In The News: The Power of Telecommuting

DOMANI’s Will Sarni, reporting at Sustainable Life Media, provides findings from his company’s joint-study with Cisco Systems on the power of telecommuting. From the article:

The results of the study make a compelling case for deploying “collaboration technology” and promoting telecommuting. The bottom line is that telecommuting creates value through benefits such as increased productivity, employee satisfaction and reduced carbon emissions.

Backs up what we’ve been saying all along: telecommuting is one of the best ways to increase work productivity while decreasing one’s carbon footprint. It’s also a great way to work! More on the study’s insights, here.

Signs of Life

Cross-posted at Sturdy Roots Blog:

I’ve just returned from a welcome and long overdue vacation to my native Southern Connecticut where I filled my lungs with sea-salted air and enjoyed the company of lifelong friends (many of whom I’ve not seen in 30 years).

And I returned to work to witness some sudden, but very positive developments; client hiring needs that were put on-hold last year are suddenly back on our radar screen. Plus, we just picked up a very interesting search for an M&A Advisor (attorney) with one of the top green/CSR-practicing brands in the world.

Interested? Click here, to learn more.

Some of you have asked us to promote our green job openings. And now that the economy is indeed showing signs of life, we will again make that a top-priority!

Thanks for your continued interest in starting and building a rewarding career in green business.

Now, let’s get ready for the ride of a lifetime!

Virginia Governor Promotes Aug. 3rd ‘Telework Day’, Encourages Professionals to Try Working from Home, Remote Location

Cross-posted to Sturdy Roots Blog.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today joined Telework!VA and Telework Exchange in encouraging professionals to pledge to telework from home or a remote location on Telework Day – Monday, August 3, 2009.

Employees and organization representatives across Virginia can visit the Telework Day website to sign up to telework, calculate the potential cost savings and environmental savings realized by teleworking, determine telework eligibility, and access additional telework-related resources.

Telework is a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency, reduces strain on transportation infrastructure, and provides an opportunity to ‘green’ Virginia,” Governor Kaine said. “We encourage organizations and individuals in Virginia to take the Telework Day pledge and see how telework can help them improve productivity and business operations, while also benefiting the environment.

Telework Day follows on Gov. Kaine’s June 10, 2009 executive order to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency at executive branch agencies and institutions. The goal of Telework Day is to encourage private employers to offer telework to their employees on this one day as a catalyst to drive more pervasive telework adoption across Virginia.

Telework Day also provides a prime opportunity for organizations to test their business continuity plans,” said Karen Jackson, Deputy Secretary of Technology, Commonwealth of Virginia. “Telework allows employees to conduct work away from their primary workplace in the case of an emergency or natural disaster. We encourage organizations to ‘stress test’ their business continuity plan and infrastructure during Telework Day.

Telework Exchange is a public-private partnership focused on demonstrating the tangible value of telework and serving the emerging educational and communication requirements of the Federal teleworker community. The Telework!VA program was launched by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to help reduce the number of commuters on Virginia’s roadways. The program provides incentives for Virginia businesses to establish or expand telework programs for employees.

Telework Day is an important opportunity to advocate telework as a business strategy that can have a positive impact on the bottom line and improve organizational efficiency, while at the same time reducing traffic on Virginia’s roads. Telework is one of the most effective ways for people to greatly reduce their work-related carbon footprint and demonstrate that ‘work is something you do, not a place you go,’” said Jennifer Thomas Alcott, Program Manager of Telework!VA.

It is incumbent that businesses and government agencies support efforts to promote widespread adoption of telework,” said Cindy Auten, General Manager of Telework Exchange. “It’s now imperative that employees and managers alike take the next step and embrace the notion of telework. Telework Day provides that important opportunity.

For more information on Telework Day, to make an individual pledge, or to make a pledge on behalf of an organization, visit The Telework Day website.

The Commonwealth of Virginia, Telework!VA, and Telework Exchange will release a post-Telework Day report in August, highlighting the impact of Telework Day on Virginia organizations and constituents.

Want to learn more about telework? Check out the CommuterPageBlog and contact Telesaur.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner Hosts Virginia Summit on Energy Opportunities

This past Friday, 500 entrepreneurs, activists, and people like me (entrepreneurs that are also activists) attended U.S. Sen. Mark Warner’s Virginia Summit on Energy Opportunities at Hampton University in Hampton, Va.

Sen. Warner gathered a diverse group of professionals to discuss the near term and immediate green business opportunities available to Virginia entrepreneurs through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Speakers included: U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secy. Dan Poneman, state and local electeds, leaders in business such as CEO John Aker of Charlottesville, Va.-based fast-charge equipment manufacturer Aker Wade, and Rear Adm. Chris Mossey (U.S.N.) of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Atlantic).

Addressing the summit, Sen. Warner laid out five very important factors relating to the business of green energy:

1. America is not currently positioned to take full advantage of green energy development. In the past 20 years, the U.S. has ceded ground to other nations like the world’s current solar energy production leader Germany (yes, Germany…home of the Black Forest);
2. Changing America’s energy mix is indeed a national security issue and we have to rid ourselves of our dependence on foreign oil;
3. We have to take on climate change. Shifting to renewable energy will help do that;
4. Like other states, Virginia must get its fare share of ARRA (stimulus) funding;
5. And government and business must work in partnership so that these opportunities become reality, quickly.

In his keynote address, Secy. Dan Poneman announced that Virginia was about to receive $37 million in ARRA stimulus funds for Virginia home weatherization. A subsequent ARRA infusion would bring Federal funding of the Virginia home weatherization program to $94 million. This is important because weatherization means lots of near-term “green jobs” creation in the Commonwealth. Also, homes and office buildings account for 40 percent of our greenhouse gases.

State Sen. Frank Wagner of nearby Virginia Beach advocated for a balanced energy economy in the Commonwealth that continues to include nuclear in its mix, a position which elicited some grumbles from some environmental activists.

Aker Wade CEO John Aker discussed how his company became the world’s leading fast-charge equipment manufacturer. The C’Ville based company builds technology to fast-charge electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, fast-charging an EV may take up to a half-hour but Aker Wade is working on ways to reduce the recharge time and adapt to smart grid technology. A very impressive industry-leading company headquartered here in Virginia!

Rear Adm. Chris Mossey outlined the U.S. Navy’s ambitious efforts to conserve energy. He indicated that currently the Navy consumes 34 percent of the Dept. of Defense’s energy and that 75 percent of the Navy’s energy is used offshore. However, he said that DOD has set an immediate goal of acquiring 7.5 percent of its energy load from renewable sources. By 2025, the goal would jump to 25 percent. He also noted that all future facilities to be built would need to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

Whether our future economic opportunities come from entrepreneurs like Aker Wade that are developing new green technology, green energy production (from solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, or biomass), grand-scale weatherization funded through ARRA, or through green/LEED-related government and military contracting, it is apparent to me that the Commonwealth of Virginia is very well placed to become a national green business leader.

I commend Hampton University for its own green leadership; University President Dr. William Harvey announced that Hampton will replace its legacy steam energy plant (which emits 50,000 tons of CO² gasses annually) with a state-of-the-art zero-emissions geothermal energy power plant. Way to go, Hampton!

Last, Sen. Warner should be congratulated for his efforts to make Virginia a green business leader and for staging this very interesting and informative business summit. Under his leadership, Virginia will realize its bright green business future.

Whatever our political or economic beliefs happen to be, the reality is that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going to be the prime vehicle for making a lot of Virginia’s and the United States’ new green innovations possible, bringing them to market, faster. If we adapt to it and apply funding well, we win. If we don’t, (to paraphrase Thomas Friedman) we will be left in the dust.

Create Your Own Advisory Board

Cross-posted at Sturdy Roots Blog.

Earlier today, I had a very interesting phone call with a bright, highly enthusiastic (fire-in-the-belly) new business development executive. His familiarity with the information technology space is excellent. And so too is his skill at staging successful consultative processes and converting his multi-million-dollar new business prospects to sale.

What company wouldn’t want to hire this new business sales executive?

Problem is, the executive is burned out on the I/T space and he wants out. He tells me he would like nothing more than to pivot to selling green business products and services; while he has the passion for making the planet a better place to live, he knows he has neither the familiarity nor the contact base in the green space to be successful.

We all know that in this economy, the few hiring managers that have open assignments want spot-on matches to the job spec. Even if this talented sales executive has – several times over – built multi-million-dollar information technology business portfolios from scratch, his having no prior experience in the green business space may be a non-starter…

…or is it?

After listening to this executive’s concerns, I offered up an idea for him to consider:

Right now, there are tens of thousands of entrepreneurs in the world seeking seed-investment capital to start new businesses. And while the venture’s partners may be top-notch no management team completely possesses all of the familiarities an investor wants to see before cutting that first check. So entrepreneurs often mitigate the cavities in their business plans by founding an industry advisory board made up of business leaders – skilled in the art – to counsel the management team on best business practices, alert them to competitive developments or fast-moving opportunities, and help their enterprise establish a strong and unique value proposition and long-term success.

I said to this executive, think of yourself as a new business enterprise. If you know you aren’t fully versed in green business, then why not create your own advisory board to shorten your learning curve, get fully-familiar (faster) with best-practices and next-practices, and help establish the-most solid relationships with potential client-prospects.

If we think of ourselves not as executives but as entrepreneurs, we stand a greater chance of achieving our goals; that is especially the case in difficult economic times such as these. By treating his “pivot” into green business like a new venture, the executive will bridge the all-too-common gap between will and skill.

Whether between jobs or employed in a company or market space that no longer inspires, consider establishing your own advisory board to speed your transition to a career in green business.

These times call for bold action. Go for it!

The Office Garden

Cross-posted to Sturdy Roots Blog:

For more years than I can remember, gardening has been something that I’ve taken great pride and joy in learning to do well.

And as someone that has worked from a virtual/home office for 15 years, my office garden has been a place for me to meditate and gather creative inspiration.

Whether we are technicians, programmers, operations specialists, client relationship managers, financial gurus, marketers, or talent recruiters, our work requires a good constant flow of creativity to assure quality results.

Without continual sources of inspiration (and good distractions), the creative juices will eventually dry up. At which point, the quality of our work suffers.

That’s why I believe it is so important to have a workplace which is connected to nature.

I happen to live in a suburban community subdivision that allows me to be creative with my property. Soon after moving in, I ripped up half the front lawn, replacing it with lots of colorful perrennial plantings.

This season, the Middle Atlantic area of the U.S. where I live has been blessed with above-average rainfall. And my garden has thrived. Blooms like the ones shown here did not take much effort or skill to create.

Pesticides? Don’t need ‘em.

Herbicides? Bad for the wetlands that border my property. We do not use them.

To get this office garden to look its best takes continual weeding (keep up with it and it won’t be a burden), a good cover of hardwood mulch, and good rainfall or every other day slow-watering (with a soaker hose). Well-established plants won’t need much more than that.

And here’s an added benefit: these gorgeous blooms attract beautiful songbirds! A office garden like this will attract hummingbirds, too!

So whether your work is based in a more-traditional office setting, or located in that study on the main floor of your house, you can get close to nature and the rewards it provides.

Need help getting your office garden started? Start with the locally-owned and operated nurseries in your area. They will provide you with the guidance you need to get the look you want, with plantings appropriate for your area. What is more, prices at local nurseries have never been better.

I wish you good success with your Office Garden.

Now, enjoy!

Are Green Shoots Taking Root?

Cross-posted at Sturdy Roots Blog:

Could we finally be at the end of this economic meltdown? There is evidence – albeit anecdotal – to suggest we are through the worst of the long, painful recession that started in December, 2007.

Consider these green shoots:

• While the nation’s attention has been focused on the troubles at Chrysler and GM, there are some dealerships – particularly in the Northeast U.S. – that are selling a lot of new cars; last month, one Ford Lincoln Mercury franchise in Southern Connecticut surpassed 100 cars sold;
• Ahold USA, the Dutch company that owns Giant Food in the greater Washington D.C./Baltimore area and its companion brand Stop & Shop in New England reports its best quarterly profit increases in 10 years (10%). Of course, that takes into consideration deep-discounting, consumers eating out less while eating at home more, and Giant Food’s/Stop & Shop’s new self-service shopping tools like the new hand-held scanners some adventurous shoppers are using to tally their purchases (which means fewer workers are on payroll);

• Similarly, home improvement chain Lowe’s (#2 in market share) showed respectable quarterly sales improvement, while the category leader The Home Depot languished;

• Several long delayed transpo projects have been jump-started by the flow American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) stimulus funds. So there are more people working in construction (a good thing). However, it is troubling that the vast majority of the stimulus funds allocated – for new green jobs and other needs – have yet to be spent;

• And insomniacs prone to watching late-night-TV are still buying The Snuggie. (Okay, that might not be the best sign of economic recovery...just the opposite);

While hiring is a lagging-indicator, meaning that rising employment is usually the last part of an economic recovery cycle, there are signs that some unemployed people – especially talented sales people – may soon be starting new assignments.

And a majority of U.S. economists believe we may be through the worst and that the recovery will begin this summer (if it hasn’t done so, already).

Let’s hope they are right.

TIAA-CREF’s CSR Move: Drop Companies Doing Business with Sudanese Government

Cross-posted to Sturdy Roots Blog:

TIAA-CREF, the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields, has announced a campaign to pressure portfolio companies that maintain business relations with the Sudanese government to cease those relations or attempt to end genocide and ease suffering in Darfur. The organization plans to intensify pressure on such companies and divest from those that fail to take meaningful steps to respect human rights.

From a TIAA-CREF News Release:

TIAA-CREF believes that members of society have a moral responsibility to confront genocide and crimes against humanity. Therefore we are publicly asking companies operating in Sudan to help alleviate the suffering of its people. With that in mind, TIAA-CREF will:

Seek meetings between TIAA-CREF executives and executives of target companies to encourage them to take positive and meaningful humanitarian steps and attempt to end genocide;
Publicly endorse the U.N.-sponsored Principles for Responsible Investment. Signatories include institutional investors with a combined $2.5 trillion in assets under management with whom we will join to urge companies operating in Sudan to confront human rights abuses; and
Call upon other financial services companies to follow our lead and increase pressure on target companies.
We will evaluate progress within nine months and, if we still hold positions in these companies at that time, we will divest their shares from all accounts if milestones showing significant progress are not achieved, and announce that decision publicly. If target companies – PetroChina, CNPC Hong Kong, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Sinopec, and PETRONAS – refuse to meet with us, we will divest promptly. If they agree to engage in a productive dialogue, we will continue to hold their shares as long as progress continues and as long as portfolio management concerns warrant. If a company takes meaningful steps to ease suffering and attempts to end genocide, we will remove it from our divestment list and continue the dialogue to assure changes occur.

We recognize that genocide and crimes against humanity, whether in Darfur or elsewhere, require a higher standard of response. While we believe that attempts to use our standing as shareholders through quiet diplomacy is the most effective way to influence corporate policies and practices, in cases where companies may substantially contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity, we may intensify engagement, raise its visibility or limit its duration if we believe that such action is necessary to cause companies to improve their stance. Even in these cases, we believe that divestment should be considered as a last resort, only after efforts to pressure companies to revisit and change their policies have failed.

TIAA-CREF’s Policy Statement on Corporate Governance sets a high bar for divestment. In making our decision regarding Sudan, TIAA-CREF considered a number of factors, including the gravity of our concerns in Sudan, the likelihood of successful dialogue with target companies and our conclusion that divestment would have an insignificant impact on the financial performance of our participants’ portfolios.

We applaud TIAA-CREF’s noble campaign, and hope that it encourages other companies and institutions to develop their own impactful CSR inititatives. We also hope that it motivates like-minded executives to consider a career-shift to CSR program management.

Grossman Marketing Wins Green Business Award

Our friends at Grossman Marketing Group have won a green business award from Boston Business Journal. The award will be presented at this year’s Green Business Summit, scheduled for Friday, May 15, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.

The company was included in the award’s “innovation” category in recognition for its trailblazing work in the green marketing and sustainability space.

Grossman Marketing Group is a full-service provider of marketing communications materials and promotional products to customers in fields as varied as biotechnology, law, financial services, and the arts, and is known for environmentally-sound marketing solutions: envelopes made from green-e certified wind power; window patch envelopes made from a biodegradable, corn-based polymer; sustainable papers for stationery and collateral; and an extensive line of promotional products made from recycled materials.

Our heartiest congratulations go out to everyone at Grossman Marketing Group, especially company president Steve Grossman and the head of its Green Marketing Practice Ben Grossman.

Renew Through Green Jobs Act of 2009 Introduced

U.S. Rep. Zack Space has introduced a bill in Congress to provide funding to institutions of higher learning to administer workforce sustainability training and education.

The Renew Through Green Jobs Act of 2009 (H.R. 1781, 111th Congress) would authorize the U.S. Secretary of Labor to award grants to institutions to provide workforce training and education in the areas of clean energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, and sustainable environmental practices.

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 30, 2009.

Congressman Space, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, represents Ohio’s 18th District