programs and see what tips you can learn from Irish business owners.
  • Sustainable Development, Canada - Canada is just behind Iceland in the environmental performance index ranking. The country is making several changes to reduce its carbon emissions. Find out what is working and what is not in Canada in terms of sustainable development.
  • Green Costa Rica - Costa Rican government has pioneered a national policy for conserving its forests which has worked very well. Here we discuss the program called PSA and how it works.
  • Wind Power in India - Wind power industry in India stands tall with fifth position in the world in terms of total installed capacity. The Indian government has ambitious plans to add more power from wind energy by 2012. In this article we cover the progress India has made in harnessing wind energy and some roadblocks that may hamper its progress in the future.
  • Sustainability in Australia - Australia has set itself bold targets for making renewable energy as a big portion of its total electricity generation. In this article we discuss what the government and industry in Australia are doing to meet its 2020 target.
  • Sustainability in Germany - In Europe, Germany is the most successful country in sustainability initiatives. Even with limited exposure to sun light round, Germany has built a sound base in solar power generation. Find out more about Germany in this article.
  • Sustainability in China - China is undergoing vast developments while its adopting clean technology. In this article we summarize the latest clean technology news on government policies, investment programs and entrepreneurship that are currently taking place in China.

6. Misc.

  • 5 Ways to Establish Your Small Business As Eco-Friendly - Whether you have plans of launching an eco-friendly enterprise from the get-go or you’re looking for ways to greenify your current business, you’ll find that there is no shortage of ways to establish your company as an entity concerned with environmental protection. And while you can certainly implement policies around the office designed to make […]
  • 5 Ways That Environmental Awareness Can Help Build Your Business - You’d have to be living under a rock at this point to be unaware of eco-catchphrases like “global warming”, “alternative energy”, and “habitat loss”. And as someone who runs a business entity, you may also know that companies across every conceivable industry are working to clean up their operations in order to come into compliance […]
  • Is Cloud Computing Really Green? - One of the main benefits of cloud computing – well, aside from convenience – is the fact that it has been touted as an eco-friendly way to store and access all kinds of files and media. And when you think about consumers downloading content rather than purchasing discs with media, not to mention all the […]
  • Eco Friendly Gadgets for Your Business - The growing concern of environmental conservation is causing businesses everywhere to change their ways, one step at a time. It won’t be easy to undo the damage done to our environment, but if everyone does their part we can ensure a better future for the coming generations. Consider using some of these eco-friendly gadgets for […]
  • Best Practices for Green Business Travel - There’s a great deal of potential for fun when you go traveling, but those who travel for business are usually a bit less on the fun side of things–generally speaking. When you go traveling for business, you might lose hours of sleep, skip meals, and do any number of other things to get the job […]
  • Green Work Wardrobe Dos and Don’ts - When it comes to building a wardrobe that embodies both your employer’s standards for appropriate office attire and your own green ideals, you might be struggling to find enough pieces to flesh out your closet. While there are plenty of outlets for casual clothing that is sustainably made, you might have a much harder time […]
  • The Benefits of Hiring Disabled Individuals for Your Green Business - As your company has been expanding, you may be in the fortunate position of being able to hire more staff to do certain jobs. The thing is, you’ve been doing a bit of research and you’ve continued to see articles that state the fact that it can be a real benefit to you to hire […]
  • 5 Ways to Embed Sustainability in Your Workforce - When you run a small business, doing so sustainably is a great thing. It’s become more and more popular to make sure you’re taking good care of the environment, and this is for a lot of very good reasons. We’re all starting to notice how important it is that we do our part to reduce […]
  • Sectors of Green Business Experiencing the Most Growth - It’s not easy being green, but that doesn’t stop plenty of people from harboring dreams of a world in which responsible businesses operate with the environment in mind, striving to reduce pollution and waste any way they can as well as manage their operations in sustainable ways that does less harm to the environment. It’s […]
  • The Best Ways for Green Businesses to Raise Money - Running a decidedly eco-friendly business is not only a great way to make yourself a decent living, but also to help out the environment and make an impact in a meaningful way whilst you do so. There are a ton of rewards that come along with the kind of decision you might find yourself making […]

7. Featured

  • Dear Environmentalist, - An open letter to environmentalists, offering some thoughts on how to better bring their message to the business owners, executives and managers they target.
  • Dear Business Owner, - An appeal to business owners, executives, and managers, asking them to step up today to support social responsibility with action. This is action that is good for the world, and for their bottom line.

8. News


Extract

  • Green Economy Brings 300% More Jobs - Investing in clean energy technologies helps decrease our carbon footprint and increase jobs. This GreenBiz.com article discusses the benefits that a low-carbon economy provides to our labor force.
  • A Green Lease Overview - As companies are increasingly looking for ways to support the environment, a Green Lease is an effective starting point. Learn about specific actions Landlords are taking to be more eco-conscious.
  • Sustainability in Ireland - This article explores the ways Ireland is making itself even greener. Read about the country's alternative energy and recycling programs and see what tips you can learn from Irish business owners.
  • Save Money During Lunchtime - What you and your employees eat for lunch may have a bigger impact on your carbon footprint
  • Employee Contests for Saving Energy - Engage your employees' competitive spirit by having them create and participate in energy saving contests. As they are your biggest consumers of energy, it is key to rally your troops to help you reduce energy costs at work. Plus, it can be fun!

Newsletter


Padosa Uncategorized


Permanent Content

  • Green Jobs - If you are passionate about the environment and want to make a career out of it, there are lots of possibilities. The current administration has been investing in the growth of the green job industry over the past few years. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), included provisions for new jobs in industries […]

Videos

  • Terracycle, Reuse, and The Bottom Line - You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
  • Amusing Video on Unplugging - You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
  • Lowering Boiler Costs - Provides an overview of a technology that you can attach to your boiler that will make it smart enough to regulate itself, and save you money.
  • Introduction to Boilers - Ever wonder what a boiler was? Or, know what it is but want to get a good look at it? Join boiler guru Mike, from Monsen Engineering and learn more.
  • Maintaining the Burner Bed on Your Boiler - You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
  • Installing an Occupancy Sensor - Occupancy sensors turn lights off in a room where there is no activity. They present a great way to save money. They are easy to install. How easy - Mike of Monsen Engineering will show you how in this step-by-step video.