Going GREEN at the Office!
I think there is a common misconception that “going green” seems like a lot of effort for such a small contribution. Many people say to themselves “I don’t drink that many sodas, I don’t have enough to recycle to be worth the effort.” But I say to you, Scrooges, that if no one makes the effort, then who will? It is our responsibility to be shining examples to our families, our neighbors, and our fellow vertebrates (and invertebrates too- I don’t discriminate against exo-skeletons).
So what are we doing at Astek to contribute?
RECYCLING: One of the first things I did when I started here at Astek was to put together a recycling bin. Chicago is notorious for being a bad recycling city so it didn’t surprise me that Logan Square does not have recycling pick-up, so I knew I had to make it happen myself. I picked up a little plastic bin and made a recycling sign for it so nobody mistakes it for a garbage bin. It also helps to keep the paper/cardboard recycling separate so you don’t end up with a pulpy mess if someone throws in a half-full can or something. There are recycling drop off centers all around the city and when the bin is full I take the bin with me and empty on the way home from work
My Office-made Recycling Bin
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING: Did you know that throwing away old electronics in your regular garbage can/dumpster is really bad for the environment? The metal and computer parts in electronic devices not only takes a really long time to decompose, but often electronics have some kind of liquid that is highly toxic to the environment, so when you throw it out you are poisoning the environment. The good news? There are lots of electronic recycling plants all around the city. I found this great place called Recycle Tech Solutions which takes your old electronics and breaks them down safely to remove those dangerous liquids, separate the parts into basic elements and recycle or reuse every little bit they can. They recycle everything from computers and print cartridges, to old refrigerators; They say if it has a power cord of any kind they can recycle it! So I gathered up the old, unused and broken equipment Astek had in storage, the used print cartridges, and even collected old electronics from the staff which they had laying around at home and drove it all over to these guys. They were very friendly, and even unloaded the car for me!
COMPOSTING: I have to give Andrew Crowe credit for this one- he has a compost bin at home and when we started talking about being more environmentally friendly he brought in a little plastic bin with a lid that we can put compost material in. We put everything from banana peels to coffee grounds & filters in it and when it’s full he brings it home and adds it to his home compost.
BIKING: A number of us in the office are getting psyched about the weather warming up soon so that we can ride our bikes to work! Leaving the car at home is a great way to reduce you carbon footprint. Did you know that there is a feature on googlemaps that now allows you to plan a biking route? Google knows which streets have specific bike lanes and will map you a route to keep you safe. A friendly reminder from all of us at Astek that you should ALWAYS wear your helmet and bring multiple bike lights with you if you might be riding at night.
No effort can be too small when it comes to cleaning up our environment. If we all did these little things and inspired those we know to do that same it would make a HUGE DIFFERENCE!
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Triple Bottom Line for Small Local Businesses – You Can Make It Work
The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) concept of “People, Planet, Profit“ demands that a company’s responsibility be to the people who are influenced in any way by the actions of the firm rather than the people who own it.
TBL is typically discussed in a big business context for two reasons: One, big businesses are by nature the farthest out of human touch with sustainability. Two, if you have to choose one business to make sustainable, a bigger business will have a bigger impact.
But what if we could create an integrated network of small local businesses and independent professionals with an eye on the ecological, economic, and social concepts expressed by the Triple Bottom Line related to their communities?
What if people all over the planet quietly frustrated with the status quo could find the voices of power they’ve lost in the wake of unprecedented corporate growth over the past century?
GoHuman’s vision is a world where these ideals are not afterthoughts, but rather integral and essential elements connecting every community and every business within those communities. We cannot afford for these to be abstract thoughts or luxuries. They are a necessary part of the emerging global consciousness and we need to integrate them into our personal and professional lives by igniting our tribal instincts.
In the United States and other parts of the world, the motivation to adopt this sustainable lifestyle is neither handed down by the government nor encouraged by our existing capitalist economic model. An intricate web of subsidies and loopholes has all but extinguished the basic humanity enjoyed in simpler times in favor of the almighty profit margin.
It’s not all doom and gloom. There is hope. We believe in a better way. It’s the passion that fuels GoHuman and the real people behind it — people just like you with the vision and gumption to do something about it.
It starts simply. It starts with an equitable marketplace that promotes balance amongst the people who use it by rewarding those who provide value with something equitable in return.
It starts with you.
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Categories: Uncategorized |
Share the Road Train
Road trains look like a very encouraging solution to automotive transportation. Essentially cars using wireless signals to automatically follow a lead car. I’ve long felt that if all cars were somehow connected and able to start and stop together that we’d all save a lot of time and headache on the road! Have you ever noticed how much time is wasted just waiting for the cars ahead of you to start moving?
Imagine how much better life would be if we could have transit time to do whatever we wanted. Work, sleep, read, you name it. I’m sure it will be awhile before they are ready for prime time, but I personally can’t wait.
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Categories: Fun, Gadget, Green, Technology |
Indie-Crafters Knit Together Powerful Social Media Communications
I’m a huge fan of the Indie-Craft Movement and I have been impressed with the way the community as a whole has embraced Social Media Marketing.
Indie-Craft - also called alternative craft, alt-craft, new wave craft, craftivism, green-craft, eco-craft, DIY (do-it-yourself) craft, etc – is often paired with the tag line “Not your grandma’s craft.” The artists and makers who art part of this movement use traditional crafting techniques like knitting, needlepoint, screen printing, felting, crocheting and more to make fashion, accessories and decor often with a punk, indie-music or “urban” aesthetic.
Another trend of the movement is the embrace of entrepreneurism – similar to the Arts and Craft movement at the turn of the century, these makers are exploring ways to make a dignified, self sufficient living selling things they have made themselves. In this movement “handmade” and “self-employed“ are badges of honor and many makers are dedicated to ecological and economical practices like sustainability, reuse and “up-cycling.”
The internet provides today’s makers with easy and free access to buyers across the globe. In fact, many credit the internet with the rise of the current indie-craft movement. Sites like etsy.com make it possible for part-time and full-time crafters all over the world to connect with customers.
Another online trend in the Indie-Craft movement is the free exchange of ideas, patterns and resources. Sites like instructables.com make it easier than ever for DIYers to share instructions on making just about anything. The Indie-Craft community has undeniably blossomed around the free exchange of patterns and how-to’s now available on the internet.
The community jumped on the blog bandwagon early and with great success. Blogs are a great medium for an individual to share photos and videos showing off projects, asking for feedback and sharing instructions. Soon blogs like blog.craftzine.com and indiefixx.com sprang up, aggregating the best projects from the individual crafter’s blogs and exploring current trends.
Lately, I’ve been noticing how plugged in many of the indie-crafters are to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Blog.craftzine.com has created one of my favorite Twitter feeds through @craft_tips which watches twitter feeds of various crafters and publishes helpful tips like
“burn/melt the ends of nylon strapping or cord with a lighter to prevent it from fraying”
or
“A 6″ wisk broom, found with camping gear, helps to scrub the fabric bits out of your cutting mat and sweep them off. (via @sanourra)”
or
“Make replacement shirt collar stays by slicing the plastic fake credit cards you get in junk mail. (via @justsomeguy)“
So what lessons about marketing and creating online communities can we learn from the Indie-Craft movement?
SAVE THE WORLD: Because of it’s ties to sustainability and ecology, the Indie-Craft movement gained a lot of traction with the renewal of the ”green“ cause. Also, the collapse of the economy in the last year has lent strength to the messages of self-sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the trend of making or mending instead of buying. Set against these noble causes, sellers can position their products as solutions to some of the greatest problems facing America right now. Being able to position your product in the context of ”buy this and save the world“ is a great way create passion for your product and to move the conversation away from price. In point of fact, some Indie-Crafters report that as their customers have become more informed of the ”good“ that the Indie-Craft community is doing, there has been an increase in the price buyers are willing to pay.
SHARE: This community created a vibrant market out of a previously far-scattered audience by pooling their resources. Etsy.com has consolidated buyers and sellers and gave them all one place to meet. Contrary to common wisdom, setting up shop ”next door“ to their competitors actually strengthened the majority of these sellers businesses.
BE TRANSPARENT: The members of this movement pride themselves on their ”authenticity.“ Many blogs will show the failed projects right along with the successes. There is a free flow of advice and conversation back and forth between maker, reader and buyer. This solidifies the sense of community and creates intense customer loyalty. Frequent customer feedback also allows the makers to almost constantly evolve their production methods and products.
GIVE: Indie-Crafters are constantly giving advise, tips, links, how-to instructions, and encouragement. This both creates community and builds recognition for those who’s advice is particularly insightful or valuable. It’s a great example of brand building.
E-Snail Mail
Check out Earth Class Mail, which provides a P.O. box that receives and automatically scans your mail into digital documents, deposits checks in the bank, and more. Thanks to my buddy Justin Bradshaw for pointing this out. I know he’s using it in L.A. and it looks appealing for those small (and big) business owners looking to cut down on paper, filing, and driving to the bank.
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Categories: Entrepreneurship, General, Green, Technology, Web |
Recycle!
I posted an entry today on my photoblog about recycling in Chicago, and my involvement in it. I also brought this spirit into the Astek office a few weeks ago, bringing in a special can to collect our organic waste (mostly coffee grounds, banana peels, and apple cores), which I take home to my compost bin. And hopefully mid to late next summer I’ll be treating my coworkers to some stellar fresh produce from my garden that was fortified by our daily coffee etc.
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Categories: Green |
Hamster-Powered Paper Shredder
For those looking to save the environment, cut down on hamster cage maintenance, and securely destroy those compromising documents you’ve got laying around, check out this paper shredder running on hamster power. It takes about 45 minutes of continuous wheel-running to shred one piece of paper, but it’s certainly innovative and might even be produced on a wide scale. Who is going to bother taping together all your documents after your hamster has had his way with them?
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Categories: Entrepreneurship, Fun, Gadget, Green, Technology |
Green Future for the Automotive Industry
Just read a recent Wired article about Shai Agassi’s start-up devoted to eliminating oil consumption by automobiles across the world. It’s a bit long, but worth a read if you’re feeling as skeptical as I am about the baby-step attitude toward the future of efficient automobiles. Agassi’s new company, Better Place, is the result of thinking VERY big, having the charisma to sell his vision, and generating $200 million in start-up capital to get going, making it the fifth largest start-up ever.
The basic concept is to create an electric car recharging infrastructure that gets power from renewable sources. New electric cars will use special charging stations and battery exchange stations to make it convenient for consumers. Electricity will be priced more like cell phones, with options for unlimited miles, a maximum number of miles each month, or pay as you go. Better Place is making deals with governments and states (Israel, Denmark, and Australia for starters, Hawaii not far behind), automobile and battery manufacturers, dealers, venture capitalists — everyone needed to make this fundamental fueling shift possible.
Agassi’s goal is not to make a company, but rather end oil dependence globally. It’s a lofty goal, to be sure, but this is the most encouraging and empowering plan I’ve read about, and it seems so logical that it has everyone he talks to asking, “Why doesn’t this already exist?” Better Place is equated to being more like AT&T than Nokia, and they’ll make their profit on selling the power. All they need is the infrastructure, and I don’t think it will take the world long to grab hold of this. China is a possible early market, as is San Francisco. If all goes well, the company will change standards for car production and energy consumption worldwide.
His goals of changing the world in as few as 20 years are a bit far-flung, but why not shoot for the moon? In terms of lifestyle changes, I think people will wonder why they can’t just charge their cars in the garage overnight, and it’s a legitimate logistical question. I’m all for his network of green power, but having alternative sources for the energy would make it more acceptable in more places. All the world markets won’t be conquered with one solution, so I’m eager to see how his test runs go.
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Categories: Entrepreneurship, Gadget, Green, Marketing, Social Media, Technology, Web |
Austin Citizens for Personal Rapid Transit
Not sure how quickly it will catch on, but this is an interesting take on the future of personal transit in a rapidly growing city like Austin, TX.
My cousin in Austin, Rose Hansen Smith, co-produced a documentary film called The Unforeseen, executive produced by Robert Redford and Terrence Malick. I saw it at Sundance in 2007. It deftly uses Austin as a lens to frame the environmental impact of urban and suburban growth in metropolitan areas of the country, but does not get into specific ways to fix it.
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Categories: Green, Technology |
