Showing posts with label best sustainable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best sustainable. Show all posts

Sunday, March 6, 2011

50 Best Blogs for Green Business Students

The Green Market has been recognized as one of the Web's top blogs to educate green business students. The green and sustainable mega-trend is increasingly ubiquitous and blogs offer green business students a wealth of information related to this rapidly growing field. As selected by BSchool.com here are the top 50 blogs for business students.

News and Views

Visit these blogs to learn the latest in green and sustainable business news as well as finding some great commentary from bloggers.

Green Biz: This site is an excellent source of all the latest green business news on everything from energy to marketing. Recommended Post: "Blogging is a Green Business Survival Skill"

Future of Business: Visit this site to educate yourself about other green businesses, resources and the latest news in the field. Recommended Post: "The Ten Best Environment Websites in the World"

Business Green: From greener luxury cars to solar industry updates, this blog is a must-read for anyone interested in making money in the sustainable market. Recommended Post: "Report: spending must double on renewable energy projects in developing countries."

Sustainablog: While this blog isn't focused solely on green business, it can still be a great read for anyone interested in the subject. Recommended Post: "Cycling Superheroes to Love Bomb Texas this Winter"

Triple Pundit: With the tagline, "people, planet, profit" you know you'll be getting some great news on a wide range of sustainable businesses, products and economic issues. Recommended Post: ""Green"Marketing Lessons From the eBay Box"

Matter Network: On this site, you'll find some great news on how companies big and small are turning to sustainable alternatives. Recommended Post: "European Legislation Creates 62 MPG Gas Cars…. From Ford"

Green Prophet: Green Prophet is an excellent site for reading about cleantech and sustainable businesses news from the Middle East and around the world. Recommended Post: "Formula Companies Harm Saudi Babies by Promoting "Safe" Formula"

The Sustainable Business Blog: This blog from The Guardian will help you to learn about what people are really talking about when it comes to green and sustainable business. Recommended Post: "Unilever's trailblazing environmental plan"

Global Sustainable Business: This research project's blog is an excellent resource for students hoping to learn more about topics like greenwashing, green energy, and much more. Recommended Post: "Anti Greenwash guide from the French Government"

Green Business Times: You'll find just about anything you could want to know about green business on this blog, with posts on a wide variety of topics that are focused on Singapore, but can still be applied to work just about anywhere. Recommended Post: "Sustainable Materials: Plastics Made From Corn and Biomass"

Green Business

These blogs are focused on discussing all things related to green business, from marketing to leadership.

GreenMonk: This blog is a great resource for learning how to build a sustainable business from the ground up, whether you're in a related field or just want to be more environmentally conscious. Recommended Post: "Apple just got a whole lot Greener!"

The Green Skeptic: Scott Edward Anderson is a cleantech investor and entrepreneur, and on this blog you'll get a chance to read his take on a wide range of issues from climate change to business. Recommended Post: "With Tesla IPO, Has the Age of Electric Vehicles Arrived?"

Ecopreneurist: Learn new and inspiring ways to start a green business from scratch and put your ideas to work from this excellent blog. Recommended Post: "Social Media Offers Options to Promote Green Initiatives"

Green Marketing: If you're looking for some help and inspiration in your journey to be a green or social entrepreneur, stop by this blog to see what others are doing and learn about programs and ideas that can help. Recommended Post: "The Ultimate Guide to Social Enterprise Conferences"

Bright Green Leadership: If you're ready to start your own green business, check out this blog for some ideas and help with marketing. Recommended Post: "The New Rules of Green Marketing"

The New Pioneers: This blog focuses on creating more sustainable businesses through social innovation and entrepreneurship and shares some of the ideas and individuals making great strides. Recommended Post: "Socially Responsible Investing– A big step forward or a waste of time?"

OppGreen Insights: Learn more about the green economy and the businesses that fuel it through this blog, with articles that touch on topics ranging from design to clean technology. Recommended Post: "An Interview with Peter Diamandis, Founder of X PRIZE: On Colonizing Space and Reinventing the Philanthropy Model"

Green Business Alliance Blog: Through this blog you can read a number of great articles as well as finding resources that will help you learn about better green business practices. Recommended Post: "E-waste…how to recycle or reuse it"

Green Business League: Getting certified green could mean a lot to your business. Learn more about the process and other eco-friendly businesses here. Recommended Post: "70-Year Old Hair Salon Entrepreneur Gains National Recognition for "Being Green""

Green for All Blog: Find out what a difference you can make in the world with your ideas for
business and green initiatives from this highly inspirational site. Recommended Post: "What a Recovery fueled "Green Impact Zone" can do for a troubled city"

Green Business Gurus

Here you'll get a chance to read commentary on green business issues from those who know the field the best.

Joel Makower: With articles on topics like cleantech, green marketing and sustainability, this blog by businessman and environmental activist Joel Makower is a great read. Recommended Post: "The Six Sins of Greenwashing"

David Coethica's Blog: Here, you'll read posts from David Connor on doing more ethical business, whether that means helping the environment or the people who live in it. Recommended Post: "Small Business CSR Mistakes"

Marc Gunther: Journalist, speaker and writer Marc Gunther is an expert on business and sustainability, and his blog is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the subject. Recommended Post: "The business of rating business"

Christine Arena: From social entrepreneurship to sustainable business, Christine Arena shares her thoughts on businesses seeking out a higher purpose on this blog. Recommended Post: "New York's Green Giant"

James' Blog: This BusinessGreen blog features commentary, rants and observations about the green biz world from editor James Murray. Recommended Post: "Why I like the Renewable Energy Foundation"

Finance

If you want to learn just how much money there is to be made from investing in green businesses, give one of these blogs a read.

The Inspired Economist: On this blog, you'll find a number of intriguing posts that lay out the financial side of green business– and make it abundantly clear that it's here to stay. Recommended Post: "Why Did Halliburton Buy an Oil Cleanup Company 8 Days Before the Oil Spill?"

Greenbang: Get more bang for your buck in green investments with a little help from this UK-based blog. Recommended Post: "The secret to energy saving? Psychology"

The Green Market: This blog covers topics like sustainable capitalism and global green business, with a little politics thrown in. Recommended Post: "The Kochs' Cato Institute's Climate Denial"

Earth & Economy: Visit this blog regularly to read posts brought together from a wide range of sites, all related to green business and finance and sustainability issues. Recommended Post: "Solar Standard"

Technology

Computers, gadgets, cars, and green energy are the focus of these great sustainable tech blogs.

Earth2Tech: This GigaOm blog will help keep you in the loop when it comes to latest green technology news and information. Recommended Post: "15 Algae Startups Bringing Pond Scum to Fuel Tanks"

EcoGeek: Being a geek can also mean sporting eco-conscious ideologies, as this blog demonstrates. Learn about green energy, gadgets and a whole lot more. Recommended Post: "80% Efficient Solar Panel?! Works at Night?!"

Green Tech: Check out this CNET blog to learn about what kind of products the biggest companies out there are innovating. Recommended Post: "Small-scale solar power comes to electronics"

The Green Frog from Silicon Valley: This consulting firm's blog focuses on ways that businesses can better innovate new and useful cleantech concepts. Recommended Post: "Fiber is green"

Green Tech Beat: From green jobs to cleantech news, you'll find everything you need to know about green business the Silicon Valley and beyond. Recommended Post: ""Green jobs" Come in Every Shape and Size"

CleanTechies: Whether you want to invest in cleantech or start your own business, these blogs are a must-read to keep up with news and views from around the web. Recommended Post: "Who Is the eBay of Electricity 2.0?"

Clean Technia: Focusing on green energy, you'll find a number of great resources for news and job hunting on this site. Recommended Post: "MIT Energy Storage Discovery Could Lead to 'Unlimited' Solar Power"

Jobs

If you want to work in a green industry, these blogs may help you find a job right out of business school.

Environmental Job Blog: Find green jobs, internships and careers through this blog. Recommended Post: "An International Renewable Energy Job Service"

Great Green Careers: With job listings and career news, this blog isn't to be missed by those looking for work in the green business world. Recommended Post: "Green jobs news roundup"

BlueGreen Alliance: You'll find a great collection of green jobs and environmental news on this blog. Recommended Post: "Networking the Green Economy Report Released Today"

Green Career Central: Learn about green businesses and how to get a job in the sector from this site. Recommended Post: "Green Career Tip: Seven Job Search Dos and Don'ts From Green Employers"

GreenJob Spider: If you're looking for work or ready to graduate from business school, this blog is an excellent place to learn about green jobs. Recommended Post: "Keeping green jobs in the U.S."

Industry and Engineering

From manufacturing to design, these blogs will show you the ropes when it comes to everything from investing to marketing green products while helping you stay in the loop about the latest developments.

Carbon Offsets Daily: Any business interested in carbon offsets can make good use of this site. Recommended Post: "IntercontinentalExchange Buys 4.8% Stake In Climate Exchange"

Green Chemicals: Think chemicals can't be green? Think again. Learn about the development of environmentally-friendly chemicals here. Recommended Post: "Green Building is still recession-proof"

Innovative Industry: This blog is the perfect place to learn more about sustainable industry, from bioplastic to green chemicals. Recommended Post: "The Automotive Industry's Path to Sustainability"

Earth and Industry: Through this site, you'll gain insights into some of the best and brightest innovators in green industry right now. Recommended Post: "Amtrak Spends $466 Million on Electric Locomotives"

MetaEfficient: From architecture to the light bulb, this blog is a wonderful source of information on green and sustainable design. Recommended Post: "New Record: World's Largest Wind Turbine (7+ Megawatts)"

Green Building Elements: Here you'll find a blog that focuses on the development and use of green building materials, design and building projects. Recommended Post: "12-year-old Makes Homeless Shelter from Trash"

Terra Infirma: Want to know more about going low carbon? Visit this blog written by Gareth to find out more about using less and saving more. Recommended Post: "The Human Aspect to Green Tech"

MobiGreen: If you've got the next great idea for an electric or hybrid vehicle, make sure you read this blog to keep up with what your competition is doing. Recommended Post: "5 electric vehicle predictions for 2011 by PluginCars.com"

Industry Voice: Read through this blog to get insights into green business from a number of industry insiders. Recommended Post: "Will Europe lead the way on green computers?"

Source: 50 Best Blogs for Green Business Students BSchool.com Business Schools Directory

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Odd Yet Effective Green Inventions

Here are nine strange yet useful inventions that are geared towards energy generation, efficiency or diminishing environmental impacts. 

An energy generating soccer ball: Known as the sOccket, this invention is a fully functional soccer ball that uses the kinetic energy generated during a soccer game to build up a charge in its built-in battery. This battery can then by used to power small devices like cell phones.

A bio robot fridge: This new Electrolux concept makes use of “bio robots” suspended in gel to cool food and drink in a unique, door-less fridge system. Four times smaller than a conventional refrigerator, the Bio Robot cools biopolymer gel through luminescence. The non sticky, odourless gel morphs around products to create a separate pod that suspends items. The fridge operates without a motor and comes in different sizes that can be hung vertically, horizontally, and even on the ceiling.

A method of harnessing wind vibration: This small scale wind energy charger harvests the vibration of the wind to power smart building sensors. A company called Humdinger Wind Energy LLC, has invented a device called the microBelt. It is a piezoelectric turbine-based system that is 10 times more effective at gathering energy than other systems of the same size. The system uses aeroelastic flutter and vibration of a membrane rather than a spinning turbine. It is intended to replace the batteries used in wireless sensor networks (WSN). It has a long life span of 20 years and is ideal for HVAC units.

A solar powered DIY washing machine: This project was developed by students at the École Supérieure d’Art d’Aix-en-Provence in France. They built a solar-powered washing machine using only materials available in the Saharan desert. What makes this project so interesting is the fact that it has been developed from readily available materials for the 2 billion people in the world who do not have access to some of the basic amenities including clean water and electricity.

Using human remains as fertilizer: This technique transforms human corpes into 200 gallons of liquid that can be used as fertilizer. With approximately 150000 people dying each day (62 million people dying each year), human remains are a significant source of toxic chemicals. A company called Resomation Ltd., has developed a process of disposing of human corpses that uses alkaline hydrolysis, however, unlike cremation and traditional burial, alkaline hydrolysis doesn’t lead to toxic chemicals like dioxin and formaldehyde being released into the atmosphere or water supply. It also uses 80 percent less energy than standard cremation.

An Eco-friendly coffin: This coffin lowers the environmental impact of your burial. Created by Ecoffins, these coffins use natural products like bamboo, willow branches, banana leaves and pine planks. They are designed to decompose fairly quickly and are not made with any products that could damage the surrounding soil.

An electric YikeBike ‘mini-farthing,’: This electric vehicle is a cross between an e-bike and a Segway. The YikeBike mini-farthing is the smallest, and at 10kg, the lightest electric folding bike in the world, enabling people to take it on buses, trains, and cars and store it easily under a desk or in a cupboard.

The ONDA Urinal Hand Washing Station: This invention uses uses only half the water needed for conventional urinals. With the growing scarcity of water and millions of urinals in the world, this system could make big difference. When the urinal is flushed, water first passes through a space for hand washing, then the same water is flushed to the urinal portion of the system and is disposed of as waste water.

The waterless urinal: This novel system uses gravity to deliver urine into the waste water system. With water shortages on the increase these urinals are an important way of conserving potable water. Distributors say the break-even point for most facilities who install waterless urinals is achieved within the first 12 to 24 months.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

10 Best Eco-Inventions of 2010

Green inventions are being driven by market demand for products that enhance efficiency and reduce pollution. As the world recovers from a devastating recession, these inventions are helping to power the growth of national economies. In the UK, an expedited patent process has been introduced to fast track green inventions. Around the world people are innovating sustainable processes and creating green inventions. Here is a summary of some of the best green inventions of 2010.

1. Carbon Absorbent Foam is the winner of the 2010 Earth Awards. This foam can grab carbon out of the air and lock it away as a sugar. It is ideally suited to be placed in smokestacks to remove carbon before it is emitted into the atmosphere.

2. eCoupled Wireless Tesla Charger is a new system capable of charging Tesla's electric vehicles without wires or plugs. This system will recharge Tesla's electric vehicles via an induction pad at distances up to 4".

3. nPower PEG is a kinetic energy charger. It is the world's first handheld charger that captures and stores an individual's kinetic energy. This tiny power charger capture kinetic energy from daily activities and transforms it into electricity that can power mobile gadgets.

4. Solar Charger that Runs Devices Directly. Developed by Suntactics, this new portable solar charger is powerful enough to charge your phone and other mobile gadets using nothing but solar energy.

5. IDAPT Universal Gadget Charger is made from recycled materials and is able to power almost all wireless devices.

6. Solar Power Parking Meters: In LA, new solar-powered, wireless-connected, single-space parking meters take coins or cards.

7. Biodegradable Motor Oil Although it was developed a few years ago by Green Earth Technologies, in 2010 they began running their first TV ads. The biodegradable motor oil is made out of a mixture of beef tallow and plant ingredients.

8. Polli Bricks – a low-carbon form of cladding made from recycled plastic bottles that can be wrapped around buildings to insulate them. They come studded with solar-power LED lights and cost around ten times less than conventional cladding.

9. The Sustainable Shell, a biodegradable home that can be built from the soil on which it sits. These design principles can help anyone build a strong, sustainable shelter.

10. A Malaysian designer has created a range of "KAYU" sunglasses which are hand-crafted from bamboo – a fast-growing, biodegradable and low-carbon alternative to plastic. For every pair of sunglasses bought, Lim donates $20 towards surgery that restores sight in the developing world.

Green inventions are growing and it is getting easier to bring green inventions to market. Although there are numerous sites designed to connect VC Investors with great ideas, a site known as OnGreen is looking to become the world’s largest database specializing in green inventions. This site creates funding opportunities for green inventors.


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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Newsweek's 10 Greenest Companies in 2010

Late last year, Newsweek released it's list of the best environmentally-focused companies in the US, and the globe. IT companies were the clear leaders in the rankings, with Dell, HP and IBM taking the first three spots. However, the IT industry also has an enormous footprint.

Companies are devising solutions that save energy and reduce waste and this is driving innovation and creating an environment where being green is a competitive necesity. According Michael Mendenhall, HP's chief marketing officer. "A lot of the innovation in this space is coming out of business pressure." Here are the top 10 companies from NEWSWEEK's list.

1. Dell is an industry leader in both company functions and product impact. In Newsweek's list, Dell earned a perfect score of 100% for its strong environmental policies, including free recycling of products worldwide and a ban on the export of e-waste to developing countries. Perhaps most importantly for consumers, Dell manufactures some of the greenest electronics available on the market. Its desktops and laptops consume 25 percent less energy than systems produced in 2008, saving more than $5 billion in energy costs over the past few years.

2. Hewlett Packard (HP) has been an industry leader in environmental issues, its current IT systems use 66 percent less energy than those designed in 2005. The company's belief that technology can improve society has led to programs that have reduced greenhouse-gas emissions and increased usage of renewable energy. In 2008. HP was the first major tech company to began reporting greenhouse gases associated with its supply chain. Compared to 2005 models, consumers could save more than $10.4 billion in energy costs and eliminate more than 40 million metric tons of CO2 in the first year. They earned a strong Environmental Impact Score of 90.60, and did very well in the Reputation Score.

3. IBM is reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions while offering products and consulting service to help clients to make their businesses greener. IBM has been reducing its own consumption of electricity and water for more than 20 years. (between 1990 and 2000 it reduced its energy use by 5.1 billion kilowatt hours). The company's sustainability Management System technology, aims to help clients operate their commercial building more efficiently. They are also helping cities manage traffic congestion challenges. NEWSWEEK ranked IBM no 3 on the US list and No.1 on the global ranking.

4. Johnson & Johnson's has created climate-change policies, with clear goals and deadlines. They they achieved a 16 percent reduction of baseline CO2 emission levels between 1990 and 2010, which is more than double their planned reduction. Between 2005 and 2009, the company also reduced nonharzardous wase by 32 percent and hazardous waste by 32 percent, exceeding its goal of 10 percent. They have also met or exceeded their goals in paper, packaging, and energy efficiency. They have even installed solar panels in their New Jersey site. They earned a score of 98.86 in NEWSWEEK's rankings.

5. Intel is committed to energy efficiency and has reduced waste and toxic materials. Where possible it is sourcing suitable alternatives to toxic materials. It also has high recycling rates for both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The company ties a portion of its employees' compensation to reaching environmental goals. The corporation has been the Environmental Protection Agency's largest green power purchaser among Fortune 500 companies for the past three years, with almost half its US energy coming from renewable sources. NEWSWEEK's Rankings gave them an environmental impact score of 95.74.

6. Sprint Nextel is increasing energy efficiency within its networks and using renewable energy. Sprint Nextel is the first US wireless provider to announce a target for reducing its absolute greenhouse-gas emissions. It is on track to reduce emissions by 15 percent between 2007 and 2017. The company offers three environmentally friendly phones and a leading product-recycling program that aims to recycle 99 percent of products. They scored 94.98 in NEWSWEEK's rankings.

7. Adobe has focused on office building operations, waste management program, and product packaging. The company is leading in the area of green buildings, they currently have four buildings that have the highest level of the US Green Buildings Concil's LEED certification. Employees within some of these buildings practice diligent recycling and composting. Adobe also launched an environmentally sensitive redesign of its software packaging. The firm's overall Green Rankings score came in at 94.15.

8. Applied Materials is a supplier of manufacturing systems and services to the global semiconductor industry. Compared to 2006, it reduced CO2 emissions by 21 percent compared and reduced water usage by 18 percent. The company also has programs for reducing the hazardous waste it generates and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) it emits as part of its manufacturing. It has also made significant strides in reducing solid waste sent to landfills by nearly 90 percent. It achieved a NEWSWEEK rating of 92.67.

9. Yahoo encourages its 600 million worldwide users to be environmentally aware. Its Yahoo Green site is the top destination on the Internet for green lifestyle tips. Yahoo is also a leader in improving the efficiency of its data centers. Its efforts include purchasing energy from renewable sources. Its new data center in Lockport, N.Y., which monitors the Yahoo infrastructure, consumes 40 percent less energy and uses 95 percent less water than conventional data centers. The water saved is enough to provide drinking water for 200,000 people for a year. NEWSWEEK gave them a score of 92.67.

10. Nike is working efficiency and use of renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2015. It has woven environmental issues into its supply chain considerations. Company programs evaluate and improve the environmental footprint of its suppliers, including checks on chemical toxicity, water use, and carbon emissions. Nike is also investing in new teleconferencing equipment to cut down on business travel and has an excellent Reputation Survey score of 97.39. The company's overall Green Rankings score came in at 92.66.


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