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October 2, 2009 is National Carbon Footprint Day

Take your key carbon and environmental footprint meter readings - Your key 5 measurements are:
1 Electricity-meter
2 Gas-meter (or amount of coal/oil you have used),
3 Milometer on your vehicle(s),
4 Water-meter
5 Number of flights and where to, over last year since National Carbon Footprint Day,

After going to your various meters, write down the figures and then go to the National Carbon Footprint Day website www.NationalCarbonFootprintDay.org

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How important it is to take your organization Green?

Obama's Green Team

The administration's vision and the will from the highest office in the land make it easy to know that our nation is going toward renewable energy and toward sustainablity. The sooner you take action the sooner you will reap the benefits of being socially responsible. Distinguish yourself and differentiate your organization by training in GreenROI. Go green. Realize your return in your investment more and more as time passes; companies save money in the long run, produce profits, and can create a true Green marketing with this course; a marketing plan to be proud of through being accredited and certified by our company. You learn how to become sustainable on your own but our consultants are available to you every step of the way in all three phases. The third phase is designed for your company to become a Green Star.

• www.whitehouse.gov/agenda
• www.epa.gov
• www.noaa.gov
• www.energystar.gov
• www.usgbc.org
• www.usda.gov
• www.energy.gov
• MakeGreenCount_City of Houston Resource

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Habits and mindset of Going Green

Question: How do an individual’s lifestyle and an organization’s collective behavior affect the environment?
It’s helpful to realize that even a small change in behavior and resource usage can lead to an even bigger result.

Underlying causes exist for the decisions we make regarding the environment we live in and the environment as a whole. Our thoughts, feelings and perceptions determine the actions we take towards developing a nurturing atmosphere. Once we understand that we are willing participants, not merely observers, our mindset can be elevated.

Going Green Tips:
Regularly calculate the carbon footprint and learn about green house gases caused by yourself or your organization. Use this knowledge to form better habits and influence those around you, thus reducing the footprint. Challenge yourself to discover creative solutions to better your immediate environment and the planet as a whole; others will follow.

Some ideas that can help Going Green:
• Write an Environmental Vision Statement
• Reduce waste
• Use Green cleaning supplies
• Work remotely
• Commute together or use mass transit (Twice a week or more)
• Encourage a culture of recycling and reusing
• Print on both sides of the paper
• Write on board instead of giving handouts in meetings
• Recognize good habits in the company and give incentives
• Use computers efficiently (Turn off when not in use)
• Share your experience of using less and how
• Self-Audit
• Develop good habits at home, and implement those habits at work
• Live by example
• Eat and purchase locally
• Use as much natural light as possible
• Purchase bulbs to improve your mood and to have a long term return on investment
• Reduce junk mail
• Post signs in copy room and kitchen for better habits
• Do not overfill kettle and throw away coffee for example
• Use coffee and tea left over including the used beans to improve the health of your plants
• Write a newsletter and send to companies and individuals you work with (friendly reminders)
• Measure and track waste
• Buy programmable thermostats
• Buy LED (Mood booster/White Light)
• Choose a Sustainability Officer (no cost here)
• Get an Energy Audit (Free)
• Change your utility provider and measure your bill – Look at your bill closely
• Support and purchase from companies that are Green
• Go out to lunch with people you don’t normally gravitate toward
• Calculate Carbon Footprint – Offset if you can (We can share with you)
• Lease or rent equipment instead of buying
• Reuse water (Use the water that rinse with under your plants – not fruit trees)
• No more bottled water (Invest in reverse osmosis - add your own electrolytes)
• Hire a Green cleaning crew (that use only Green products)
• Be kind and tolerant to people who are not Green
• Properly dispose of toxins
• Utilize NetMeeting, WebEx, or Video conferencing
• Switch to E-Signature
• Conduct surveys online to tune habits and remind
• Use EcoSmartSearch.com
• Unplug unused electronics (Reduce phantom energy consumptions)
• Use less water. Try to never leave the water running if unnecessary
• Keep your tires fully inflated. Check the pressure monthly
• Walk or ride a bicycle instead of driving
• Enlist others to take part in becoming more environmentally conscious by leading
• Wash in cold water (at home)
• Get Green power (usually less fees or the same)
• Recycle as much as you can: paper, plastics, glass and more
• Turn the temperature down two degrees on your water heater.
• Better choice of computing - Same or better result with less expensive material and less hardware.

This section will be updated soon and frequently so please check back again soon.