Green Magazine

Green at work

Getting your office staff to buy into the concept helps hugely to going green. These are some top tips that could be an easy starting to think and behave green:

1.Avoid stand- by status.
You can save energy by optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices . Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day (“standby” settings will go ahead drawing power even if not in use). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are used occasionally can be switched off until they’re needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.

2.Digitize
Keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office).

3.Printing green .
Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. Eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and convert to PDF for paperless document sharing. Print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing.

4.Packaging green.
If your office delivers packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing/ refilling material.

5.Commute green
When possible go to work by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof. For those who think bike riding is for kids and tattooed couriers, consider a high-tech folding bike or an electrically assisted one.

6.Green dressed
If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local “green” dry cleaner.

7.Use Green Materials
Use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff.

8. Lunch Time
Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest and healthiest way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost unavoidably ends with a little mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order. Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of taking your car.

9.Green cofee break
* Ask the office manager to get fair trade coffee for the break room and make sure everyone has a small recycling bin so that recycling is just as easy as throwing paper away.
* Use Ceramic coffee mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam cups.and keep some handy for visitors so that you reduce or eliminate use of paper cups.
* Purchase sugar in large quantities and use a sugar bowl.

10. E-fax better :
Fax confirmations are emailed (not faxed, because that is two pieces of paper per confirmation: one for you, one for the receiving end). If you must fax, then efax works the best.

Conference Bike

Conference bike is a revolutionary way to bring people together. The ConferenceBike is pedalled by 7 riders sitting in a circle. One person steers while the other 6 pedal (or not) as the bike moves effortlessly along. It was originally conceived as an artwork by Eric Staller, who today is known as the father of the art movements “linght painting”  and “art cars”. Actually the CoBi are being used in many places around the world. The Earth Center – a ‘green’ theme park in York, England,  the bike has become a symbol for sustainable transportation.

Some example of its usage are:

Pennsylvania - work with visually impaired

Family riding - In cape Cod

Conferencebike Berlin -DonBikes.com

Conferencebike Scotland

Jason Mecier is a great ecological artist and his collection of “celebrity junkdrawers” on which he creates portraits of celebrities with their own trash merit to show and talk about. Results are marvelous and watching carefully his creations and the pieces of junk of each celebrity you can also figure out a part of the style life of the celebrity.

Here some of his celebrity junk portraits:

Tori Spelling by Jason Mecier

Nicolas Cage by Jason Mecier

Lady Gaga by Jason Mecier

By chance I have stopped by with my family at San Remo (Italy) and discovered how wonderful is this city right after the Blue Coast in France. As soon as you entered into the center of the city you can park the car and rent a bike. We found immediately at the main parking that has been built at the old train station right in front of the sea a tent named “nolo bici” which offers so many types of bikes to rent. We picked two city bikes and also a trolley for children and had a pleasant ride by the bike course that is long 24 km and it is sorrounded by the typical Ligurian landscape past the sea. This bike course is suitable also for kids and going along it you can stop by some coffee bar and take a delicious Italian coffe or stop by with your children at any park and have an Ice cream. After cycling for at least two hours on our way back to the parking we found a mobile artisan ice cream on bike!
Here we want to share a video, it is worthwhile to visit San Remo and enjoy a ride on bike:

I had to make an intercontinental trip alone with my baby and believe me it is a hard task, making all the queue for security controls, take off and on the baby from the stroller for security checking, taking with us our hand luggage and then wait for the connections can make you loose your nerves easily. But fortunately this was not my case and after having passed through this experience would like to share with you following tips:

BPA free food container

- It is not easy to find quickly a good menu for a baby at the airport bar or restaurants. So prepare the quickest and healthiest menu your baby likes like rice with vegetables or pasta and take it with you in a Bisphenol A free food container. You can heat it if desired and this container is helpful once you arrive to  the country of destination.

Baby milk

- Take 2 or 3 mini milk pack to prepare your baby bottle during the flights and in case of diarrea take with you some bottles of fruit juice (apple will help). Do not worry, baby food is allowed to be carried on flights.

Muji mini containers

- In order to have your hand luggage light and have available all your personal care products needed you can buy at Muji some mini containers to fill with soap, cream, deodorant, toothpaste. Also you can try and ask at your herbalist shop to give you some samples free. They’d love to help you if you are their common client.

Madrid airport kindergarden

- Ask at info point if they have available a Kindergarden service. I discovered by chance this service at Madrid airport at JKH section and believe me it helped me and my baby a lot to have a nice time while waiting for the connection flight. This kindergarden was fantastic, with library section, game section, feeding section with baby chairs and microwaves, sleeping section with craddles and also I could made her a bath. You only need your boarding pass to enter.

Baby medicines

- Take with you in your hand luggage all the medicines your pediatrician prescribe for your baby together the prescription and ticket.