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29 Feb 2012

Tips for Taking an Eco-Friendly Vacation

If you are green aware and green sensitive, then you’re not likely to enjoy a vacation to a location that is not. Plan your vacation early, so you can make sure that you’ve organized the perfect “green” vacation.

There are two broad classifications of green get-aways. The first is your classic tent-and-canteen camping trip. The second, becoming increasingly popular, is the resort green vacation.

Countries, people and businesses in the tourist industry are discovering that more and more travelers are eco-conscious, eco-savvy and eco-demanding. They are responding to the requests and expectations of their guests.

Tiny Carbon Footprints
Keeping our carbon presence to a minimum is the goal. Environmentally friendly vacations allow the traveler to experience the wonders of nature all over the world, without harming the delicate environments visited. There are ever-increasing numbers of resort locations becoming sensitive to being conservative.

Being Green
Here are some of the ways these resorts and vacation destinations are contributing to being green. You can support them in their endeavors.

• Towels, washcloths and bed linens do not have to be changed every day. Getting more use out of them saves on water, cleaners, power and labor.

• Use the internet for things that previously came only in paper form such as maps, directories, listings of restaurants, museums, galleries, entertainment and other vacation location information. This saves trees, the chemistry that goes into printing inks, and the power that goes into printing. It also saves the money resort locations must spend on expensive, full-color printing – which every traveler sees reflected in their vacation package whether they pick up these printed materials or not.

• Eating locally not only gives you a true experience of the local culture and color, but it’s conservative. Whether home or abroad, eating produce that is grown locally is tastier, more nutritious and environmentally conservative. Under-ripe produce that is trucked and/or shipped from one place to another is expensive, and doesn’t taste nearly as delicious.

When in Rome
• Where ever you go, travel as the locals do, using public transportation when practical. Again, it gives you a true experience of being in the local culture, it is conservative to the environment, and it’s likely to be the cheapest mode of transportation. It’s not only conservative for the local eco-system, but it’s conservative on your pocketbook as well.

Travel Light
• Learn to pack light and travel light. Quite frankly, when you’re traveling, no one really cares what you’re wearing. Neither should you. The goal is about what you are getting to see, not about being seen. The advantages of traveling light are numerous. Here are a few:
1. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you’re not hauling a bunch of luggage around.
2. The less you carry, the less you’ll be charged for luggage.
3. The less weight everyone carries on planes, trains, ships and automobiles means it takes less power/energy to move what and who is aboard about.
4. If you leave light, it gives you room to bring home a few mementos or little gifts.
5. If your luggage gets lost, you have less to regret losing.

The most important of these, of course, is the conservation of power with the mode of transportation.

Keep in mind that flying uses the most energy per passenger, so when practical, take other modes of transportation.

Carbon Neutrality
Research travel destinations that are seriously committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Did you know that Costa Rica has pledged to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world, with a projection of being entirely carbon neutral by 2021? You might consider taking a trip to this example-setting county. Their electricity is already almost completely generated from geothermal energy and hydroelectric power wind farms. They have a gas tax that is paid to farmers and landowners to grow trees and to protect the forests.

Given that this small country has approximately 5% of the world’s animal and plant species, this is a win in every direction for both Costa Rica and the tourist. The Costa Rican environment will be sustained, while the traveler has the advantage of responsibly observing a remarkable wealth of flora and fauna diversity.

Close to Home
If, on the other hand, you’re considering a traditional, home-based camping get-away, you can keep in mind several of the above tips such as eating the local produce and traveling light. Your vehicle, too, will get better mileage if traveling lighter.

Or you might think about seeing the county by train, backpacking where ever you choose. Let the engineer do the driving while you sit back and watch the countryside go by, which, along train tracks, is more natural and breath-taking. Nature comes close to tracks, unlike along the broad expanses of freeways.

Taking these few point into consideration, you’ll discover that not only is your green-aware, eco-friendly vacation kind to mother earth, but you’ll return home feeling great about having stepped lightly on your journey.

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29 Feb 2012

Three Startups to Watch in 2012

Numerous new startups are coming out in 2012. Each startup addresses different areas, but most are focused on the new cloud computing technology. Cloud computing is making a significant impact on the technology industry because it saves companies time, effort and capital. Three startups look promising for the upcoming year in 2012.

1. AppFog

AppFog is a new startup that plans to host Platform-as-a-Service services in 2012. This startup is unique because of the use of open source Cloud Foundry code. AppFog is based on a Cloud Foundry foundation. The company is currently focused on providing the best user experience available. Currently, the company can support multiple programming languages. This is the company’s competitive advantage.

This solution relieves clients from setting up servers so your developers can focus on writing code. Developers no longer have to be concerned about server downtime and other configuration problems. Firewalls, security, frameworks and Apache all become the responsibility of AppFog. The new startup allows clients to launch their server in less than five steps. The entire process requires less than a minute.

Ruby, PHP, NodeJS, Java, Python and MySQL are each supported by AppFog. The application is scalable with only a few steps, which allows clients to expand their companies with only a few steps. Clients will only pay for the server space that they use.

AppFog makes applications incredibly fast. Standard services such as op-code caching and Varnish Cache are included. Redundancy increases the reliability of the applications. AppFog is designed to work with different infrastructure providers and different data centers in a variety of regions.

2. CloudBees

Sacha Labourey is the founder of CloudBees and once held the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of JBoss. CloudBees is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. The company recently received $14.5 million in their first two rounds of funding.

Sacha saw an opportunity with cloud computing when he learned that it could be applied to middleware. This solution will cover the client from the point of building code to the point of testing code. The application will also help the client test different user interfaces. Designing applications is much easier and intuitive with CloudBees.

Instead of developers acquiring servers to install code and perform user interface testing, the application offers every service necessary to develop an application and launch it in record time. The implications for this cloud based service opens doors and saves time for developers.

According to the CEO, the goal of the company is to “reduce friction between app developers and IT departments by giving IT a single platform to test out and maintain apps running on their networks.” They want to give their clients the feeling that they could operate all aspects of application development from one machine.

3. Infinetics

J.Scott Benson founded Infinetics in 2009. Armed with 30 years of experience, J.Scott Benson was able to raise $1 million in capital from unnamed investors for his Boston startup. Companies with data centers will benefit from this new startup. Infinetics focuses on three primary components. The first component includes a central system that is responsible for security and quality of service policies. The wiring manager and a distributed packet forwarding logic are the second and third component.

The company is known for its patented mathematical formula. This is used to construct a physical network that is designed to address the typical network issues. The issues are normally surrounding latency, bandwidth and cost. Infinetics solutions strive to improve the client’s experience in all categories by delivering a product that is capable of performing up to its physical capabilities.

Conclusion

These three startups are just a few of the impressive lineup in 2012. The new startups should improve the way business is conducted in the world. Hopefully, many will sustain the momentum created during fund raising events. Keep a close watch on these three startups and others like them in the coming months.

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25 Feb 2012

Three Great Technology Conferences in 2012

Technology is becoming more and more important in our daily lives. There are breakthroughs and advances in hundreds of different fields every day, and it can be difficult to keep track of them all. Fortunately, many of the biggest new ideas in technology are discussed in well-publicized conferences. This year, there are three key conferences that anyone interested in the latest tech should mark on their calendar.

The first upcoming event is the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference. This year’s TED conference will be held from February 27 to March 2, 2012 in Long Beach, California. TED is not limited to any one subject, but encompasses new ideas from a wide spectrum of subjects ranging from the environment to social issues, groundbreaking new technologies and the latest smartphone apps. This year’s TED conference will be broken into twelve sessions over the course of four days.

On the first day, Dr. Peter Diamandis’ presentation should be of interest to technology buffs. Dr. Diamandis is chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, an educational non-profit organization dedicated to bringing radical breakthroughs in industries like education, energy, life sciences and the exploration of our oceans and deep space. On day two, technologist Dr. Jack Choi will be doing a presentation. Dr. Choi is CEO of Anatomage, a company specializing in anatomy imaging software. Anatomage develops technology for 3D imaging in a variety of medical fields including radiology, orthodontics (dentistry) and other surgical uses.

Day three of TED will feature a presentation by David Kelley, founder of the design company IDEO. IDEO has been a revolutionary leader in the digital age, spearheading innovative design concepts for well-known technology groups like Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung and the U.S. Department of Energy. The fourth day will feature presentations from a variety of scientific speakers including self-described science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez, popular “science guy” Bill Nye, and science writer John Bohannon.

Another important upcoming technology event is the GPU Technology Conference (GTC). Hosted by NVIDIA, this conference will be held May 14 through May 17, 2012 in San Jose, California. While GTC has historically focused solely on graphics and other visual technologies, the expectations of graphics processing units (GPUs) have increased significantly over the last decade. No longer just display renderers, today’s GPUs process a plethora of tasks including artificial intelligence and physics calculations for several applications including information technology, medicine, communication and gaming.

GTC is an important conference for those interested in the future of graphics processor development and future capabilities on devices ranging from powerhouse PCs to smartphones and everything in between. This year’s GTC will look at the future in many fields including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, computational physics, computer graphics, medical imaging, stereoscopic 3D, raytracing and dozens more. GTC is an important conference to follow for anyone who wants a roadmap of the next year of computer hardware development.

Perhaps the biggest technology conference of all is the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3). E3 is hosted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and will be held from June 5 to June 7th, 2012. E3 focuses on the next generation of development in entertainment software and video games. Traditionally E3 has focused on home video game consoles and their product lineups, but E3′s importance has grown significantly over the last five years in response to the burgeoning smartphone and social networking markets.

2012′s E3 will include two-hour presentations from the “big three” video game console manufacturers (Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft) in addition to several smaller presentations from third party entertainment software developers. This year, Sony will focus on their upcoming PlayStation Vita device which is expected to bridge the gap between smartphones and handheld video games. Also of note is Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U console, which may blur the line between tablet computers and video games consoles. No stranger to rumors, E3 is often the stage for the unveiling of brand-new hardware. This year, the rumor mills are on fire about the next-generation console hardware efforts of Microsoft and Sony.

No matter which conferences you are able to attend or watch online, it’s becoming clear that technology has a bigger impact on our daily lives than ever before. Computers, tablets, smartphones, game consoles and more are converging and increasingly working together and overlapping in functionality. 2012 is looking to be an exciting year for technology enthusiasts everywhere.

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22 Feb 2012

Three Cities with Tech Job Growth

Job growth in the tech industry is strong all over the United States, but the top three cities for tech job growth, according to recently-published data from late 2011, are Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Mich., and, back in Ohio, Cincinnati. All three cities have their highlights, some more than others, so anyone considering a move may want to explore a bit before deciding where to go.

Cincinnati, Ohio: the Queen City

The current explosion of tech jobs in Cincinnati isn’t the first boom the Queen City has experienced. Located in southwestern Ohio in Hamilton County and nestled at the lower tip of the Ohio River Valley, Cincinnati grew from a mere village at the start of the 1800s to a city of more than 100,000 by 1850 following the opening of the Miami and Erie Canal connecting the Ohio River and Lake Erie. Today the city is home to nearly 300,000 residents, and some two and half million people live and work in the greater metropolitan area.

Cincinnati is a sports-lover’s paradise. It’s best known teams are the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team, a perennial post-season team to beat, and the Bengals National Football League team, a two-time Super Bowl contender. Cincinnati also features a professional hockey team, the Cyclones, is home to two soccer teams named the Kings in indoor and outdoor varieties, and the Commandos, an indoor football team.

The city enjoys a mild climate, with some snow in the winter months and relatively mild summers. Cincinnati residents love music and food, and each year they play host to the country’s largest Oktoberfest and one of the US’s largest outdoor festivals, Taste of Cincinnati USA, a food and music event held each Memorial Day that includes dozens of top jazz acts.

Cincinnati is home to Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions and IBM, and is experiencing a 65 percent growth in tech jobs.

Detroit, Mich.: Motown

Despite some rough years recently, Detroit remains a vibrant city that has seen much growth recently. Famous for more than a century as the Motor City, Detroit remains a center of the domestic automobile industry and is the corporate headquarters for General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. And while the city proper lost nearly a quarter of its population during the first decade of this century, the metropolitan area around Detroit remains home to more than five million people or about half of Michigan’s entire population.

A center for music since the 1940s and famous for the Motown sound, Detroit remains true to its rock ‘n’ roll roots. Home to a long line of musicians, including acts such as Eminem, Insane Clown Posse, Alice Cooper and the entire Motown Records stable of performers like Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and Gladys Knight and Pips, Detroit continues the tradition into the 21st century with a slew of new music and entertainment venues at its three casino resort hotels, it’s revitalized waterfront district and its new stadiums.

Detroit’s stadiums are also host to world-class sports teams, including MLB’s Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions of the NFL. The city sits on both the Canadian border and the shore of Lake Huron, so it enjoys mild summers and snowy winters with temperatures that can drop well below freezing.

Detroit is home to Computer Sciences and General Electric, and has seen a 66 percent growth in tech jobs.

Cleveland, Ohio: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Capital of the World

Ohio’s most populous city with nearly 400,000 people living within its limits and more than 2,225,000 in the greater metropolitan area, Cleveland lies on the edge of Lake Erie’s southern shore near the state’s northeastern corner. A center of commerce and trading since the late 1700s, Cleveland is known for its architecture, parks and gardens.

A center of Midwestern tourism, Cleveland is home to museums and attractions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the house used as the setting for the popular holiday film A Christmas Story. Cleveland is home to MLB’s Cleveland Indians, the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as hockey and arena football teams.

Cleveland is known for its snowy winters, but it is also home to mild summers that rarely reach beyond average temperatures in the low 80s.

Cleveland enjoys a 107 percent growth rate in tech jobs.

All three of these cities offer lively entertainment scenes and livelier tech sector job markets for those considering making a move to where employment is plentiful. Each of them will be important locations for the tech industry in the coming decades if current trends continue.

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17 Feb 2012

The Best Software Products for Small Businesses

Introduction

Software products impact business efficiency. The challenge faced by managment is identifying the ideal software solutions to solve company problems out of a growing number of new software options introduced each year. In a small or medium company, identifying the best software for the job saves time and money ultimately offering the competitive edge that all businesses need to control and maintain market share. Considering the excellent software products on the market, there is no excuse for business professionals to neglect any important business function.

Accounting Software

Intuit Quick Books Pro was ranked in PC World’s “25 Best Business Software Tools and Web Services.” One of the main reasons this accounting software package was selected as a top package for small businesses is because it is considered the most user-friendly package for non-professionals. Available for about $200, this software is considered a standard accounting option, making it easy to keep financial matters in order.

Sage Peachtree Complete Accounting 2012 provides another viable option for small businesses seeking a software solution to manage all accounting functions. TopTenREVIEWS ranked this package number 1. Priced at the low price of $199.95, Sage Peachtree Complete Accounting 2012 offers a comprehensive approach to running a business with modules managing customer sales, vendors and purchases, inventory, employee payroll and banking.

Security Software

Safeguarding computers from viruses and hackers is a job best turned over to software. For cost-conscious business professionals, Avira AntiVir provides security at no cost for customers willing to accept one pop-up advertisement daily. Another antivirus package to consider is Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). A nice feature of MSE is that you can decide on a point in time to be used as a restore point and backup files before deleting malware. There are also no strings attached to using MSE since it is entirely free.

Any business professional that has suffered the pain of losing important electronic file documents recognizes how critical it is to consistently backup files to prevent a catastrophe. Utilizing an online backup service like Mozy provides a solution to this ongoing problem. The unique benefit that an online service offers is peace of mind for the worst possibilities where an office is destroyed by fire or water damage. At the affordable price of $5 per month for unlimited usage, it is hard to imagine a better backup option for a small business.

Collaboration/Office Suite Software

Google Docs allows employees to share files for collaboration purposes. Used as a word processor and for spreadsheet applications, Google Docs can be used by anyone with a Google account. For a free service, Google Docs is highly recommended. By upgrading the account, small business owners can purchase up to 25GB along with the ability to schedule conferences.

Vyew provides users with the capability to host Internet meetings to facilitate project work when colleagues are unable to attend sessions in one central location. This platform can be used to upload documents for the group to discuss. This service is complimentary for the first 20 participants. For registered users, VoIP is also available.

Email Marketing

Most businesses agree that email marketing offers a golden opportunity to communicate with established customers and create new ones. Topica is the email marketing tool of choice. As a seasoned veteran in the business, this package is an effective way to manage email promotion without worries about breaking spam rules. At $50 per month, Topica is a bargain for any business.

E-Commerce

For companies interested in selling products over the Internet, TopTenReviews rates Volusion as a superior choice. This positive recommendation is made for the design and ease of use. Excellent customer support provides new users with help as needed to ensure success. At prices between $25 to $149, Volusion is an affordable tool.

Conclusion

Free and inexpensive software solutions abound for smart business professionals. By utilizing the best software tools available, management can navigate a competitive marketplace with confidence. Businesses can save manpower and operating expenses by utilizing the best options available to address specific business requirements. Accounting and office suite software tools are a must for any small business.

Factoring in the possibility for Internet commerce and the absolute necessity for security antivirus safeguards to protect valuable electronics and confidential information, every company stands to improve profitability by purchasing relevant software. Software should be purchased for the purpose of reducing costs and improving reporting. Free software is available for many purposes and is perfect for start-up businesses.

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12 Feb 2012

The Best Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs are not energy efficient and draw on this planet’s dwindling natural resources. Compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs save money, use less energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, sets stringent guidelines for energy efficiency of products like CFLs. The Energy STAR program is the result of the EPA’s strict guidelines. Products with the Energy STAR seal lower utility bills, protect the environment and are energy efficient. Within approximately six months, CFLs pay for themselves and then start paying back. One CFL saves more than $40 and five save more than $200 over the life of these bulbs.

Bulb Types

Compact fluorescent light bulbs come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different lighting fixtures. The bulb shapes are A-shaped, candle, globe, indoor reflector, outdoor reflector, post or tube, and spiral.

Traditional incandescent light bulbs have an advantage over spiral shaped CFLs because they are visually more appealing. A-shaped* bulbs have the look of incandescent bulbs with options for use in a variety of lamp fixtures and clip-on shades.

Wall sconces, decorative fixtures and tight fitting light fixtures are a good place for candle* CFLs. If the bulb shows, it will not detract from the look of the lamp or fixture.

Globe* bulbs are spiral CFLs inside round glass bulbs. These bulbs add to the decor when visible. Bathroom vanity bars and ceiling fans are two options for their use.

Indoor reflectors* are much smaller and used for directional lighting. Recessed fixtures and ceiling fans are where they are used. By contrast, outdoor reflectors* are much larger and sealed protecting them from rain and snow.

Manufacturers designed post or tube* compact fluorescent light bulbs to withstand outdoor conditions. A yellow colored post or tube CFL is a “bug light” that repels insects.

Spiral* CFLs are the most popular and used to replace 60 to 150 watt incandescent bulbs. These bulbs are versatile and available in daylight, natural light and soft white.

*Check the package information for compatibility with three-way switches, dimmers, motion sensors, photocells or electric eyes, and timers.

Top Pick

The February issue of Good Housekeeping magazine released its 2012 awards for Very Important Products, VIP. According to the magazine, these awards are their picks for innovative products considered life changers. They chose compact fluorescent light bulbs as a category and the Energy Smart bulb by General Electric as the award winner.

As part of the next generation of CFLs, the bulbs have lower mercury levels and warm, inviting tonal qualities. The bulb is a hybrid CFL because it offers true energy efficiency and the latest technology. General Electric’s hybrid compact florescent light bulbs mimic the look of incandescent bulbs because it has a CFL spiral bulb inside a glass bulb that closely resembles an incandescent bulb. According to GE, its miniaturized electronic technology has a dozen patents and a decade of research by its engineers and scientists.

Other Brands

Daily Green is Good Housekeeping’s consumer guide for green products. On their site, they show different brands of compact fluorescent light bulbs that fit specific light fixtures. The bulbs are energy efficient and look attractive in these fixtures.

Standard lamp fixtures were a problem for CFLs but Sylvania manufactured a compact fluorescent bulb that fits a wider range of fixtures. They also designed a decorative bulb for chandeliers and wall sconces. Another product from Sylvania is its Mini-Twist that is smaller than a standard spiral CFL. General Electric’s post shaped outdoor bulb is for use in porch fixtures. Decorative flicker flame tip CFLs by TCP work in fixtures like table lamps and decorative wall lights. Bathroom vanity bars use Westinghouse’s globe bulb that has a waterproof coating. The company also manufactured a yellow colored post CFL that repels insects and used in outdoor patio or porch fixtures. Home Depot offers a 23-watt floodlight from its EcoOptions line of CFLs. Phillips and GE manufactured compact fluorescent light bulbs that fit three-way lamps and fixtures.

The Energy STAR’s website statistics show how CFLs save consumers more than money. According to its statistics, if every American replaced an incandescent bulb with a CFL, it is equivalent to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions for approximately 800,000 cars in one year. This simple change conserves enough energy to light three million homes for one year. Make small changes today by using CFLs for a healthier environment. The commitment of using compact fluorescent light bulbs is an investment in our environment for future generations.

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07 Feb 2012

The 5 Most Environmentally Friendly Cities to Live In

Introduction

More and more people are interested in living a sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle. They want to eat organic, local foods, recycle to the greatest extent possible, get energy from clean, renewable carbon neutral sources, enjoy clean air and water, and have access to nature. Surprisingly, there are many cities in the United States where both the municipal government and residents work tirelessly to make an environmentally friendly lifestyle possible in an urban setting. Below are the top five American cities, listed in reverse order, that spare no effort to protect our planet and promote a natural, healthy way of living.

5. Chicago

Many people are surprised to find Chicago on a list of environmentally friendly cities, but Chicago’s government has pursued ecologically sound policies for decades. Chicago has over 7,300 acres of parks and is constantly planting more trees. The city also led the way in promoting green roofs including planting a rooftop garden on city hall. Chicago also has a plan in place to make the city the most bike-friendly city in America with a goal of reducing bicycle injuries by by 50 percent by 2015. More than 114 miles of bike lanes have been established, 10,00 bicycle racks have been installed and 50 miles of bike trails have been built. Chicago also has a large farmers’ market as well as numerous smaller neighborhood markets.

4. Boston

Boston is often called the “Walking City.” The city has numerous attractions within walking distance of downtown. City government launched an initiative called Boston Bikes to make Boston a world-class city for bicycling. Over 1,500 bike parking spaces have been added in just the last three years and the city has large network of bike lanes and trails. There are three green convention centers in or near the city, 29 green-certified restaurants in the city, and 28 green-certified hotels and other facilities. Boston also requires that all taxis in the city must be hybrid vehicles by 2015. Boston is spearheading a project to convert leaf litter and brush from trees and bushes into green fertilizer and biofuel. For those interested in fresh, local produce and humanely farmed meat products, there are about 125 farmers’ markets in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 30 of which are open year round.

3. San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the most environmentally committed cities on Earth. The city’s government has led the way in promoting ecology, green policies, and environmentally friendly measures. The city was the first in the country to ban the use of plastic grocery bags. San Francisco has robust municipal programs to promote environmental justice, pursue zero net waste, reduce toxins, promote energy conservation and renewable energy, improve air and water quality, mandate green building practices, encourage the production and sale of eco-products and create natural plant and animal rich parks and green spaces. To assist the mayor and city council, the city maintains an Environment Commission, a Biodiesel Task Force, a Clean Technology committee, a Green Building Task Force, a Peak Oil Task Force and an Urban Forestry Council among other groups and committees. San Francisco also has an extensive public transportation system and a large and growing population of bikers.

2. Seattle

Seattle is often called the “Emerald City” because of its many innovative green policies. The city signed the Kyoto Protocol and has an aggressive Climate Action Plan. The mayor was the first in America to approve the US Mayors Climate Protection Act. The city’s municipal power generation facilities are carbon neutral, the first city in the nation to achieve this goal. Seattle actively promotes solar and renewable energy projects. The city’s green building plan is robust and continues to grow. Seattle is aggressively promoting biking, walking and public transit while also vigorously encouraging the use of electric vehicles and working to make Seattle “plug-in ready.” City council has passed legislation to encourage urban agriculture and neighborhood farmers’ markets. Seattle’s recycling compliance is among the best in the nation, and the city is pursuing a zero waste strategy. Seattle’s water policy is focused on maintaining the excellent quality water supply and keeping local water sources clean in order to promote tree growth.

1. Portland, Oregon

Portland has free streetcar and light train service in the downtown area to discourage car use. More people bike to work in Portland than any other city in the country. The city has more than 315 miles of bike paths and lanes. Traffic lights have been adjusted to save more than 1.75 million gallons of gasoline each year. Portland has followed a master growth plan for decades that ensures that the city remains compact and near farms and natural woodlands and wetlands. Portland’s citizens have access to 92,000 acres of trails and parks. About 29 percent of Portland is a waterfront park that was formerly a freeway running through the city. The city ranks in the top ten for most green-certified buildings in North America. Portland’s Climate Action Plan calls for the city to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Half of the city’s energy comes from renewable resources. Several convention centers and a sports arena have received green certification. Portland recycles and composts at one of the highest rates in the nation. The city has 35 community gardens and about 20 farmers’ markets. Portland ranks at or near the top of many lists measuring environmentally friendly factors.

Conclusion

If you want to live in an eco-friendly city, there are many places to choose from in this country. Even better, other cities throughout America are emulating the five cities above and using many of their successful programs as models for their own communities. If we want to protect our environment for ourselves and our children, the entire country will have to adopt these green strategies. As more people pursue a green lifestyle, the more our political leaders will feel the pressure to preserve our planet.

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05 Feb 2012

Sprucing Up Your Office Space on a Budget

Many small businesses, anywhere from a small law firm to a tax preparation service, rent whatever size office space that they need rather than buying a building. Thus, since the business does not own the place where they are conducting business, they are somewhat limited with how they can decorate. However, there are a few simple ways in which business owners can spruce up their office space without incurring too much expense.

There have been many good suggestions already given. In addition, there have also been some suggestions given that are not practical. The business owner needs to stay away from a decorating idea if it appeals to a particular trend or fad because he or she may have to redecorate again sooner than anticipated. Another idea that seems good to people is to bring a pet to work. If the pet in question is a dog or a cat, business owners may face a potential problem if they have customers or clients with allergies.

Some suggestions are fairly common, such as painting or wall paper. The main problem with this idea is, if the office space is rented, the landlord may require the tenant to restore the office walls to their original colors at the end of the lease. In addition, it is always a good idea to keep wall colors neutral because neutral colors blend well with most other interior fixtures, furniture and decor. Following, in no particular order, are some suggestions that will not place a financial strain on the business owner’s budget and are things that can readily be removed or changed.

1. Cover empty wall space with art and photography. Business owners can get a lot more for their money by going to thrift stores and garage sales. People can find even better bargains at auctions, including online auctions such as shopgoodwill.com. Such decor is easily changed whenever the business owner finds something that they would rather display that maybe portrays their itinerary more appropriately.

2. A great way to cover lower wall space is with book cases and magazine racks. Some businesses offer a free library where their visitors can take whatever reading material they want to read and either return the material when done or donate something that they no longer need or want. It is quite easy to fill book cases up initially by purchasing used books at thrift stores and garage sales. In addition, business owners can bring their own discardable reading materials from home.

3. Most businesses have clientele that have to spend some time waiting. By placing small end tables with decorative lamps, business owners can provide visitors with adequate reading light, along with adding an element of style. Again, such lamps are readily available from the previously mentioned places. In fact, it seems that there are more such items that are unique and different online than one would find by looking in local stores.

4. Get close to nature and add plants. Business owners can find some exotic plants including ornamental trees, flowers and cactus. Live plants have minimal maintenance in order to keep them healthy. Some plants do real well indoors, even with artificial lighting. Of course, if the business owner wants to cheat a little, he or she can substitute some plants with the artificial variety.

5. Make your office unique with a variety of furniture. Some professional offices can afford to spend considerably more on furniture and fixtures, ensuring that everything matches perfectly. However, this does not have to be the case for every office, especially those on a tighter budget. Business owners can find very good deals at the thrift stores but this is not always a good option for online auctions because additional charges can mount up quickly for shipping and handling charges.

Moving into a new office location can incur many expenses and in many situations make it difficult for business owners to give their working area character, atmosphere and beauty. However, by shopping prudently, the average business owner does not have to spend a lot of cash in order to make their office attractive. It may require some time and driving around in order to find some bargains but in the end, their efforts can readily be well rewarded.

In conclusion, just because a business owner takes some financial short cuts when first establishing a new office does not mean they have to keep it that way. As the business grows and flourishes better cash flow can result in the business owner being able to hire a professional interior decorator and making their office look like they have always wanted.

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29 Jan 2012

Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Storage

IT has made the irreversible leap to the cloud, forcing the business world to grapple with their need to efficiently implement cloud resources to their advantage. Cloud-based storage is one technology that many companies are leveraging for secure backups and for file sharing and collaboration.

Although cloud-based storage adds much convenience to almost any business environment, the decision to move data to the cloud is not always clear cut. By carefully weighing the pros and cons of this technology, business owners, executives and managers will be able to make the best decision for their company.

Pros of Cloud-Based Storage

Businesses like the cloud because it saves them money in infrastructure and payroll. They also enjoy the way cloud services improve employee efficiency, collaboration and sharing. The following are just a few of the good things cloud storage can offer.

- Low cost

Estimates suggest companies spend between $.75 to $1.00 per gigabyte per month. This compares to an estimated $.03 per gigabyte per month.

- Reliability

Businesses could say goodbye to server crashes and data loss forever. Cloud service providers have redundant systems and backup options in place that ensure that client data always stays available.

- Low administrative overhead

Cloud storage is managed by the service provider, relieving businesses of the need to have separate IT staffers to oversee the company’s data. This results in a leaner payroll and less taxes, something many businesses want during distressing economic times.

- Offsite backups

Companies that rely on traditional storage on their local networks often fail to adequately prepare for data disasters by making data backups. Some never store backups offsite, leaving their business vulnerable to fire and theft. Cloud storage is always offsite, keeping data safe and secure.

Cons of Cloud-Based Storage

- Latency

Cloud storage does not respond with the same I/O speed as local storage. Applications that make many data transactions will often not work well with data stored in the cloud.

- Security

Many experts continue to warily approach cloud storage because of security concerns. Often data is stored on virtual private servers that share resources with other service subscribers, so it could theoretically be either maliciously or accidentally compromised. Some government privacy and safe harbor regulations could also preclude the use of cloud storage in some cases.

- Outages

When a cloud storage provider’s service gets interrupted, business customers lose access to their data, potentially resulting in many lost sales and productivity. Internet connectivity interruptions can result in similar repercussions.

- Possession

Should a cloud-based storage company fail to pay their bill or have a dispute with their service provider, important data could end up completely inaccessible. Many businesses hesitate to leave all their data in the hands of a third party where they cannot access it at all times.

- Changing Providers

When cloud storage customers decide to change providers, they can face stiff fees and surcharges, lack of support and a protracted data transfer process. Clients who move their storage to the cloud could feel trapped with a provider they don’t like just to avoid the hassles involved in changing their service.

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29 Jan 2012

How to Make a Job Listing More Appealing

Every employer wants to attract the most well-qualified and talented employees that it can. In order to do that, the job listing must be at least as appealing as others the applicant might be considering. At the same time, job seekers need a realistic view of what is required so they don’t quit in disillusionment. Above all, the listing should have the professional tone that attracts competent applicants. Here are dozen tips to meet these criteria:

1. Re-evaluate the job title. “Specialist,” “technician” or “associate” has a more professional sound than “clerk” or “operator.” Employees who are not embarrassed to tell their friends their job title tend to stay on the job longer. For ideas, see what larger companies call their employees. Avoid titles with a pejorative ring, such as “girl Friday.”

2. Orient your subheadings toward the job seeker. “Advantages of working at” is an example of an applicant-centered headline phrase.

3. Good candidates want to know exactly what the job duties entail so they can discern whether the job is a good fit. At the same time, employers don’t want to waste time interviewing candidates who are a poor match. Don’t forget travel requirements, which could be a deal-breaker for some applicants.

Use bullet points to make this information easy to digest. Don’t get carried away with an overwhelming number of bullet points, though, or the job will seem impossible to perform. When listing job functions in a bulleted list, use parallel parts of speech to make the listing sound more professional. For example, if the first duty is “meets with clients,” the others should have a similar verb form, such as “uses Six Sigma process.”

4. Listing the company name will attract more candidates. Today’s applicants expect to do their research on a company and are frustrated by a blind advertisement. If your company is earning a reputation as an up-and-comer in the industry, include any kudos from well-known sources.

5. Briefly tell your company story or history in a compelling way. Make it different from the dry information applicants will get on the Internet.

6. Delineate any must-have requirements from those that are merely nice to have. Many qualified and promising candidates are discouraged from applying for positions simply because an employer neglected to mention that a specific degree or certification was not absolutely essential. To keep from getting unqualified applicants, mention that appropriate work experience may be substituted.

7. Describe features that are important to good applicants. Success-oriented employees want challenging responsibilities, opportunities for advancement, skills growth and the chance make a difference in the company. This approach simultaneously attracts hard workers and discourages lazy ones from applying.

8. Show how features of the job or company will benefit the candidate. Employees may think that they want to work for a corporate giant until they are presented with the advantages of working for a smaller, growing company. If the company is new, turn that aspect into a positive by showing how employees who get in on the ground floor of a start-up have a greater chance for advancement.

One of the top features should be any chances for advancement or educational opportunities that the position offers. If the salary is a selling point, mentioning it will attract more candidates.

9. If you have a good benefits plan, shout it from the rooftops. Solid health insurance and 401k plans with matching company contributions are especially attractive in times of rising healthcare costs and worries about retirement income. If you’re casting your net across a wider geographic area, don’t forget to mention a relocation package, if you offer one.

10. Include any options for flexibility that candidates might find attractive. For example, if the position offers telecommuting or a flexible schedule, include it in the description.

11. Workplace culture has become increasingly importance to job seekers. Many positions require long hours at work, and employees want to know that they’ll be happy there. Some job seekers look for a management style that shows a little sense of humor. Increasingly, younger applicants also want their creative problem-solving skills to be appreciated, even in fields perceived as non-creative. This doesn’t mean you must explicitly state what your office culture is like. When seeking a computer programmer, one company advertised for a “code warrior.” Those two words communicated both a sense of humor and recognition that programmers are more than office drones.

12. Proofread the job listing carefully for spelling and typographical errors. The educated and detail-oriented applicants who would make desirable employees will be put off by the lack of professionalism that misspellings and typographical errors imply.

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