We're giving away our review copy of The Looking Book by P.K. Hallinan, the green book we recommend as a holiday gift for parents.
eBbooks are getting much more attention than audiobooks, but did you know that audiobooks are already generating annual sales of around billion dollars? The Audio Publishers Association (APA) also reported that the audiobook industry experienced only a slight drop in sales in 2008, comparable to those of the trade book industry.
Why it's a great holiday gift for eco-shoppers?
If you know a small business owner or employee, you know small businesses are struggling in the current economy. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet to get out of the recession, but there are some ways to increase the chances to survive in the short term and prosper in the long term, and one of them is the green way. How you do it? Jennifer Kaplan's book is one of the best places to start with.
Going green has many definitions, but for small businesses it can definitely mean saving money and increasing profits by making your business more eco-friendly. The book is systematically covering all the relevant aspects for a small biz - marketing, transportation, energy, HR, office supplies, etc. In each of these subjects, the small biz owners will find information that will help them to identify their problems and practical advice on how to solve them.
This is in a way a "how-to" guide, but it's different and better of many other green guides that are out there. Firstly, it's very practical - when it talks about an issue, such as direct mailing or waste reduction, it provides effective recommendations and tips for successful implementation. Second, it offers simple ways to make the workplace greener, which is especially important for those who are afraid that going green is equivalent to starting a small revolution. Third, it provides great case studies that help to make everything more relevant and realistic by providing examples of small companies that are really taking the steps the book is talking about.
Now, going green is not a guarantee for business prosperity, but it's a part that is becoming more and more essential, especially when it comes to small businesses. Now, given the fact that it's not really that complicated to implement these win-win ideas, I think each and every one of the 26.4 million small businesses in the U.S. should take it into consideration. So if you know anyone who owns or works in one of these businesses, this is definitely the book for them.
Price: $14.36Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the publisher.
We’re big advocates of “going paperless.” Our desks are free of 
folders, pens, printers and sticky notes. There’s not a single TPS report to be found. We’re also big advocates of software. So, when a visitor to our website shared their concern about the paper waste from printing blueprints, we were intrigued. Can estimating and takeoff software end the destruction of forests (or at least save a few thousand trees)?
37 Million Blueprints Are Printed Every YearIn turn, this allows contractors to determine the cost of a job, then bid on the project. It reduces miscalculations and helps contractors avoid over or under bidding a job. This is the key to job profitability.
So what will be the impetus for change? For starters, we think federal incentives could help. Just as the government is handing out incentives for doctors that switch from paper charts to electronic medical records, there could be an incentive for construction companies to migrate from blueprints to software.
Secondly, we think the US Green Building Council should create a LEED credit for builders using software instead of blueprints. This credit would be appropriate for the existing “Innovation in Design” category. It could be awarded to companies that use software in place of blueprints to carry out pre-construction activities.
This article originally published at: The End of Blueprints.
Why it's a great holiday gift for eco-shoppers?
There are many green guides out there. Some of them are good, some of them aren't so good, but none of the guides I'm familiar with is as thorough and frank as Ecoholic. Adria Vasil's guide is proud in naming names and giving you the dirt on what not to buy and why, and this is a rare quality that makes it a very valuable companion to any green journey, whether you want to buy an eco-friendly laundry detergent or cookware.
There are many people who already take steps to to green up their lifestyle, but are still full with questions and not only about the basics, such what is biodegradable or natural toothpaste mean, but also about the differences between brands and which one is actually better. Ecoholic is the place where they can find these answers.
The book is well organized, divided to subjects (what not to wear, food for thought, outer space and so on), has a very good glossary at the end and even an index to help readers easily find what they're looking for.
Finally, Adria Vasil's writing is nothing but dull. This maze of green information is not easy to master, but she meets this challenge and makes it what looks as almost impossible - accessible, thorough and fun read.
And it doesn't matter if your friend or family member is a beginner or a more advanced eco-shopper - in both cases they'll find this book valuable and an interesting read.
Price: $12.21
Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the publicist.
We're back with another tip on our weekly series of green printing tips, where we bring you information on green printing in collaboration with Greg Barber, an experienced eco-friendly printer.
I attended a sustainable meeting at NYU last week and came away with a few good Green tips on direct marketing - how to make it effective and minimize its footprint at the same time.
Why it's a great holiday gift for parents?
I think there is almost no parent out there who doesn't deal with the problem that kids nowadays prefer to stay at home, usually in front of the computer or the TV, instead of playing outside. Now, research suggests that playtime may be as important to a child's academic experience as spelling tests or problem solving, but I also think there is an important "green" added value for this kind of experience. When nature is no stranger to a kid, then I believe she or he will grow up to be more sensitive and caring about nature and the environment.
When kids learn about it only through the virtual world, there's a good chance they won't be able to recognize all the richness and the beauty we have around us and hence won't be that concerned about protecting and supporting mother earth.
The lively rhyming with the beautiful illustrations making this book both educational and fun and can actually help parents in what some may see as mission (almost) impossible - getting children to open the door, go outside, play and enjoy in the wonders of the world around them.
Price: $12.74
GIVEAWAY ALERT!!
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