Participate in the Mid-Atlantic region’s first comprehensive employer survey to identify “green” employment and training opportunities. The Green Jobs Survey was recently mailed to 35,000 employers located across the region. The survey defines a green job as one that involves producing a product or service in one or more of the following seven categories:
- Renewable energy and alternative fuels
- Energy efficiency and energy conservation
- Greenhouse gas reduction
- Pollution reduction and cleanup
- Recycling and waste reduction
- Sustainable agricultural and natural resources conservation
- Education, compliance, public awareness, and training directly related to green jobs
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is partnering with this regional effort to encourage employers receiving the survey to quickly complete it, and mail it back in the attached postage-paid envelope. While the initial survey is a paper-pencil mailed survey, respondents will also have the option of completing the survey online or by phone. The survey closes at the end of August.
The results of this inaugural Green Jobs Survey will assist both employers hiring skilled workers and skilled workers pursing new employment. Survey results will also establish a baseline from which to measure future growth of green industries and jobs. In addition, information from the survey will assist policy makers to better align education and training opportunities and create a better prepared workforce to support the region’s expanding green industries. Initial results of the survey will be available mid-October and a final comprehensive report will be available in early 2011. Learn more.
There are many factors to take into account when considering whether to install a solar power system, whether it is a solar electric system, solar hot water system or any other system that uses solar energy as its power source. Some of the factors include space, annual usage, and benefits available to you for installing the system.
This video from Constellation Energy gives a good overview of what should be included in a checklist for a large-sized operation considering installing a solar power system:
Solar systems are also available for smaller commercial operations, as well as residential properties. Some of the same requirements still apply, such as a clear space not shaded by trees or other obstructions and sufficient installation space. But, requirements vary dependent on the type of system you wish to install, and many companies will work with you to determine solutions to incorporate a system into your space.
There are a number of local resources available to learn more about the benefits of solar systems and installation requirements including, Constellation Energy, Greenspring Energy, Solar Energy World, and Aztec Solar Power.
Mosaic, located in Cheverly, Md., is an FSC certified printer.
- Mosaic uses printing presses that are capable of eco-friendly printing techniques, such as waterless and UV printing.
When you receive a post card, informational brochure or booklet in the mail, you probably don’t think twice about the amount of work that went into the creation of the piece—the designing, the proofing, choosing the paper, making sure the inks and coloring are just right, the folding, cutting, scoring and binding. But for those at Mosaic, the printing process is their passion.
Nestled in the hills of Cheverly, Md., Mosaic’s presses whirr away through the day and night shifts, printing materials with the latest technologies and methods to fulfill taking care of their other passion – the environment.
Mosaic is Forest Stewardship Council certified printer, which assures that the FSC certified papers they purchase come from managed sustainable forests. Mosaic also recycles over 12,000 tons of materials annually and 90 percent of Mosaic’s press solvents are recovered through their solvent recovery and cleaning system. Mosaic is 100 percent wind powered, avoiding approximately 4,600 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year—the same amount as taking over 350 cars off the road for a year.
Mosaic's solvent recovery and cleaning system reuses 90% of their press solvents, reducing 118 drums of waste produced annually to less than 10 drums.
Mosaic is one of few printers that have invested in the latest eco-friendly printing technologies, including waterless and UV printing. These printing processes eliminate many harmful chemicals used in conventional offset printing, save time, energy, paper and water, as well as use zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) inks.
“We are dedicated to being mindful of our use of the earth’s natural resources, our impact on it and our responsibilities to our industry as an environmental leader,” Mosaic’s environmental mission statement says. “Every day our actions shall promote sustainability in our industry and in the lives of our employees.”
That dedication has been recognized. The Environmental Protection Agency has ranked Mosaic as number one in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, and number 14 in the U.S. in their Top Print Partner Rankings.
Kelly Eldringhoff, an Account Executive for Mosaic, explained why Mosaic holds itself to high environmental standards:
“What it all boils down to is responsibility. It is an expense to invest in these environmental initiatives, and the technology that is required, and we don’t pass along any additional cost,” she said. “It’s pure responsibility and doing the right thing and the foundation that this company was built on.”
For more information about Mosaic visit www.mosaicprint.com.
In the last ‘Green Office Tips’ we talked about going green with your professional publications by choosing a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified printer and environmentally friendly printing techniques. This week we’ll explore how to go green with your in-house printing.
There are several options when deciding how to go green with your office’s paper and printer needs. Each can save you money and reduce waste.
Going paperless: The thought of going paperless within an office can send some people into a fit of protest. But if your office can cope with the changes, going paperless can both help the environment and boost your office’s productivity and organization.
Electronic document management systems enable you to track a document from its creation, through any manipulations it undergoes, to its storage and circulation. Even contracts can be created and signed electronically—e-signatures are equally binding under the law. For sensitive documents, security levels, permissions and access can be assigned, and electronic document storage adds extra protection in the event of a fire or other disaster. It organizes your office’s documents so that files can be located and retrieved quickly and eases preparations for audits and regulatory compliance.
Electronic document management systems also eliminate wasteful printing and duplication that consumes both material resources and employee time.
“Without an electronic document system, you might have had to scan a document and print several copies to send to people of interest. With the system, you can scan that one piece of paper and send it directly to those people’s emails,” Lindsay Kelley, Marketing Manager of Advance, a document management service provider, said.
If you cannot go completely paperless, there are other ways to be environmentally conscious with your office printing.
Choosing paper: According to the FSC, the U.S. consumes about 100 million tons of paper each year. One ton of office paper may require up to 24 trees to produce. Choosing FSC certified paper, which assures that the paper comes from managed, sustainable forests, or recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content possible can make a big difference. Recycled paper is often cost-competitive or costs even less than virgin paper.
Waste paper should be recycled, and double-sided printing should be used whenever possible.
Choosing equipment: Choose copier and printer suppliers that employ green programs, such as toner and cartridge recycling, machine recycling and refurbishing, and machine reuse programs, where equipment that is at the end of a contract is reused as a loaner or for wholesale.
Advance employs several environmental programs that recycle and reuse equipment and supplies.
“We partner with companies that can take back machines and strip them down and take everything that’s reusable. Our partners can also recycle up to 98 percent of an old machine that is not reusable,” Kelley said. “These pieces of equipment can do a lot of environmental damage when they’re just dropped in a landfill. It’s in our best interest, and the best interest of our children and future generations to invest in these programs and initiatives.”
