I am a communications professional in the greater Philadelphia area and am always on the lookout for new freelance opportunities. I have an MA in Writing Studies from Saint Joseph's University. This site is just a sampling of some of some of my magazine and online writing. I'd love to hear from you, so please fill out the Contact the Author form at the bottom of the page or email me at [email protected]
Simple Tips for Squeezing in Time to Write
This article orginally appeared in Inspired to Write.
As a freelance writer, finding the time to write can be challenging. With responsibilities to your home, family, and health, it’s easy to let the entire day slip by without any progress. Luckily, there are ways to sneak in some precious free writing time into a hectic schedule.
Get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later.
This is one of the most common pieces of advice for writers. Famous authors talk about walking up before the rest of their family to work on their first novel. If you’re a morning person, great! Do it. I’d like to propose the flip side, go to bed an hour later. Some writers are nocturnal; their creative juices get flowing after dark. So figure out what time of day is your creative peak and adjust your schedule.
Propose flextime and use your lunch hour.
The next two suggestions are especially for freelancers who also work a traditional job. Does your company offer flex time, i.e. longer hours 4 days a week in exchange for a day off? Take advantage of this. Even summer hours, when offices close early on Fridays, are a golden opportunity to write. If this is not policy, why not suggest it? Many of your co-workers, whether they are freelancers or not, might also want a flexible schedule. Come up with a plan that details how your time would be spent, showing that all the work would still get done. The worst that upper management can say is no.
And don’t forget lunch. That time is yours. Honestly, no one takes an entire hour to eat. Instead of checking email or gossiping, use the time to pound out a blog post or two. Think how much writing you’d accomplish if you devoted 2 lunch hours a week to your freelance pursuits. Bonus points if you bring your home laptop and go outside. Stepping away from the office environment will mentally help you separate your two working worlds.
Hire a baby-sitter or send kids to day camp.
In the summer, full-time freelancers with young children face their own unique hurdles in finding time to write. One option is to hire a baby-sitter even if you do not leaving the house. Having a responsible person looking after your kids while you spend a few hours in your home office can be a boon to your out put. A similar option is camp. With specialty camps ranging from science to soccer, summer is the perfect time for your kids to engage their interests. Even a local day camp would provide several hours of supervised fun outside the house for your children, leaving you with quiet, and time to write.
Finding time to write can be one of the most challenging parts of freelancing. Hopefully, you have the support of your co-workers and family to carve out some writing time. Adjusting your schedule to meet your needs as a writer may take a little getting used to, but the extra productivity will be worth it.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later.
This is one of the most common pieces of advice for writers. Famous authors talk about walking up before the rest of their family to work on their first novel. If you’re a morning person, great! Do it. I’d like to propose the flip side, go to bed an hour later. Some writers are nocturnal; their creative juices get flowing after dark. So figure out what time of day is your creative peak and adjust your schedule.
Propose flextime and use your lunch hour.
The next two suggestions are especially for freelancers who also work a traditional job. Does your company offer flex time, i.e. longer hours 4 days a week in exchange for a day off? Take advantage of this. Even summer hours, when offices close early on Fridays, are a golden opportunity to write. If this is not policy, why not suggest it? Many of your co-workers, whether they are freelancers or not, might also want a flexible schedule. Come up with a plan that details how your time would be spent, showing that all the work would still get done. The worst that upper management can say is no.
And don’t forget lunch. That time is yours. Honestly, no one takes an entire hour to eat. Instead of checking email or gossiping, use the time to pound out a blog post or two. Think how much writing you’d accomplish if you devoted 2 lunch hours a week to your freelance pursuits. Bonus points if you bring your home laptop and go outside. Stepping away from the office environment will mentally help you separate your two working worlds.
Hire a baby-sitter or send kids to day camp.
In the summer, full-time freelancers with young children face their own unique hurdles in finding time to write. One option is to hire a baby-sitter even if you do not leaving the house. Having a responsible person looking after your kids while you spend a few hours in your home office can be a boon to your out put. A similar option is camp. With specialty camps ranging from science to soccer, summer is the perfect time for your kids to engage their interests. Even a local day camp would provide several hours of supervised fun outside the house for your children, leaving you with quiet, and time to write.
Finding time to write can be one of the most challenging parts of freelancing. Hopefully, you have the support of your co-workers and family to carve out some writing time. Adjusting your schedule to meet your needs as a writer may take a little getting used to, but the extra productivity will be worth it.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
5 Ways to Build a Good Relationship with Your Boss
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360.
As an intern, it’s important to build a good relationship with your boss. From a positive reference to a career mentor to a permanent job at the company, there are perks to having a strong relationship. Here are 5 ways to make sure your interactions with your internship boss are beneficial for both of you.
1. Be Punctual (or Even Early!) and Presentable
No more sleeping late! If you have an office internship, you need to be awake at a time you might not have seen in a while. Make sure you get a full night’s sleep, a.ka. at least 7 hours, so you’re refreshed the mornings of your internship. Also, take note of the office dress code and wear something similar. An internship is not an excuse to look messy.
2. Go Above and Beyond
Volunteer for different assignments. Ask your boss if you can learn about areas of the company beyond where you’re interning. Showing an interest is a good way to build a positive relationship with your boss.
3. Be Humble
You might be Mr. or Miss Popularity, an academic all-star, or an athletic champion on campus. In the office, you are the newbie and should act accordingly. Be humble as an intern to build a good relationship with your boss. No task is too small for you to create into a learning opportunity.
4. Communicate
Check in often with your internship boss. Schedule a weekly meeting to talk about your progress. Open communication is key to building trust and trust is key to building a good relationship.
5. Be Positive
This is the last and most important tip. Having a good attitude is a great way to win brownie points! No one wants a sulking intern. Working with a smile on your face and having a “hi, how are you,” for everyone in the office will make you a memorable intern. Remember, people hire who they like. Have a positive attitude towards all of your internship tasks.
Follow these 5 recommendations and you’ll have a good relationship with your internship boss in no time!
© Danielle Bullen 2010
1. Be Punctual (or Even Early!) and Presentable
No more sleeping late! If you have an office internship, you need to be awake at a time you might not have seen in a while. Make sure you get a full night’s sleep, a.ka. at least 7 hours, so you’re refreshed the mornings of your internship. Also, take note of the office dress code and wear something similar. An internship is not an excuse to look messy.
2. Go Above and Beyond
Volunteer for different assignments. Ask your boss if you can learn about areas of the company beyond where you’re interning. Showing an interest is a good way to build a positive relationship with your boss.
3. Be Humble
You might be Mr. or Miss Popularity, an academic all-star, or an athletic champion on campus. In the office, you are the newbie and should act accordingly. Be humble as an intern to build a good relationship with your boss. No task is too small for you to create into a learning opportunity.
4. Communicate
Check in often with your internship boss. Schedule a weekly meeting to talk about your progress. Open communication is key to building trust and trust is key to building a good relationship.
5. Be Positive
This is the last and most important tip. Having a good attitude is a great way to win brownie points! No one wants a sulking intern. Working with a smile on your face and having a “hi, how are you,” for everyone in the office will make you a memorable intern. Remember, people hire who they like. Have a positive attitude towards all of your internship tasks.
Follow these 5 recommendations and you’ll have a good relationship with your internship boss in no time!
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Creative Ways to Find Internships
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360.
You may have learned the basics of finding internships in this post. But with competition high, sometimes traditional application methods aren’t enough. Here are ideas for out-of-the-box ways you can find an internship.
Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, and all the other social networking sites are ubiquitous on college campuses. But instead of using them to play Farmville and share pics, have you thought about social media as a means of getting an internship? Tiffany Lee did. Tiffany, a finance and economics major at the University of Delaware, messaged the fashion companyKimberly Taylor via Facebook and explained how much she wanted to intern there. She went a step further with social media and wrote a blog post about the company on her personal blog. The effort paid off. This summer, Tiffany will combine her interests in fashion and finance working as an accounting intern at Kimberly Taylor.
Social media seems to be an underused way to find internships. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 91% of college seniors surveyed have at least one profile on a social networking site. Only 15% of them claimed to have used social networking as a way to research employers. So, connecting with a company about a potential internship over social media could make you stand out.
Personal Connections
Social media is a great way to build your network, but when looking for internships, don’t forget the people you already know. Naresh Vissa, who studies broadcast journalism, finance and accounting at Syracuse University, reached out to someone in his existing network. In high school, he sold ads for the school paper and encountered executives from a company called Biz Radio Networks. Naresh kept in touch with the Executive Vice President and after his freshman year of college, Biz Radio offered him an internship as a producer.
This Wall Street Journal article also talks about the importance of connections to finding internships. Marina Tsipenyuk, who graduated from Rutgers University earlier this year, had tried the usual ways of getting a finance internship without luck. Her mother, who worked at Warner Music Group, gave Marina’s resume to a friend in the royalties department. That connection and the introduction that followed helped Marina land an internship working on finance reports for the music company.
With a little ingenuity, you can think beyond job boards and your campus career center and come up with clever ways to find an internship
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, and all the other social networking sites are ubiquitous on college campuses. But instead of using them to play Farmville and share pics, have you thought about social media as a means of getting an internship? Tiffany Lee did. Tiffany, a finance and economics major at the University of Delaware, messaged the fashion companyKimberly Taylor via Facebook and explained how much she wanted to intern there. She went a step further with social media and wrote a blog post about the company on her personal blog. The effort paid off. This summer, Tiffany will combine her interests in fashion and finance working as an accounting intern at Kimberly Taylor.
Social media seems to be an underused way to find internships. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 91% of college seniors surveyed have at least one profile on a social networking site. Only 15% of them claimed to have used social networking as a way to research employers. So, connecting with a company about a potential internship over social media could make you stand out.
Personal Connections
Social media is a great way to build your network, but when looking for internships, don’t forget the people you already know. Naresh Vissa, who studies broadcast journalism, finance and accounting at Syracuse University, reached out to someone in his existing network. In high school, he sold ads for the school paper and encountered executives from a company called Biz Radio Networks. Naresh kept in touch with the Executive Vice President and after his freshman year of college, Biz Radio offered him an internship as a producer.
This Wall Street Journal article also talks about the importance of connections to finding internships. Marina Tsipenyuk, who graduated from Rutgers University earlier this year, had tried the usual ways of getting a finance internship without luck. Her mother, who worked at Warner Music Group, gave Marina’s resume to a friend in the royalties department. That connection and the introduction that followed helped Marina land an internship working on finance reports for the music company.
With a little ingenuity, you can think beyond job boards and your campus career center and come up with clever ways to find an internship
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Internships: Valuable to Employees and Employers
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360
Both students and employers can agree that interns bring something valuable to the table.
Value for Students
The most obvious value that internships bring to students is experience. Internships give students experience in their chosen career. It’s a good way to see the day-to-day activies of a particular company or field and find out what being a chef or financial advisor or zookeeper really means.
Many colleges accept course credit for interships. An internship for credit might give you the flexibility to take a reduced class load the next semester or fit in more elective courses.
Internship supervisors are great references for full-time employment. Internships can be launch pads to full-time work. A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that roughly 42% of college seniors who had an internship got at least one job offer. 30% of seniors without internships got an offer.
Internships can also be an effective way to build up your savings account or start to pat down those pesky student loans. Encouragingly, according to an NASE survey of employers, more than 90% pay their interns.
Value For Companies
Internships are a two-way street and they’re valuable to employers as well as students. Internships can fill unmet needs, even if the company is unaware that the need is present.
According to this Wall Street Journal story, a growing number of students are approaching companies and creating their own internships. The State College Spikes, a minor league baseball team, never had a graphic design intern before Ryan Scaife approached them and explained how they could benefit from his skills. The team was then able to put a professional touch on its publications.
Internships can give companies the manpower to try out new ideas that might otherwise stay on the drawing table. Internships are obviously valuable to employers, given the space the TheWall Street Journal had dedicated to them recently. The Journal is focusing on internships now as summer approaches because it’s prime intern hiring season.
Another story talks about the value of interns for entrepreneurs. In small companies, interns can give a fresh perspective and a jolt to formerly static companies, helping to increase profits. Owners of smaller companies can have direct interaction with interns, giving them valuable guidance. If you’re approaching a company to create a new internship, do your homework! Clearly explain how you can help them. Make sure you translate that help into savings, improved operational efficiency and increased profit for the company.
Internships also help companies “test drive” potential employees. The NACE reports “83.4 percent of employers said the primary focus of their internship program is to help them recruit entry-level college hires.” And after one year, 86% of former company interns hired full-time were still there, a 5% better retention rate than new hires without an internship.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Value for Students
The most obvious value that internships bring to students is experience. Internships give students experience in their chosen career. It’s a good way to see the day-to-day activies of a particular company or field and find out what being a chef or financial advisor or zookeeper really means.
Many colleges accept course credit for interships. An internship for credit might give you the flexibility to take a reduced class load the next semester or fit in more elective courses.
Internship supervisors are great references for full-time employment. Internships can be launch pads to full-time work. A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that roughly 42% of college seniors who had an internship got at least one job offer. 30% of seniors without internships got an offer.
Internships can also be an effective way to build up your savings account or start to pat down those pesky student loans. Encouragingly, according to an NASE survey of employers, more than 90% pay their interns.
Value For Companies
Internships are a two-way street and they’re valuable to employers as well as students. Internships can fill unmet needs, even if the company is unaware that the need is present.
According to this Wall Street Journal story, a growing number of students are approaching companies and creating their own internships. The State College Spikes, a minor league baseball team, never had a graphic design intern before Ryan Scaife approached them and explained how they could benefit from his skills. The team was then able to put a professional touch on its publications.
Internships can give companies the manpower to try out new ideas that might otherwise stay on the drawing table. Internships are obviously valuable to employers, given the space the TheWall Street Journal had dedicated to them recently. The Journal is focusing on internships now as summer approaches because it’s prime intern hiring season.
Another story talks about the value of interns for entrepreneurs. In small companies, interns can give a fresh perspective and a jolt to formerly static companies, helping to increase profits. Owners of smaller companies can have direct interaction with interns, giving them valuable guidance. If you’re approaching a company to create a new internship, do your homework! Clearly explain how you can help them. Make sure you translate that help into savings, improved operational efficiency and increased profit for the company.
Internships also help companies “test drive” potential employees. The NACE reports “83.4 percent of employers said the primary focus of their internship program is to help them recruit entry-level college hires.” And after one year, 86% of former company interns hired full-time were still there, a 5% better retention rate than new hires without an internship.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Psychology Internships
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360.
As a psychology student, there are many different places where you can intern. Depending on your concentration and post-graduation plans, you can find psychology internships in a variety of fields.
“One of the great things about the field of Psychology is that it is infinitely broad.” says Dallas M. Stout, Psy.D., a professor at the University of the Rockies. Dr. Stout suggests students think about what they want to do after school and approach appropriate organizations for psychology internships.
Internships tend to fall under some broad categories.
Clinical Psychology Internships
Psychology students who want to work in a clinical setting have opportunities for internships serving a variety of populations. Psychology interns can work in hospitals, schools, and community centers. For example, Lara Meyer, a student at Grinnell College, interned at the International Rescue Committee in New York, where she worked on health programs for refugees.
Research Psychology Internships
If you’re more interested in psychology theory and new discovery, then a research psychology internship could be for you. Some universities have independent study programs that let students do research and create their own internships.
Corporate Psychology Internships
This is all about practical, every day application of psychology principles. Some companies hire psychology interns for data analysis and consumer and market research. Corporate psychology is a fast-growing field and there are consulting firms that help businesses with coaching their employees.
Resources for Psychology Internships
As with any internship, your college career center and your professors are the best place to start looking for a psychology internship.
National Science Foundation has list of research opportunities for undergrads.
American Psychology Association has list of undergraduate psychology internships
© Danielle Bullen 2010
“One of the great things about the field of Psychology is that it is infinitely broad.” says Dallas M. Stout, Psy.D., a professor at the University of the Rockies. Dr. Stout suggests students think about what they want to do after school and approach appropriate organizations for psychology internships.
Internships tend to fall under some broad categories.
Clinical Psychology Internships
Psychology students who want to work in a clinical setting have opportunities for internships serving a variety of populations. Psychology interns can work in hospitals, schools, and community centers. For example, Lara Meyer, a student at Grinnell College, interned at the International Rescue Committee in New York, where she worked on health programs for refugees.
Research Psychology Internships
If you’re more interested in psychology theory and new discovery, then a research psychology internship could be for you. Some universities have independent study programs that let students do research and create their own internships.
Corporate Psychology Internships
This is all about practical, every day application of psychology principles. Some companies hire psychology interns for data analysis and consumer and market research. Corporate psychology is a fast-growing field and there are consulting firms that help businesses with coaching their employees.
Resources for Psychology Internships
As with any internship, your college career center and your professors are the best place to start looking for a psychology internship.
National Science Foundation has list of research opportunities for undergrads.
American Psychology Association has list of undergraduate psychology internships
© Danielle Bullen 2010
White House Internships
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360.
Interning at the White House may seem like a pipe dream, but for some lucky college students it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Here you can learn about the different internship opportunities available at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Internship Details
White House interns work in one of eighteen different departments. Some of them include Communications, Energy and Climate Change, Health Reform, or the Offices of the First Lady, Chief of Staff, or Vice President.
An anonymous communications intern was quoted on the White House internship web site: “It is a fun fast-paced office that overlaps with every office in the White House. I have loved my time here in the media affairs office; even though it’s long hours!”
Other interns who left their positive feedback on the site echo that comment. In addition to their individual duties, all White House interns engage in a semester-long service project in the D.C. area. Interns attend a weekly speaker series presented by members of the White House senior staff and participate in field trips, gaining a complete Washington experience.
How to Apply
So, how do you become a White House intern and who is eligible?
The program is open to U.S. citizens over age eighteen who are enrolled in college or grad school or who have graduated in the past two years.
Veterans with high school diplomas and active duty service in the past two years can also apply.
Application Deadline
According to this timeline, applications for the next internship cycle–Fall 2010–are due June 6, 2010. Selected interns would begin September 7, 2010. The selection process is intense and applications include essays, letters of recommendation, and resumes. See the FAQs for more info on applications.
Washington Center Internship
The Washington Center provides another opportunity for a White House internship. TWC combines internships and academic classes and is open to current juniors, seniors, and grad students.
Interns apply to one of twelve programmatic areas such as Business and Management, International Affairs, and Science, Technology, and Society.
Washington Center applicants rank their intern preferences. The program will place them in one of the locations they rank but there’s no guarantee they get their #1 choice. If you are interested in interning with the federal government in general, this could be an option. As a bonus, the Washington Center helps interns find housing and offers financial aid.
The deadlines for the Fall 2010 semester are May 3, 2010 for competitive programs like the White House internship, and June 18 for all other programs.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Internship Details
White House interns work in one of eighteen different departments. Some of them include Communications, Energy and Climate Change, Health Reform, or the Offices of the First Lady, Chief of Staff, or Vice President.
An anonymous communications intern was quoted on the White House internship web site: “It is a fun fast-paced office that overlaps with every office in the White House. I have loved my time here in the media affairs office; even though it’s long hours!”
Other interns who left their positive feedback on the site echo that comment. In addition to their individual duties, all White House interns engage in a semester-long service project in the D.C. area. Interns attend a weekly speaker series presented by members of the White House senior staff and participate in field trips, gaining a complete Washington experience.
How to Apply
So, how do you become a White House intern and who is eligible?
The program is open to U.S. citizens over age eighteen who are enrolled in college or grad school or who have graduated in the past two years.
Veterans with high school diplomas and active duty service in the past two years can also apply.
Application Deadline
According to this timeline, applications for the next internship cycle–Fall 2010–are due June 6, 2010. Selected interns would begin September 7, 2010. The selection process is intense and applications include essays, letters of recommendation, and resumes. See the FAQs for more info on applications.
Washington Center Internship
The Washington Center provides another opportunity for a White House internship. TWC combines internships and academic classes and is open to current juniors, seniors, and grad students.
Interns apply to one of twelve programmatic areas such as Business and Management, International Affairs, and Science, Technology, and Society.
Washington Center applicants rank their intern preferences. The program will place them in one of the locations they rank but there’s no guarantee they get their #1 choice. If you are interested in interning with the federal government in general, this could be an option. As a bonus, the Washington Center helps interns find housing and offers financial aid.
The deadlines for the Fall 2010 semester are May 3, 2010 for competitive programs like the White House internship, and June 18 for all other programs.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Fashion Internships
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360
Are you addicted to shows like Project Runway, Kell on Earth, and The City? Are your friends always coming to you for style advice? Do you devour magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Glamour? Do you wonder if you can turn your passion for fashion into a career? An internship in the fashion industry is a great way to test out your interests. There are fashion internships in a variety of fields.
Types of Fashion Internships
Most of these internships are based in New York City, the fashion hub of America.
Magazines
Interns at Teen Vogue contribute to this blog that details what it’s like to be a fashion intern at a major magazine. While it’s clear they all love fashion and their internships, a lot of their tasks involve organizing closets and packing and shipping clothes and accessories for photo shoots. If you’re interested in the editorial side of fashion, it’s a great stepping-stone and resume builder.
Designers
If you want to be a fashion designer, interning with a designer is a great way to learn the industry and showcase your skills. Depending on where you intern, you might be dressing models, organizing the showroom, or even sketching designs.
Stores
Many clothing and department stores offer fashion internships. Buying or merchandising interns work with the store’s buyers – the people who choose what the store sells each season. Besides a passion for fashion, buying interns need research and analytical skills to crunch sales numbers.
Public Relations Firms
Much like traditional public relations internships, fashion pr internships focus on market research and media relations. Public relations firms run their clients fashion shows, so interns are involved with a lot of behind-the-scenes planning. Along with merchandising internships, fashion pr internships are great for exploring the business side of the industry.
Where to Find Fashion Internships
College Career Center
Like with all internships, your first stop should be the career center. Career counselors may be aware of internships that aren’t public. They can also connect you with alumni who are working in the fashion industry. And it’s best to have a career counselor check your resume and cover letter before sending them to an employer.
Your Professors
If you attend a fashion school, your professors are a valuable resource. Ask them about opportunities and if you can use them as references.
Online Resources
For internships at fashion magazines (or magazines in general), www.ed2010.com is a great resource.
Some publishers, like Condé Nast, have structured internship programs that require candidates to apply directly through their web sites.
If there’s a particular store or designer that you’d love to intern for, check their website often for new internships.
Daily Fashion Jobsis another great resource that lists internships with designers and stores.
PR Coutureis a great resource for public relations fashion internships.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Types of Fashion Internships
Most of these internships are based in New York City, the fashion hub of America.
Magazines
Interns at Teen Vogue contribute to this blog that details what it’s like to be a fashion intern at a major magazine. While it’s clear they all love fashion and their internships, a lot of their tasks involve organizing closets and packing and shipping clothes and accessories for photo shoots. If you’re interested in the editorial side of fashion, it’s a great stepping-stone and resume builder.
Designers
If you want to be a fashion designer, interning with a designer is a great way to learn the industry and showcase your skills. Depending on where you intern, you might be dressing models, organizing the showroom, or even sketching designs.
Stores
Many clothing and department stores offer fashion internships. Buying or merchandising interns work with the store’s buyers – the people who choose what the store sells each season. Besides a passion for fashion, buying interns need research and analytical skills to crunch sales numbers.
Public Relations Firms
Much like traditional public relations internships, fashion pr internships focus on market research and media relations. Public relations firms run their clients fashion shows, so interns are involved with a lot of behind-the-scenes planning. Along with merchandising internships, fashion pr internships are great for exploring the business side of the industry.
Where to Find Fashion Internships
College Career Center
Like with all internships, your first stop should be the career center. Career counselors may be aware of internships that aren’t public. They can also connect you with alumni who are working in the fashion industry. And it’s best to have a career counselor check your resume and cover letter before sending them to an employer.
Your Professors
If you attend a fashion school, your professors are a valuable resource. Ask them about opportunities and if you can use them as references.
Online Resources
For internships at fashion magazines (or magazines in general), www.ed2010.com is a great resource.
Some publishers, like Condé Nast, have structured internship programs that require candidates to apply directly through their web sites.
If there’s a particular store or designer that you’d love to intern for, check their website often for new internships.
Daily Fashion Jobsis another great resource that lists internships with designers and stores.
PR Coutureis a great resource for public relations fashion internships.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Highlighting Your Internship Experience
This article originally appeared in InterProgram360
In this post, you learned how to highlight your recent internship experience in a resume. But what about the cover letter? Here are some tips for making your internship stand out.
Cover letters explain why you are qualified for a job. They don’t repeat the resume but expand on it. As a recent graduate, your internships may be the only experience you have related to the work you’re interested in pursuing.
The two most important things about internships are what you did and what you learned. As an intern at ABC company, my responsibilities included XYZ.
That part is pretty straightforward. Determining the skills you gained from the internship may take a little more thought. It’s definitely worth it as it shows how you can use those qualities at a future job.
For example, if you had an accounting internship, you could say it taught you attention to details.
If you had an engineering internship, you could say it taught you to solve problems.
If you had a journalism internship, you could say you learned to meet deadlines.
For an internship in the psychology or social services fields, you could say you learned to interact with different types of people.
Even if you are trying to break into a new field, you can highlight transferable skills from your internship. In the examples above–detail-orientation, problem solving, time-management, and cooperation–are qualities that many employers look for in new hires.
Your internship provided you with the skills you need to land your first job. The cover letter is the tool to tell hiring managers about those skills. Put in the effort to make your cover letter stand out. When you get that first job offer, you’ll be happy you did.
Here is an example of a cover letter for an entry-level job.
123 Market Street
Any town, US 1111
March 11, 2010
Ellen Editor
Large Publishing Company
123 Main Street
Big City, US 00000
Dear Ms. Editor,
I’m writing to express my interest in the Editorial Assistant job at Large Publishing Company.
I recently graduated with an English degree from Large University. I served as an editor on the weekly school newspaper and tutored at-risk children from a local elementary school. Last summer, I interned at Any town newspaper. There I assisted editors with research, wrote headlines and photo captions, and helped to manage social media. These tasks taught me to think critically, juggle multiple projects and deadlines, and work well on teams.
My past experiences make me a strong candidate for the Editorial Assistant job. I have enclosed my resume and I would appreciate the chance to meet with you to discuss my qualifications. I will call you next week to verify you received this information. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Julie Job Applicant
Your internship provided you with the skills you need to land your first job. The cover letter is the tool to tell hiring managers about those skills. Put in the effort to make your cover letter stand out. When you get that first job offer, you’ll be happy you did.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Cover letters explain why you are qualified for a job. They don’t repeat the resume but expand on it. As a recent graduate, your internships may be the only experience you have related to the work you’re interested in pursuing.
The two most important things about internships are what you did and what you learned. As an intern at ABC company, my responsibilities included XYZ.
That part is pretty straightforward. Determining the skills you gained from the internship may take a little more thought. It’s definitely worth it as it shows how you can use those qualities at a future job.
For example, if you had an accounting internship, you could say it taught you attention to details.
If you had an engineering internship, you could say it taught you to solve problems.
If you had a journalism internship, you could say you learned to meet deadlines.
For an internship in the psychology or social services fields, you could say you learned to interact with different types of people.
Even if you are trying to break into a new field, you can highlight transferable skills from your internship. In the examples above–detail-orientation, problem solving, time-management, and cooperation–are qualities that many employers look for in new hires.
Your internship provided you with the skills you need to land your first job. The cover letter is the tool to tell hiring managers about those skills. Put in the effort to make your cover letter stand out. When you get that first job offer, you’ll be happy you did.
Here is an example of a cover letter for an entry-level job.
123 Market Street
Any town, US 1111
March 11, 2010
Ellen Editor
Large Publishing Company
123 Main Street
Big City, US 00000
Dear Ms. Editor,
I’m writing to express my interest in the Editorial Assistant job at Large Publishing Company.
I recently graduated with an English degree from Large University. I served as an editor on the weekly school newspaper and tutored at-risk children from a local elementary school. Last summer, I interned at Any town newspaper. There I assisted editors with research, wrote headlines and photo captions, and helped to manage social media. These tasks taught me to think critically, juggle multiple projects and deadlines, and work well on teams.
My past experiences make me a strong candidate for the Editorial Assistant job. I have enclosed my resume and I would appreciate the chance to meet with you to discuss my qualifications. I will call you next week to verify you received this information. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Julie Job Applicant
Your internship provided you with the skills you need to land your first job. The cover letter is the tool to tell hiring managers about those skills. Put in the effort to make your cover letter stand out. When you get that first job offer, you’ll be happy you did.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Internship Interview Questions
This article originally appeared in InternProgram360
Congratulations! Your cover letter and resume landed you an internship interview. We’ve put together some commonly asked questions syou know what to expect for the interview.
Interview Questions
Questions for Interns to Ask Interviewers
Sources: Allegheny College Career Services, Boston College Career Center, Buzzle.com,Northwestern University Career Services
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Interview Questions
- What factors did you consider in choosing your major? Did you consider plans after college when choosing a major? Employers want to see how thoughtful you are.
- What is your GPA? How do you feel about it? Does it reflect your ability?S ometimes one tough course can disrupt your GPA. If it’s on the low side, here’s your chance to defend it.
- Describe a tough academic decision you had to make, how did you go about this? Making tough academic choices can help you make tough corporate choices.
- Describe how you have balanced your academic work with your extracurricular activities. Even in school, work-life balance is important. It’s important to have a life outside of classes.
- What interests you in a career in this field? The interviewer wants to see what you know about the field.
- What are your goals for the internship? The interviewer wants see that you’ve thought ahead and established goals to achieve at your internship.
- What are your strengths? A classic interview question. Be confident but not cocky.
- What are your weaknesses? Another classic question. Show what you learned from past mistakes.
- Give an example of a problem you have solved and the process you used.The interviewer wants to know about your problem solving skills.
- How would your friends describe you? Your professors? Your resume only says so much about you. People are the best judge of other people.
Questions for Interns to Ask Interviewers
- · What skills do I need for this internship? You want to make sure they’re skills you have.
- · Who will supervise me? How often will we meet? Regular meetings with your boss are important.
- · What can I expect to learn? You need a clear idea of the new skills you’ll develop.
- · What types of projects will I be working on? Does what you’ll be doing match the internship description?
- · How will most of my time be spent? Will you be making photocopies or doing more intense work?
- · Have you ever had an intern before? If yes, find out what past interns did. If no, find out why they need an intern now.
- · What are your expectations of me? You need to know your boss’s goals for the time you will spend at the internship.
- · What is the work environment like? Some things to consider: Will you share space or tasks with another intern? What’s the dress code?
- · Will there be an opportunity to observe other tasks? Some internships let you spend time in a variety of departments to learn about all parts of the company.
- · What kind of person are you seeking? Be sure to tell the interviewer you are that kind of person.
Sources: Allegheny College Career Services, Boston College Career Center, Buzzle.com,Northwestern University Career Services
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Sustainability and Kids, In the Classroom
This article originally appeared in Funderstanding.
Today’s kids are much more aware of the environment and the impact they have on it than their parents. The current generation of elementary and middle schoolers had never known life without Earth Day, curbside recycling programs or a range of other awareness efforts.
Yet there is always room to learn more. As a teacher, how can you incorporate sustainability into the classroom? Sustainability and kids go well together. Below are some examples of successes at teaching sustainability as well as resources you can turn to for your own students.
Definitions and Goals
What is sustainability education?US Partnership, a non-partisan organization whose mission is to integrate sustainable development into education, defines it: “Teaching the interconnection of environment, society and economy.”
According to the Partnership, there are 3 goals to sustainability education:
1. Understanding basic concept of sustainability
2. Understanding human connection to natural world
3. Having the knowledge necessary for improvements
Success Stories
US Partnership recently hosted a webinar with success stories about introducing sustainability into the curriculum.
Will Rogers Middle School, Fair Oaks, CA
This school started with a recycling program and evolved into a total energy-saving mindset. Recent construction was Energy Star rated. In one project, students took and shared photos of positive sustainability actions. The school hosted a solar car race. Students volunteered at the local watershed to learn about the interconnectedness between people and nature, as well as the importance of water conservation.
Morris Brandon Elementary, Atlanta, GA
Morris Brandon’s Mission statement included an emphasis placed on international understanding and responsible citizenship. As part of that, the school community maintains an organic garden. The Parent Teacher Association donates to Heifer International if students meet reading goals. Teacher Kelley Jordan-Monne uses the websites www.projectwet.org andwww.projectwild.org for sustainability lesson plans.
Resources for Teachers
Introducing sustainability into the classroom is manageable if you know what resources to use. As a teacher, you can engage the kids in lessons that teach them the subject matter and sustainability.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Yet there is always room to learn more. As a teacher, how can you incorporate sustainability into the classroom? Sustainability and kids go well together. Below are some examples of successes at teaching sustainability as well as resources you can turn to for your own students.
Definitions and Goals
What is sustainability education?US Partnership, a non-partisan organization whose mission is to integrate sustainable development into education, defines it: “Teaching the interconnection of environment, society and economy.”
According to the Partnership, there are 3 goals to sustainability education:
1. Understanding basic concept of sustainability
2. Understanding human connection to natural world
3. Having the knowledge necessary for improvements
Success Stories
US Partnership recently hosted a webinar with success stories about introducing sustainability into the curriculum.
Will Rogers Middle School, Fair Oaks, CA
This school started with a recycling program and evolved into a total energy-saving mindset. Recent construction was Energy Star rated. In one project, students took and shared photos of positive sustainability actions. The school hosted a solar car race. Students volunteered at the local watershed to learn about the interconnectedness between people and nature, as well as the importance of water conservation.
Morris Brandon Elementary, Atlanta, GA
Morris Brandon’s Mission statement included an emphasis placed on international understanding and responsible citizenship. As part of that, the school community maintains an organic garden. The Parent Teacher Association donates to Heifer International if students meet reading goals. Teacher Kelley Jordan-Monne uses the websites www.projectwet.org andwww.projectwild.org for sustainability lesson plans.
Resources for Teachers
- The North American Association for Environmental Education offers links lesson plans broken down by grade level
- Green Teacher is a magazine devoted to teaching sustainabilty. The best ideas are collected in the book Teaching Green: The Middle Years.
- The Concord Consortium offers software and online programs to introduce the concept through its Education for a Sustainable Future program.
- The EPA has a variety of teacher resources including links to local resources and environmental service projects, and calendars of training events.
- Greening Schools has suggestions for “greening your lesson plan” divided into subject areas.
Introducing sustainability into the classroom is manageable if you know what resources to use. As a teacher, you can engage the kids in lessons that teach them the subject matter and sustainability.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Sustainability in Ontario
This article originally appeared inPadosa.
Ontario is leading the way in Canada in encouraging sustainable development. Both the government and private companies have developed initiatives to make the province more eco-friendly.
Government Projects
The provincial government introduced a bill to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012. If all homes in Ontario replaced their standard bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, it would save enough energy to power 600,00 homes. Effectively immediately, all government building will be lit with CFLs. The government is subsidizing conservation programs, including coupons for the energy saving lights, rebates for energy efficient home appliances, and discount bills for consumers who use less energy.
On a local level, the Toronto government introduced the Live Green Toronto program. Over the next five years, the project will distribute $20 million to carbon-savings projects. Environmentalists meet and collaborate with citizens who have a carbon-savings idea. If the plan meets approval and makes it past the development stage, citizens are awarded grants to put their ideas into action. It’s all part of efforts to reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 6% by 2012. On a larger scale, Toronto wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
Private Projects
21 colleges and universities in the province signed a pledge to be more sustainable. The voluntary contract has three goals:
to assist in finding solutions to the challenges of environmental sustainability
to share knowledge about sustainability and climate change
to incorporate, wherever possible, principles of sustainability into their own operations.
Richard White Architects in Arnprior designs and builds sustainable structures. From choosing sites where natural ventilation and lighting are maximized, to reducing toxic building materials, to recycling construction waste, concern for the environment is at the forefront of the entire design and building cycle.
Toronto’s Steam Whistle Brewing is also committed to being green. Every element of the packaging, from the bottles to the cartons used for shipping, are recycled into more packaging. The brewery is powered by wind and hydro energy and its delivery trucks run on renewable biofuels, a combination of soy and recycled restaurant grease. At outdoor events, they serve their beer in cornstarch resin cups that are completely biodegradable in 50 days.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Government Projects
The provincial government introduced a bill to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012. If all homes in Ontario replaced their standard bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, it would save enough energy to power 600,00 homes. Effectively immediately, all government building will be lit with CFLs. The government is subsidizing conservation programs, including coupons for the energy saving lights, rebates for energy efficient home appliances, and discount bills for consumers who use less energy.
On a local level, the Toronto government introduced the Live Green Toronto program. Over the next five years, the project will distribute $20 million to carbon-savings projects. Environmentalists meet and collaborate with citizens who have a carbon-savings idea. If the plan meets approval and makes it past the development stage, citizens are awarded grants to put their ideas into action. It’s all part of efforts to reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 6% by 2012. On a larger scale, Toronto wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
Private Projects
21 colleges and universities in the province signed a pledge to be more sustainable. The voluntary contract has three goals:
to assist in finding solutions to the challenges of environmental sustainability
to share knowledge about sustainability and climate change
to incorporate, wherever possible, principles of sustainability into their own operations.
Richard White Architects in Arnprior designs and builds sustainable structures. From choosing sites where natural ventilation and lighting are maximized, to reducing toxic building materials, to recycling construction waste, concern for the environment is at the forefront of the entire design and building cycle.
Toronto’s Steam Whistle Brewing is also committed to being green. Every element of the packaging, from the bottles to the cartons used for shipping, are recycled into more packaging. The brewery is powered by wind and hydro energy and its delivery trucks run on renewable biofuels, a combination of soy and recycled restaurant grease. At outdoor events, they serve their beer in cornstarch resin cups that are completely biodegradable in 50 days.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Sustainability in British Columbia
This article originally appeared in Padosa.
The British Columbian government has introduced several initiatives to promote sustainability. Climate Smart offers scholarships for small businesses to attend workshops on the green economy. So far, 100 companies have taken advantage of the training. They’ve learned how to track their greenhouse gas emissions and develop personalized reduction plans.
The provincial government has also spent $3.5 million on pesticide reduction. At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund opened cutting edge research labs to study alternatives to chemical pesticides. Government funding also supports the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture’s greenhouse, designed to study alternate clean energy sources.
Sustainable Tourism
Tourism is another sector where the government is trying to be more eco-conscious. The BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourismis a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and private companies. Its goals include:
· A certification program for “green” tourism operators
· Carbon calculators for small and medium-sized tourism companies
· Environmental outreach for travelers
What are companies doing?
The tourism industry is not the only one supporting a green economy. ArtiZen, a home renovation company, took part in the Climate Smart education program. They plan to offset 100% of their carbon footprint. ArtiZen is also encouraging it’s suppliers to be carbon neutral, ensuring the entire supply chain is sustainable.
Tinhorn Creek Wineryhas implemented several sustainable practices. The waste from grape harvests are composted and reapplied to the vineyards. Vineyards are protected from pests with fencing and sound repellent, not chemical pesticides. The eco-friendliness doesn’t stop at production. Tinhorn Creek wines are bottled in 35 to 50% recycled glass bottles that are produced within 500 kilometers of the winery.
Clark Wilson, a law firm, instated a Green Policy to make sure the firm’s actions are all conducted in an environmentally friendly way. They include:
· Purchasing recycled and reusable office supplies
· Paperless filing
· Energy-saving office equipment, like light bulbs, photocopiers, and computer monitors
· Carpool Connection, an online tool facilitating employee ride sharing
If you work at or own a foreign or U.S. company, we are very interested to learn what types of sustainable initiatives your company practices. Please share with us in the comments or write us at [email protected].
© Danielle Bullen 2009
The provincial government has also spent $3.5 million on pesticide reduction. At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund opened cutting edge research labs to study alternatives to chemical pesticides. Government funding also supports the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture’s greenhouse, designed to study alternate clean energy sources.
Sustainable Tourism
Tourism is another sector where the government is trying to be more eco-conscious. The BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourismis a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and private companies. Its goals include:
· A certification program for “green” tourism operators
· Carbon calculators for small and medium-sized tourism companies
· Environmental outreach for travelers
What are companies doing?
The tourism industry is not the only one supporting a green economy. ArtiZen, a home renovation company, took part in the Climate Smart education program. They plan to offset 100% of their carbon footprint. ArtiZen is also encouraging it’s suppliers to be carbon neutral, ensuring the entire supply chain is sustainable.
Tinhorn Creek Wineryhas implemented several sustainable practices. The waste from grape harvests are composted and reapplied to the vineyards. Vineyards are protected from pests with fencing and sound repellent, not chemical pesticides. The eco-friendliness doesn’t stop at production. Tinhorn Creek wines are bottled in 35 to 50% recycled glass bottles that are produced within 500 kilometers of the winery.
Clark Wilson, a law firm, instated a Green Policy to make sure the firm’s actions are all conducted in an environmentally friendly way. They include:
· Purchasing recycled and reusable office supplies
· Paperless filing
· Energy-saving office equipment, like light bulbs, photocopiers, and computer monitors
· Carpool Connection, an online tool facilitating employee ride sharing
If you work at or own a foreign or U.S. company, we are very interested to learn what types of sustainable initiatives your company practices. Please share with us in the comments or write us at [email protected].
© Danielle Bullen 2009
Sustainability in New Zealand
This article originally appeared in Padosa.
New Zealand is moving towards a more sustainable way of life. The government, business owners, and ordinary citizens are all doing their part to promote eco-friendly business tactics.
What is the government doing?
The Ministry for the Environment set the ambitious goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 10 to 20% of 1990 levels by the year 2020. This is part of a larger goal to reduce them to half of 1990 levels by 2050. Compared to other countries who have set 2020 emissions standards, New Zealand is near the top of the list with its forward-thinking approach. Many citizens supported an even more ambitious reduction policy, proving their commitment to preserving New Zealand’s green image.
Several key steps are in place to reach the target. The government launched a $323 million ($235 million USD) home insulation and clean heating fund that will insulate 180,000 houses. The new Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research provides support and analysis. There is a renewed commitment to researching and developing sustainable alternative fuels, electric cars and solar water systems.
The waste disposal levy of $10 ($7.30 USD) per ton is another government program encouraging sustainability. Any waste that is disposed of at a waste disposal facility as defined under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (for example, a landfill) is subject to the levy. Profits from the tax will be diverted to initiatives promoting recycling.
What are businesses doing?
Every year, the National Sustainable Business Network recognizes companies that have achieved excellence in sustainability. Kate Sylvester a fashion design company, won the Emerging Small and Medium Business award in 2008. The Network recognized the company for its concentrated efforts to reduce waste and energy and monitor lower carbon emissions. It created a uniform sustainability policy and communicated it to its staff across headquarters, factories, and stores. Kate Sylvester manufactures all of its garments in New Zealand, giving it a smaller carbon footprint then some of its competitors.
YHA Wellington City won the 2008 Trailblazer Not for Profit award. Recognized as a sustainable living center for 15 years, this youth hostel is a 3-time winner. It was given recognition because of the influence it holds over young people to adopt sustainable practices.
YHA Wellington City was the first business in the country to participate in the Love NZ recycling in public places program.
Paraoa Bakehouse won the 2008 Sustainable Business of the Year honor. They produce a variety of both organic and gluten free breads that are sold across the country. From its grains, which are grown organically, to biodegradable packaging, the company is sustainable across the board. Even though Paraoa produces 4,000 kilograms of food per week (more then they sell), impressive waste reduction policies means less then 1 kg ends up in landfills.
What are people doing?
Business owners aren’t the only ones involved in green efforts. The Sustainable Living Education Trust offers classes for adult learners interested in the environment. Topics include:
Hopefully, other countries can learn from New Zealand’s efforts to become more environmentally conscious in its business practices.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
What is the government doing?
The Ministry for the Environment set the ambitious goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 10 to 20% of 1990 levels by the year 2020. This is part of a larger goal to reduce them to half of 1990 levels by 2050. Compared to other countries who have set 2020 emissions standards, New Zealand is near the top of the list with its forward-thinking approach. Many citizens supported an even more ambitious reduction policy, proving their commitment to preserving New Zealand’s green image.
Several key steps are in place to reach the target. The government launched a $323 million ($235 million USD) home insulation and clean heating fund that will insulate 180,000 houses. The new Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research provides support and analysis. There is a renewed commitment to researching and developing sustainable alternative fuels, electric cars and solar water systems.
The waste disposal levy of $10 ($7.30 USD) per ton is another government program encouraging sustainability. Any waste that is disposed of at a waste disposal facility as defined under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (for example, a landfill) is subject to the levy. Profits from the tax will be diverted to initiatives promoting recycling.
What are businesses doing?
Every year, the National Sustainable Business Network recognizes companies that have achieved excellence in sustainability. Kate Sylvester a fashion design company, won the Emerging Small and Medium Business award in 2008. The Network recognized the company for its concentrated efforts to reduce waste and energy and monitor lower carbon emissions. It created a uniform sustainability policy and communicated it to its staff across headquarters, factories, and stores. Kate Sylvester manufactures all of its garments in New Zealand, giving it a smaller carbon footprint then some of its competitors.
YHA Wellington City won the 2008 Trailblazer Not for Profit award. Recognized as a sustainable living center for 15 years, this youth hostel is a 3-time winner. It was given recognition because of the influence it holds over young people to adopt sustainable practices.
YHA Wellington City was the first business in the country to participate in the Love NZ recycling in public places program.
Paraoa Bakehouse won the 2008 Sustainable Business of the Year honor. They produce a variety of both organic and gluten free breads that are sold across the country. From its grains, which are grown organically, to biodegradable packaging, the company is sustainable across the board. Even though Paraoa produces 4,000 kilograms of food per week (more then they sell), impressive waste reduction policies means less then 1 kg ends up in landfills.
What are people doing?
Business owners aren’t the only ones involved in green efforts. The Sustainable Living Education Trust offers classes for adult learners interested in the environment. Topics include:
- energy efficiency
- eco-building design and insulation
- water use and protection
- gardening with nature
- waste reduction, including composting
- shopping with the planet in mind
- travel options and carbon impacts
Hopefully, other countries can learn from New Zealand’s efforts to become more environmentally conscious in its business practices.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
Sustainability in Japan
This article originally appeared in Padosa.
Japan is making great strides towards sustainable business practices. Local and state governments, companies, and individuals are all working together to make the country a more eco-friendly place to live and do business.
What is the government doing?
City governments are taking the lead in reducing carbon dioxide levels and greenhouse gas emissions. Shizuoka has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas by 37% by 2010; Nagoya has pledged to reduce carbon dioxide by 10% and Kyoto has pledged to lower greenhouse gases by 10%, also by next year. Local governments are enacting educational campaigns for their citizens; incentivizing activities that help curb global warming; and stepping up regulations.
Tokyo is subsidizing a massive increase in solar power in an effort called the 10-Year Carbon Minus Tokyo Project. Its goal is to reduce green house gas emissions by 25% by 2020. Homeowners can participate in a certificate system that provides incentives to those who use photovoltaic systems to generate electricity for their homes. Such investments should be recouped in approximately ten years.
On a national level, The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has created a carbon footprint program. Products will be labeled to show how much carbon dioxide they generate from production to end use. Japan hopes to use this data to better understand the most useful areas to cut emissions. One survey shows that 50% of consumers would be interested in purchasing such items.
What are companies doing?
Patina Japan is handcrafting carryalls out of a unique resource–old fire hoses. The company collects discarded hoses and recycles them into one-of-a-kind messenger bags, with straps constructed of old seatbelts. Part of the sales of the bags will be used for conservation. The town of Shimanto is also in on the green fashion scene with its recycled newspaper bag. It started as an environmentally friendly effort by one resident and has grown into an international sensation, selling worldwide for about $10.
Toyo Ink Manufacturing, in an effort to make their products greener, as well as increase quality and production, introduced soy-oil based ink. Soy oil makes the ink flow smoother, ensuring stable printing. The success of the soy ink inspired the company to create rice ink, derived from rice bran oil. Rice is grown, harvested, and pressed domestically, reducing the emissions created in shipping.
Shin Nikkei is selling solar air heating panels to schools. An aluminum plate, painted with fluoro-polymer, is installed on an outer wall. Air is heated by exchange as it passes through perforations on the panel, and is then drawn inside by a fan. When one panel is installed in a standard classroom, an estimated 76.9 liters of kerosene are saved each year.
What are people doing?
The Japanese are aware of their role in encouraging green business practices. Keio University and research company NTT Resonant released a survey saying 50% of consumers purchased eco-friendly products. 70% of people who had never bought a green product were willing to consider doing so.
Mottainai is a Japanese term that roughly means, “what a waste.” The Mottainai campaign is a effort begun by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, and funded by the Mainichi Newspapers Company and the ITOCHU Corporation to encourage citizens to participate in “the 3 R’s”: reducing waste, reusing finite resources, and recycling.
The campaign’s promotional efforts in television commercials, print ads, and web sites, have paid off. A recentsurvey says that 69% of people use recycled paper products; 45% actively try to conserve energy; 33% use second-hand items; and 18% try to repair broken items instead of buying replacements.
These are just a sampling of the projects Japan has instated to promote green practices. Hopefully, more companies and local governments will sign onto the efforts to reduce toxic emissions and promote cleaner resources.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
What is the government doing?
City governments are taking the lead in reducing carbon dioxide levels and greenhouse gas emissions. Shizuoka has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas by 37% by 2010; Nagoya has pledged to reduce carbon dioxide by 10% and Kyoto has pledged to lower greenhouse gases by 10%, also by next year. Local governments are enacting educational campaigns for their citizens; incentivizing activities that help curb global warming; and stepping up regulations.
Tokyo is subsidizing a massive increase in solar power in an effort called the 10-Year Carbon Minus Tokyo Project. Its goal is to reduce green house gas emissions by 25% by 2020. Homeowners can participate in a certificate system that provides incentives to those who use photovoltaic systems to generate electricity for their homes. Such investments should be recouped in approximately ten years.
On a national level, The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has created a carbon footprint program. Products will be labeled to show how much carbon dioxide they generate from production to end use. Japan hopes to use this data to better understand the most useful areas to cut emissions. One survey shows that 50% of consumers would be interested in purchasing such items.
What are companies doing?
Patina Japan is handcrafting carryalls out of a unique resource–old fire hoses. The company collects discarded hoses and recycles them into one-of-a-kind messenger bags, with straps constructed of old seatbelts. Part of the sales of the bags will be used for conservation. The town of Shimanto is also in on the green fashion scene with its recycled newspaper bag. It started as an environmentally friendly effort by one resident and has grown into an international sensation, selling worldwide for about $10.
Toyo Ink Manufacturing, in an effort to make their products greener, as well as increase quality and production, introduced soy-oil based ink. Soy oil makes the ink flow smoother, ensuring stable printing. The success of the soy ink inspired the company to create rice ink, derived from rice bran oil. Rice is grown, harvested, and pressed domestically, reducing the emissions created in shipping.
Shin Nikkei is selling solar air heating panels to schools. An aluminum plate, painted with fluoro-polymer, is installed on an outer wall. Air is heated by exchange as it passes through perforations on the panel, and is then drawn inside by a fan. When one panel is installed in a standard classroom, an estimated 76.9 liters of kerosene are saved each year.
What are people doing?
The Japanese are aware of their role in encouraging green business practices. Keio University and research company NTT Resonant released a survey saying 50% of consumers purchased eco-friendly products. 70% of people who had never bought a green product were willing to consider doing so.
Mottainai is a Japanese term that roughly means, “what a waste.” The Mottainai campaign is a effort begun by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, and funded by the Mainichi Newspapers Company and the ITOCHU Corporation to encourage citizens to participate in “the 3 R’s”: reducing waste, reusing finite resources, and recycling.
The campaign’s promotional efforts in television commercials, print ads, and web sites, have paid off. A recentsurvey says that 69% of people use recycled paper products; 45% actively try to conserve energy; 33% use second-hand items; and 18% try to repair broken items instead of buying replacements.
These are just a sampling of the projects Japan has instated to promote green practices. Hopefully, more companies and local governments will sign onto the efforts to reduce toxic emissions and promote cleaner resources.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
A Better Mind and Body: Yoga Basics
This article originally appeared in Phlare.
Last January, I became one of the 15.8 million Americans who practice yoga. i was curious about the ancient practice, so i signed up for a ten-week course and fell in love. since, i have benefitted personally from the physical and mental effects. As a professional woman, juggling responsibilities such as a career, social life or family can be stressful so adding another activity may not be a priority but Yoga absolutely benefits for the modern woman. The sense of contentment, burned calo ries, improved muscle tone, and decreased stress-related hormones are just a few reasons so many people have added yoga to their lives.
Curious about Yoga? Try a class! You can do it for free at Focus Fitness on the Main Line--featured in the April 2009 issue of Phlare Magazine and their spotlight offer is still available at PHLAREmagazine.com. Main Liners can also visit www.mainlineschoolnight.org for low-cost classes, or Google-search for additional options.
Basic Yoga Styles:
• Flow Yoga or “VinYasa”: In this practice, students move quickly from one pose (or “asanas”) to the next. In Hindi, vinyasa can be translated as “linking” and the essence of a vinyasa is to link movements and breath. The deep breathing associated with yoga helps build lung capacity and relax you.
• Yin Yoga: This technique was born in China. Contrary to flow, postures are held from three to twenty minutes, stretching ligaments and tendons, and eventually increasing your range of motion. A core psychological benefit associated with yin yoga is patience.
• Bikram or “Hot Yoga”: Named after its inventor, Bikram Choudhury, this form is practiced in a room heated to 105° f. Such conditions promote vigorous sweating, ridding the body of toxins. Students move through a series of twenty-six asanas designed to target all the body’s systems.
Basic Benefits of Yoga Practice:
• Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Yoga lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol, leading to improved overall heart health.
• The focus on breathing centers the mind and reduces “cat-echolamines” (hormones the body’s adrenal glands make in response to stress).
• Better posture: Many poses focus on developing the body’s abdominal muscle strength, forcing you to sit and stand up straighter all the time.
• The asanas stretch muscles and connective tissues, resulting in increased flexibility.
• Vigorous styles increase strength in upper-body muscles that are needed to hold the postures.
• According to everydayhealth.com, a 140-pound woman burns about 445 calories in a one-hour vinyasa session. Try hot yoga and that number jumps to 635 calories.
• A better mood is harder to quantify, but it’s one benefit of yoga that many practioners (including myself) rave about. Simply put,
the practice of yoga makes people feel happier.
• Research also suggests that yoga improves learning and memory, making it a great skill to have and practice prior to a big presentation or exam!
• Increased productivity: I was lucky that my company offered an on-site yoga class. This practice is becoming more and more common as business owners become increasingly aware of the link between better health and increased workplace productivity.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
Curious about Yoga? Try a class! You can do it for free at Focus Fitness on the Main Line--featured in the April 2009 issue of Phlare Magazine and their spotlight offer is still available at PHLAREmagazine.com. Main Liners can also visit www.mainlineschoolnight.org for low-cost classes, or Google-search for additional options.
Basic Yoga Styles:
• Flow Yoga or “VinYasa”: In this practice, students move quickly from one pose (or “asanas”) to the next. In Hindi, vinyasa can be translated as “linking” and the essence of a vinyasa is to link movements and breath. The deep breathing associated with yoga helps build lung capacity and relax you.
• Yin Yoga: This technique was born in China. Contrary to flow, postures are held from three to twenty minutes, stretching ligaments and tendons, and eventually increasing your range of motion. A core psychological benefit associated with yin yoga is patience.
• Bikram or “Hot Yoga”: Named after its inventor, Bikram Choudhury, this form is practiced in a room heated to 105° f. Such conditions promote vigorous sweating, ridding the body of toxins. Students move through a series of twenty-six asanas designed to target all the body’s systems.
Basic Benefits of Yoga Practice:
• Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Yoga lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol, leading to improved overall heart health.
• The focus on breathing centers the mind and reduces “cat-echolamines” (hormones the body’s adrenal glands make in response to stress).
• Better posture: Many poses focus on developing the body’s abdominal muscle strength, forcing you to sit and stand up straighter all the time.
• The asanas stretch muscles and connective tissues, resulting in increased flexibility.
• Vigorous styles increase strength in upper-body muscles that are needed to hold the postures.
• According to everydayhealth.com, a 140-pound woman burns about 445 calories in a one-hour vinyasa session. Try hot yoga and that number jumps to 635 calories.
• A better mood is harder to quantify, but it’s one benefit of yoga that many practioners (including myself) rave about. Simply put,
the practice of yoga makes people feel happier.
• Research also suggests that yoga improves learning and memory, making it a great skill to have and practice prior to a big presentation or exam!
• Increased productivity: I was lucky that my company offered an on-site yoga class. This practice is becoming more and more common as business owners become increasingly aware of the link between better health and increased workplace productivity.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
Challenges to Going Green
This article originally appeared in Padosa
We talk about “going green” a lot at Padosa (it’s our biggest tag, after all) but rarely do we examine exactly how hard that can be to accomplish. Running a sustainable business takes a great deal of resources, cooperative employees, technical know-how, and, well, money. Are you adequately prepared to do what it takes to go green or does the prospect or so much change discourage you? This article takes a look at some of the barriers companies face as they try to go green and offers some resources and advice on how to beat them.
Unwilling Customers
In a Gallup poll of small business owners, 70% believe that customers are unwilling to pay more for green products. That’s up from 37% in 2007.
Unawareness of Resources
There are many resources available to guide companies in sustainable direction. Unfortunately, many business owners do not take advantage of them. A survey conducted by the National Small Business Association shows 30% are unaware of local utility assistance programs. An impressive two-thirds of respondents would be more willing to use alternate energy if given more help. Support could come in the form of grants, technical assistance, or even better access to information.
One resource that 15% of America’s workforce does not have access to is direct deposit of their paychecks. Many small business owners incorrectly think it will cost them more money to use an automated payment system. However, the PayItGreen Alliance found that on average, companies that use direct deposit instead of paper checks save, on average $176 per employee per year.
Lack of Cash Flow
This is perhaps the biggest obstacle. One-third of small business owners in the Gallup poll admitted the economy affected their plans to be environmentally friendly. 60% have not invested in energy-efficient programs in the last eighteen months. 52% of those owners cite lack of cash flow as the main reason, says the National Small Business Association.
One sector that especially struggles with this is the restaurant industry. Eateries are big contributors to pollution. Allbusiness.com argues that for local, independent eateries, investing in resources and technology is fiscally impossible.
Success stories
23% of business owners actively try to work with green companies, says the National Small Business Association. Three quarters of owners surveyed by Gallup have switched to more environmentally friendly and energy-saving products and recycled goods. To learn about how your business can make changes, read this Padosa story on energy audits.
Perception vs. realty
While 70% of owners believe their customers won’t purchase green goods, those customers may think otherwise. Mintel released a report that found 36% of adults claimed to buy green products in 2008, up from 12% in 2006. What’s more, when it comes to big-ticket items, like cars, 84% said they would consider green factors before their next purchase.
Green Restaurants
There is hope for independent restaurateurs. The Green Restaurant Association was founded to create a sustainable industry. Their web site offers guidelines for owners to make their eateries certified green. The Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest created this handy resource packet, Going Greener (this is a .pdf file). Some of the tips include running exhaust systems at lower fan speeds, using convection ovens versus conventional gas ovens, saving energy, and serving only fountain drinks to reduce packaging.
Adobe Rose Inn
One small business success story is the Adobe Rose Inn, an Arizona bed and breakfast. On going green, Owner Marion Hook has said, “We know that the money we’ll save long-term by making even small changes, such as using cisterns, florescent light bulbs and solar tubes, will far outweigh the short-term costs.”
Hook and her co-owner, husband Jim use only biodegradable, plant-based, non-toxic cleaning products. They ask guests when they would like linens changed, instead of automatically changing them every day. They harvest rain water to water their garden and heat the pool only with sunlight
Pakpour Engineering
Another small business green success story is Pakpour Engineering, a five-person firm in California. Principal Joubin Pakpour supplies commuter checks to help his employees may for public transportation. The office kitchen is stocked with flatware to discourage the use of plastic forks and spoons. In one year, the firm used almost 70 fewer pounds of paper simply by printing on both sides.
These forward-thinking, yet relatively simple approaches to sustainability are something other businesses can and should copy. Do any of these stories sound like your own experience? What challenges do you face in going green? What strategies are you implementing to make the struggle easier?
©Danielle Bullen 2009
Unwilling Customers
In a Gallup poll of small business owners, 70% believe that customers are unwilling to pay more for green products. That’s up from 37% in 2007.
Unawareness of Resources
There are many resources available to guide companies in sustainable direction. Unfortunately, many business owners do not take advantage of them. A survey conducted by the National Small Business Association shows 30% are unaware of local utility assistance programs. An impressive two-thirds of respondents would be more willing to use alternate energy if given more help. Support could come in the form of grants, technical assistance, or even better access to information.
One resource that 15% of America’s workforce does not have access to is direct deposit of their paychecks. Many small business owners incorrectly think it will cost them more money to use an automated payment system. However, the PayItGreen Alliance found that on average, companies that use direct deposit instead of paper checks save, on average $176 per employee per year.
Lack of Cash Flow
This is perhaps the biggest obstacle. One-third of small business owners in the Gallup poll admitted the economy affected their plans to be environmentally friendly. 60% have not invested in energy-efficient programs in the last eighteen months. 52% of those owners cite lack of cash flow as the main reason, says the National Small Business Association.
One sector that especially struggles with this is the restaurant industry. Eateries are big contributors to pollution. Allbusiness.com argues that for local, independent eateries, investing in resources and technology is fiscally impossible.
Success stories
23% of business owners actively try to work with green companies, says the National Small Business Association. Three quarters of owners surveyed by Gallup have switched to more environmentally friendly and energy-saving products and recycled goods. To learn about how your business can make changes, read this Padosa story on energy audits.
Perception vs. realty
While 70% of owners believe their customers won’t purchase green goods, those customers may think otherwise. Mintel released a report that found 36% of adults claimed to buy green products in 2008, up from 12% in 2006. What’s more, when it comes to big-ticket items, like cars, 84% said they would consider green factors before their next purchase.
Green Restaurants
There is hope for independent restaurateurs. The Green Restaurant Association was founded to create a sustainable industry. Their web site offers guidelines for owners to make their eateries certified green. The Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest created this handy resource packet, Going Greener (this is a .pdf file). Some of the tips include running exhaust systems at lower fan speeds, using convection ovens versus conventional gas ovens, saving energy, and serving only fountain drinks to reduce packaging.
Adobe Rose Inn
One small business success story is the Adobe Rose Inn, an Arizona bed and breakfast. On going green, Owner Marion Hook has said, “We know that the money we’ll save long-term by making even small changes, such as using cisterns, florescent light bulbs and solar tubes, will far outweigh the short-term costs.”
Hook and her co-owner, husband Jim use only biodegradable, plant-based, non-toxic cleaning products. They ask guests when they would like linens changed, instead of automatically changing them every day. They harvest rain water to water their garden and heat the pool only with sunlight
Pakpour Engineering
Another small business green success story is Pakpour Engineering, a five-person firm in California. Principal Joubin Pakpour supplies commuter checks to help his employees may for public transportation. The office kitchen is stocked with flatware to discourage the use of plastic forks and spoons. In one year, the firm used almost 70 fewer pounds of paper simply by printing on both sides.
These forward-thinking, yet relatively simple approaches to sustainability are something other businesses can and should copy. Do any of these stories sound like your own experience? What challenges do you face in going green? What strategies are you implementing to make the struggle easier?
©Danielle Bullen 2009
Green Leases
This article originally appeared in Padosa
A green lease is different from a typical landlord/tenant relationship in that provisions are built into the agreement to encourage green business practices. These agreements encourage owners to build and maintain sustainable spaces without limiting tenant comfort. They are becoming increasingly popular as companies look for ways to help the environment.
The California Sustainability Alliance has many useful green lease resources that can easily be tailored for small businesses specific needs. Gina Davis, a partner at the Dennis Law Group, a Washington D.C. firm specializing in green real estate law offers the following advice, “If a landlord already has a green building and is deciding to lease the space, they should make sure to add language to the lease that requires the Tenant to agree that they will not conduct activities that could disrupt the ‘green’ status of the building.”
Green Lease Guidelines
Provisions incorporated into the leases include guidelines for energy and water use, building maintenance, recycling and waste management, and employee transportation. For example, lessors and lessees will work together to achieve ENERGY STAR ratings by a mutually agreeable date. ENERGY STAR is a program run by the EPA and the Department of Energy that offers businesses energy management strategies.
Other energy savings agreements built into a lease include installing occupancy sensors for lights; buying green sourced power from the utility company; and retrofitting older buildings according to utility company standards to increase building performance.
What Should Landlords Provide?
Landlords also agree that all water fixtures meet current EPA standards, limiting faucet flow rates to 2 gallons per minute and maximum toilet flush rates to 1.6 gallons per minute. This limits the burden on portable water supplies while maximizing efficiency. A preventive maintenance system should be put in place to insure that heating and cooling systems are able to meet the highest standards.
Collection bins for commonly recycled materials, like paper, glass, plastics, and aluminum should be provided by the lessor, as well as the labor to recycle them. Such receptacles should be clearly marked and accessible. Any chemicals needed for maintenance should be housed off-site. The landlords can also demand that the tenants introduce waste reduction policies for their employees to follow.
Green Commuting
The space itself is not the only consideration in a green lease. The parties can also come to agreement about how workers get to the office. To encourage more employees to bike to work, buildings should include bike storage facilities and showers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, every mile on a bike instead of in a car keeps one pound of pollution out of the air.
If a building is located further than an agreed upon distance from public transportation, the lessors will provide shuttle services to the employees. Lessors can establish preferred parking spaces for those who drive hybrid cars or carpool.
With some careful advance planning, businesses entering into new lease agreements can help the environment.
©Danielle Bullen 2009
The California Sustainability Alliance has many useful green lease resources that can easily be tailored for small businesses specific needs. Gina Davis, a partner at the Dennis Law Group, a Washington D.C. firm specializing in green real estate law offers the following advice, “If a landlord already has a green building and is deciding to lease the space, they should make sure to add language to the lease that requires the Tenant to agree that they will not conduct activities that could disrupt the ‘green’ status of the building.”
Green Lease Guidelines
Provisions incorporated into the leases include guidelines for energy and water use, building maintenance, recycling and waste management, and employee transportation. For example, lessors and lessees will work together to achieve ENERGY STAR ratings by a mutually agreeable date. ENERGY STAR is a program run by the EPA and the Department of Energy that offers businesses energy management strategies.
Other energy savings agreements built into a lease include installing occupancy sensors for lights; buying green sourced power from the utility company; and retrofitting older buildings according to utility company standards to increase building performance.
What Should Landlords Provide?
Landlords also agree that all water fixtures meet current EPA standards, limiting faucet flow rates to 2 gallons per minute and maximum toilet flush rates to 1.6 gallons per minute. This limits the burden on portable water supplies while maximizing efficiency. A preventive maintenance system should be put in place to insure that heating and cooling systems are able to meet the highest standards.
Collection bins for commonly recycled materials, like paper, glass, plastics, and aluminum should be provided by the lessor, as well as the labor to recycle them. Such receptacles should be clearly marked and accessible. Any chemicals needed for maintenance should be housed off-site. The landlords can also demand that the tenants introduce waste reduction policies for their employees to follow.
Green Commuting
The space itself is not the only consideration in a green lease. The parties can also come to agreement about how workers get to the office. To encourage more employees to bike to work, buildings should include bike storage facilities and showers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, every mile on a bike instead of in a car keeps one pound of pollution out of the air.
If a building is located further than an agreed upon distance from public transportation, the lessors will provide shuttle services to the employees. Lessors can establish preferred parking spaces for those who drive hybrid cars or carpool.
With some careful advance planning, businesses entering into new lease agreements can help the environment.
©Danielle Bullen 2009
Sustainability in the U.K.
This article originally appeared in Padosa.
Businesses in the United Kingdom are making strides towards more sustainable practices. In the region that is the world’s eighth greatest in emitting carbon dioxide, governments are providing incentives to encourage industry to build green. Here are examples of how alternative energy practices are saving money and promoting the environment in various UK industries.
The Largest Wind Turbine to Power a UK Hospital
Antrim Area, a Northern Ireland hospital, installed a wind turbine to provide 1.2 million units of electricity per year. It’s the largest turbine to power a hospital in the UK and it’s estimated to save Antrim £110,000($188,550) per year in energy costs. The Government Central Energy Improvement Fund covered 80% of the £497,000 ($815,600) cost to build the tower, proving the government’s proactive stance in helping corporations help the environment. Besides the financial benefits, the turbine is lowering the waste that normally comes from power generation, has no effect on biodiversity, and helps to lower air pollution.
Waste Reduction
Marley Roofing in Staffordshire, England created a program where it crushes and reuses its concrete waste as building material. This results in saving 15,000 tons a year in new aggregate. The reuse of material reduced the amount of hazardous waste the company sends to landfills by 50% and saves them £25,000 pounds ($41,000) per year. Marley Roofing also eliminated the need to have a bulk waste storage facility, lowering costs again. The company was awarded the first Building Research Establishment Certified Environmental Profiles certificate for its efforts.
Europe’s Largest Solar Paneled Tower
The CIS Tower in Manchester, England is the largest solar paneled tower in Europe. It generates enough electricity to brew 9 million cups of tea per year. The 400-foot tower is covered with 7,000 photovoltaic panels, creating 180,000 units of renewable energy and saving 77 tons of carbon dioxide per year. CIS received over £1 million ($1.6 million) in private and government grants to cover the £5.5 million ($9 million) cost. The project helps Manchester move towards the goal of having 10% of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2010. Governments across the UK have pledged over £40 million ($65.5 million) to support solar energy projects throughout the region.
UK - Contributing to a More Sustainable Europe
All these efforts have shown measurable results. According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, both greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions have been on a continued downward trend, with levels at 17% of where they were in 1990. The percentage of renewable energy as a source of electricity has risen from 1.8% in 1990 to 4.6% in 2007, the most recent year figures are available. In 2006, 78 million tons of waste were disposed in UK landfills, a 16% reduction from 1998 figures of 93 million tons.
The United Kingdom stacks up favorably against the other countries in the Europe Union. Greenhouse gas emissions in the entire EU have fallen by approximately 3% since 1990, according to the 2007 report Measuring Progress Towards a More Sustainable Europe. Total renewable energy sources for Europe is at 4.1%, putting the UK slightly ahead of the curve. And waste going to EU landfills has gone down 12% from 2000 to 2005.
The UK’s commitment to renewable energy and waste reduction and its successful partnerships between public and private sectors, make the United Kingdom an excellent example for sustainable progress in Europe.
©Danielle Bullen 2009
The Largest Wind Turbine to Power a UK Hospital
Antrim Area, a Northern Ireland hospital, installed a wind turbine to provide 1.2 million units of electricity per year. It’s the largest turbine to power a hospital in the UK and it’s estimated to save Antrim £110,000($188,550) per year in energy costs. The Government Central Energy Improvement Fund covered 80% of the £497,000 ($815,600) cost to build the tower, proving the government’s proactive stance in helping corporations help the environment. Besides the financial benefits, the turbine is lowering the waste that normally comes from power generation, has no effect on biodiversity, and helps to lower air pollution.
Waste Reduction
Marley Roofing in Staffordshire, England created a program where it crushes and reuses its concrete waste as building material. This results in saving 15,000 tons a year in new aggregate. The reuse of material reduced the amount of hazardous waste the company sends to landfills by 50% and saves them £25,000 pounds ($41,000) per year. Marley Roofing also eliminated the need to have a bulk waste storage facility, lowering costs again. The company was awarded the first Building Research Establishment Certified Environmental Profiles certificate for its efforts.
Europe’s Largest Solar Paneled Tower
The CIS Tower in Manchester, England is the largest solar paneled tower in Europe. It generates enough electricity to brew 9 million cups of tea per year. The 400-foot tower is covered with 7,000 photovoltaic panels, creating 180,000 units of renewable energy and saving 77 tons of carbon dioxide per year. CIS received over £1 million ($1.6 million) in private and government grants to cover the £5.5 million ($9 million) cost. The project helps Manchester move towards the goal of having 10% of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2010. Governments across the UK have pledged over £40 million ($65.5 million) to support solar energy projects throughout the region.
UK - Contributing to a More Sustainable Europe
All these efforts have shown measurable results. According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, both greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions have been on a continued downward trend, with levels at 17% of where they were in 1990. The percentage of renewable energy as a source of electricity has risen from 1.8% in 1990 to 4.6% in 2007, the most recent year figures are available. In 2006, 78 million tons of waste were disposed in UK landfills, a 16% reduction from 1998 figures of 93 million tons.
The United Kingdom stacks up favorably against the other countries in the Europe Union. Greenhouse gas emissions in the entire EU have fallen by approximately 3% since 1990, according to the 2007 report Measuring Progress Towards a More Sustainable Europe. Total renewable energy sources for Europe is at 4.1%, putting the UK slightly ahead of the curve. And waste going to EU landfills has gone down 12% from 2000 to 2005.
The UK’s commitment to renewable energy and waste reduction and its successful partnerships between public and private sectors, make the United Kingdom an excellent example for sustainable progress in Europe.
©Danielle Bullen 2009
Conducting an Energy Audit
This article originally appeared in Padosa.
Do you want your business to become energy efficient, but don’t know where to start? We have put together a guide to help you figure out how to conduct energy audits as a means to assess your potential savings opportunities.
The first step should be to visit http://www.business.gov/expand/green-business/energy-efficiency/state-local/, a U.S. Government resource for small businesses. Here, you’ll find links to state programs that provide financial resources to companies going green. These programs offer technical assistance to help small business owners conduct energy audits.
What is an Energy Audit?
An energy audit is an assessment of your business’s energy use to determine where you can save money and energy. Get in touch with your utility provider. They’ll connect you to a professional who will conduct the audit.
If you’d rather conduct an independent audit, there are plenty of resources available.
Depending on the size of your organization, choose either an energy representative or energy team. Having a point person to coordinate efficiency efforts and report results will make the process smoother.
Getting Started
A simple, yet thorough walk-through of your building is the easiest way to conduct an energy audit. Energy savings from reducing drafts can range from 5 all the way up to 30% per year, so check for air leaks along baseboards and where the walls meet the floor and ceiling. Try to rattle windows and doors; if you can that usually means air leaks. Caulk or add weather-stripping along the frames. Also make sure to check electrical outlets and switch plates for potential leaks. Be sure to have your heating and cooling equipment inspected annually and replace filters every other month to ensure maximum efficiency.
Approximately 10% of your monthly electric bill is the cost of lighting. Examine light bulbs in your workspace. Ask yourself if 75 watt bulbs can be used instead of 100 watt bulbs. Those lights that are on for extended periods of time should be switched to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Saving Energy
This checklist created by the U.S. Department of Energy is an ideal starting point for seeing common areas where you can conserve energy. It includes helpful tips like installing motion sensors to automatically light and dim workspaces depending on occupancy; open blinds in the cooler months to allow sunlight to naturally heat the building; and turn off all electronics like fax machines and printers and computers at night.
To see how your business’s energy use compares to others in your area, the California Energy Commission has created a useful calculator. (It’s applicable to all areas, not just California). You enter the type of building, location, square footage, electricity and natural gas and water consumption based on utility bills. Seeing your use stacked up against similarly sized buildings is a good way to determine how much you need to conserve.
An energy audit is well worth the initial time it takes to conduct. Once you analyze the results and form your energy plan, your business will be well on its way to saving money and energy and helping the environment.
©Danielle Bullen 2009
The first step should be to visit http://www.business.gov/expand/green-business/energy-efficiency/state-local/, a U.S. Government resource for small businesses. Here, you’ll find links to state programs that provide financial resources to companies going green. These programs offer technical assistance to help small business owners conduct energy audits.
What is an Energy Audit?
An energy audit is an assessment of your business’s energy use to determine where you can save money and energy. Get in touch with your utility provider. They’ll connect you to a professional who will conduct the audit.
If you’d rather conduct an independent audit, there are plenty of resources available.
Depending on the size of your organization, choose either an energy representative or energy team. Having a point person to coordinate efficiency efforts and report results will make the process smoother.
Getting Started
A simple, yet thorough walk-through of your building is the easiest way to conduct an energy audit. Energy savings from reducing drafts can range from 5 all the way up to 30% per year, so check for air leaks along baseboards and where the walls meet the floor and ceiling. Try to rattle windows and doors; if you can that usually means air leaks. Caulk or add weather-stripping along the frames. Also make sure to check electrical outlets and switch plates for potential leaks. Be sure to have your heating and cooling equipment inspected annually and replace filters every other month to ensure maximum efficiency.
Approximately 10% of your monthly electric bill is the cost of lighting. Examine light bulbs in your workspace. Ask yourself if 75 watt bulbs can be used instead of 100 watt bulbs. Those lights that are on for extended periods of time should be switched to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Saving Energy
This checklist created by the U.S. Department of Energy is an ideal starting point for seeing common areas where you can conserve energy. It includes helpful tips like installing motion sensors to automatically light and dim workspaces depending on occupancy; open blinds in the cooler months to allow sunlight to naturally heat the building; and turn off all electronics like fax machines and printers and computers at night.
To see how your business’s energy use compares to others in your area, the California Energy Commission has created a useful calculator. (It’s applicable to all areas, not just California). You enter the type of building, location, square footage, electricity and natural gas and water consumption based on utility bills. Seeing your use stacked up against similarly sized buildings is a good way to determine how much you need to conserve.
An energy audit is well worth the initial time it takes to conduct. Once you analyze the results and form your energy plan, your business will be well on its way to saving money and energy and helping the environment.
©Danielle Bullen 2009
How to Purchase Green Products
This article originally appeared in Padosa.
Are you interested in implementing some quick sustainability practices at your office and not sure where to begin? One way to get started fairly easily is to create a green purchasing program. First make a list of all the products you purchase and think about how you can begin procuring sustainable items. Following are some ideas to get you started.
Paper, Toner and Office Products
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of paper a year. Making sure some of that paper comes from recycled sources is a good place to start your green purchasing efforts. Don’t forget corresponding envelopes for your mailings. Make sure you use re-manufactured toner to print on that paper, available at most office supply stores. Encourage your employees to use scrap paper to take meeting notes. If not, provide them with notepads made from post-consumer materials, like the TOPS brand 100% recycled legal pads at Office Depot. Refillable pens are another key way to reduce waste and they are readily available.
Break Room and Bathroom Purchasing
The break room and bathroom are two other spots where your company can purchase environmentally friendly products. Kimberly-Clark has recycled toilet paper and paper towels for bulk purchase at www.kcprofessional.com/us/Resource-Center/environment.asp. The GreenSealweb site is a resourceful clearing house for companies that sell environmentally friendly office products, like hand soap. And use organic coffee and sugar and creamer, grown without pesticides.
Lighting and Recycling
In all spaces, consider installing energy-saving fluorescent lighting, like the variety available from WB Mason. Invest in recycling containers to put in break rooms and offices to make recycling convenient. For more information on recycling, please see our article How to Create a Recycling Program.
We hope this is a helpful start. If you have specific questions about environmental purchasing, please email us at [email protected].
©Danielle Bullen 2009
Paper, Toner and Office Products
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of paper a year. Making sure some of that paper comes from recycled sources is a good place to start your green purchasing efforts. Don’t forget corresponding envelopes for your mailings. Make sure you use re-manufactured toner to print on that paper, available at most office supply stores. Encourage your employees to use scrap paper to take meeting notes. If not, provide them with notepads made from post-consumer materials, like the TOPS brand 100% recycled legal pads at Office Depot. Refillable pens are another key way to reduce waste and they are readily available.
Break Room and Bathroom Purchasing
The break room and bathroom are two other spots where your company can purchase environmentally friendly products. Kimberly-Clark has recycled toilet paper and paper towels for bulk purchase at www.kcprofessional.com/us/Resource-Center/environment.asp. The GreenSealweb site is a resourceful clearing house for companies that sell environmentally friendly office products, like hand soap. And use organic coffee and sugar and creamer, grown without pesticides.
Lighting and Recycling
In all spaces, consider installing energy-saving fluorescent lighting, like the variety available from WB Mason. Invest in recycling containers to put in break rooms and offices to make recycling convenient. For more information on recycling, please see our article How to Create a Recycling Program.
We hope this is a helpful start. If you have specific questions about environmental purchasing, please email us at [email protected].
©Danielle Bullen 2009