Radical transparency goes mainstream:

The information age and the environmental movement have actually collided. Tons of information is available about products, including the materials and ingredients used. Websites like GoodGuide.com have a mobile application for shoppers on the move. More non-profits than ever, such as Climate Counts are ranking companies on their environmental performance, helping to make informed purchases. Many organizations are demanding more from their supply chain, knowing that this is the new frontier of the environmental movement.

“There are many companies that have done a lot on climate change internally with their own operations and what they are now doing is starting to look at the companies in their supply chain,” says Sonal Mahida, vice president of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in the United States. “We’re working with a number of companies on those issues, such as PepsiCo, IBM, and Walmart.” This often begins by asking tough questions of suppliers.

Although not all consumers want to do homework before making a purchase, this trend allows those interested to make more conscious purchases. It also encourages companies to make self-initiated improvements encouraged by transparency.

Greener fleets hit the streets:

Although personal auto sales were low last year, many companies worked on greening their fleets. Coca-Cola Enterprises’ announced that it would have the largest hybrid-electric diesel delivery fleet in North America, Frito-Lay added 1,200 efficient delivery vehicles, and UPS now has more than 1,800 alternative-fuel vehicles globally.
Energy efficiency gains horsepower:

Companies continue to take advantage of low hanging fruit to reduce energy costs and mitigate carbon emissions. A new generation of technology has made energy management simpler and easier by providing real-time information. Some software allows real-time energy pricing to be viewed along with minute-by-minute usage data. Engenuity Systems is helping McDonald’s save 13.6% each year on lighting, heating, cooking, and cooling by installing equipment that turns off lights, heating, and cooling systems when not needed.

IT aims to save the world:

The energy footprint of all the information and communication technology is responsible for 2% of the total greenhouse gas emissions, according to McKinsey & Co. The potential of such technology however is worth its weight in gold and many IT companies have been developing these valuable tools. Telecommuting and teleconferencing are two obvious examples, with Cisco and HP as leaders in this area. Software has recently been developed, such as Google’s Powermeter and Microsoft Hohm help monitor residential and business energy use. IBM also recently launched Sustainable Supplier Information Management Consulting, assisting companies to collect supply chain data.

Sarah Lozanova is passionate about the new green economy and is a regular contributor to environmental and energy publications and websites, including Energy International Quarterly, ThinkGreen.com, Triple Pundit, Green Business Quarterly, Renewable Energy World, and Green Business Quarterly. Her experience includes work with small-scale solar energy installations and utility-scale wind farms. She earned an MBA in sustainable management from the Presidio Graduate School and is a co-founder of Trees Across the Miles, an urban reforestation initiative.

Government

Business.GOV

Offers federal, state and local regulatory information as well as online legal resources for small business owners.

FedBizOpps

Posts all federal procurement opportunities above $25,000.

Marketing Spot

An active cut to the chase website on Internet Marketing and running a business.

Federal Trade Commission

Works for consumer protection and a competitive marketplace.

Internal Revenue Service

Provides tax information, forms and tips.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Ensures safe and healthful workplaces through oversight and regulations.

U.S. Copyright Office

Protects intellectual property from unauthorized reproduction or use.

U.S. Department of Commerce

Offers business research, development assistance, economic analysis and trade assistance.

U.S. Department of Justice

Enforces the law in areas of national interest, including criminal activities, immigration and civil rights.

U.S. Department of Labor

Governs work-related areas, often through special agencies.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Protects human health and safeguards the environment.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Provides descriptions and explanations for various anti-discrimination laws.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Offers information and online filing for patents and trademarks.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Provides loan guarantees, education and networking/mentoring opportunities.

Trade Associations

American Management Association

Builds knowledge, skills and behaviors through training and tools to help business professionals and their organizations grow.

American Marketing Association

Furthers career development for marketing professionals.

Association of Small Business Development Centers

Delivers nationwide educational assistance on small business management.

Employee Benefit Research Institute

Provides research and education about employee benefits.

Fambiz.com

Provides information about family business challenges and links to more than 30 family business centers.

National Association for the Self-Employed

Provides lobbying, discounts on business services and grassroots development.

National Federation of Independent Business

Provides lobbying and advocacy for small businesses.

National Retail Federation

Protects and advances the interests of the retail industry.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

Encourages small businesses through counseling and mentoring.

The Direct Marketing Association

Provides information and services to direct marketers and consumers.

The Family Firm Institute

Provides research about family-owned firms and education for family business advisors.

U.S.
Chamber of Commerce

Fights for business interests by lobbying the government, challenging
unfair guidelines in courts and educating businesspeople.

How much time do you spend in your home office each day? 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours or more? If you spend a lot of time in your home office then you should consider giving it a total re-design. Having a clean and inspiring environment is essential to being healthy and working to your fullest potential.

I will point out some tips, resourced and show you a bunch of cool home offices to get you started on your office re-design. When you are done with your new office you will never want to leave!
How to get Started

1. Research

Check out other peoples office’s, research colors at the paint store and browse office furniture stores and websites so you can get a solid idea of what you want your office to look like.

2. Take measurements and Start Planning

The last thing you want to do is find a cool piece of furniture and then find out it doesn’t fit. So measure your room to see what kind of space you are working with.

3. Prep Work and Painting

Chances are you will need to do some prep work and this could include tasks such as filling holes, removing wallpaper, adding a primer coat of paint to the walls and so on. Once your room is prepped head over to your local paint store to get your paint, rollers, masking tape, brushes, pans and so on so you can paint!

4. Find Your Main Furniture Pieces

Now that your room is painted and ready to go you will need to fill it in with some of the important furniture pieces such as a desk, chair, cabinets and maybe a bookshelf. Feel free to add whatever pieces you want, but cover the basics first and try not to crowd your office.

5. Test Different Layouts

Try moving your furniture pieces around a lot to see what layout will be the most comfortable for you.

6. Accessories

Now its time to accessorize and give your new dream office that final touch. There are lots of great accessories out there such as plants, vases, candles or maybe you already have some cool items to display, but don’t forget less is more!

7. Do Some “Spring Cleaning”

The key to a great office to to keep clutter to a minimum. We all have tons of stuff, but do you really need that garden gnome with a missing arm on your bookshelf? ( Weird example, I know) A lot of people have what I like to call “Pack Rat Syndrome” and this is when they just cant get themselves to throw anything out. A nice solution to this is to have a garage sale, or donate some items to your local Good Will.

8. Organize Your Paperwork and Computer Files

The paperwork can pile up fast now a days and the same goes with computers files, so make sure you take some time to get organized and don’t just make this a one time event.

9. Develop Better Habits

Now that you have a great new office that is clean and organized you will want to keep it that way. You will need to get in the habit of cleaning your office on a regular basis. You will feel much better if everything is clean, organized and well designed!

10. Don’t Forget to Leave

Your new dream office is probably pretty awesome now and you may be working harder and better then ever, but you still need some fresh air. So get out and have some fun!

1. Try not to eat in your office, you don’t want crumbs in your keyboard!

2. Find some cable organizers to de-clutter your computer area and look into wireless electronics.

3. Open your window once in a while for some fresh air and natural sun light.

4. Get Sirius Satellite Radio or create a big iTunes Playlist so you can listen to your favorite music while working.

5. Get a paper shredder to dispose of important paper work.

6. Buy a white board to write down important tasks or get a notepad.

7. Get some sticky notes and use them as important reminders.

8. Dedicate a spot in your office for your wallet, keys, phone and other important items so you always know where they are.
Tips for Working With a Tight Budget

Don’t worry there are still plenty of ways to create a great office without buying new furniture or electronics.

1. Hit up garage sales, you will be amazed at what you can find. Don’ be afraid to take old furniture and refinish it so it will look brand new.

2. Find some flea markets; similar to garage sales flea markets can be a good place to find great items at low prices.

3. Check classifieds online such as Craiglist. People usually sell stuff for cheap and there is even a free items section where people are just giving stuff away.

4. Watch some shows on HGTV like Design on a Dime for tips on making the most of your design budget.

5. Have your own garage sale to raise money towards your office re-design.

6. Sell your old computers and electronics so you can put money towards your new gear.

7. Save all your change each day in a container and then cash it in after a few months.

8. Bring those soda cans and bottles to the recycling center you would be surprised how much you can make!

What makes for an appealing workspace? The envelopes they leave in your mailbox every two weeks. But after that, it comes down to design and amenities. Also, we like windows and brick. Lots and lots of brick. After spending some time on Office Snapshots, we present the ten best-looking offices in tech, below.

As our days become more and more busy, living a organized life is essential. Being organized helps individuals succeed at home and in their life, avoid stress and handle careers. Being organized is not being neat. Organizing is about function, not appearance. It’s not about a paper free desk, it’s about being able to find what your looking for easily. Being organized also reduces stress and frustration of buying the same thing more then once. Also bills that are organized are less likely to have late fees. The average person pays $35 a month for some sort of late fees. You will also be less likely to have food go bad and eat at home when organized. Anyway you add it up being organized can improve your life in multiple ways. When well organized you can spend more time with family, friends, activities, hobbies, exercise, vacations, and work. This will help with a better balanced between work and home. and happier healthier life.  Take small steps daily to get things in order without overwhelming yourself. Start with one room and think of function first then settle the room around what you want it do.

I’ve been working from home for three years. I started in 2005, when I left a cube-farm commuter job and joined a small company based about an hour’s drive from my house. The plan was to commute in as needed, perhaps once a week, but work from home most of the time.

I had no idea, absolutely no friggin’ clue, how much it was gonna suck. My typical day went like this:

* get up
* check company IRC, say good morning, make sure nothing’s on fire yet
* lunch, maybe some scrabble or a TV show
* meeting about something. with phone muted, can watch youtube videos
* work some more, but with more interruptions
* dinner, hopefully in proximity to another human
* hack on the side project du jour
* go to sleep

This post is half of a pair of posts on working from home. I’m giving you the bad news first. Here’s the most important thing you should know:

It’s not just a matter of feeling lonely: all kinds of emotions depend on regular, face-to-face human interaction, and you run a serious risk of becoming unproductive, uninspired, and even depressed without it.

Let me reiterate: feeling lonely at work isn’t the only–or even the primary–way that working from home screws you. Well before your soul starts to scream with loneliness — which might never happen if you have family or friends you see regularly — you will suffer from being alone.

The first thing to go is probably motivation. For this you can blame a massive cut in feedback. In an office you get feedback constantly. At the coffee pot in the morning, eye contact shows interest in your latest tasks, or nods express sympathy about difficult colleagues and bosses. When you have a question about something, your coworker’s eyes and facial expressions will tell you, consciously or subconsciously, if you’re sounding smart or stupid. Chances are, you depend on this feedback more than you realize. You need it both for work-specific communication, which is easy to see, and for maintaining your self-image, esteem, and motivation–which is harder to see because the mechanisms are subconscious.

You don’t get rich feedback when communicating over a phone, email, or text chat. No facial expressions; no idea whether a persons eyes are wandering or locked on; maybe some hint of tone of voice. All this feedback is distilled and distilled away when you’re not there to pick it up in person, and this will affect you quickly and constantly if you work remotely.

You might say, ah, the hell with it, I’ll learn to live without that feedback. After all, doesn’t Paul Graham say that people with “unlimited self-generated morale” are almost guaranteed to succeed? Don’t you want to be like that?

Chances are, you could be more determined. But there are very few people — perhaps mostly sociopaths and the autistic — who can pursue a goal indefinitely without feedback. Be aware of the feedback you need, and work on making it possible. And remember that when you’re considering working from home, you’re going to tear away a lot of that feedback.

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