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Cincom Presents Webcast on Software Development in a Cost Conscious Environment (Marketwire)

CINCINNATI, OH–(Marketwire - January 12, 2010) - Cincom Systems recently developed a webcast featuring Gartner regarding how working with (or leveraging) dynamic languages can protect and enhance software development projects in a cost conscious environment ( http://www.itbriefingcenter.com/programs/gartner_913_cincom.html ). In the webcast, featured speaker Thomas E …

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Cincom Presents Webcast on Software Development in a Cost Conscious Environment (Marketwire)

NGOs face hostile environment - NT (di-ve)

NGOs are facing an increasingly hostile environment in which to voice their concerns, Nature Trust (Malta) commented.

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NGOs face hostile environment - NT (di-ve)

Environment reporter makes Guardian pullout (holdthefrontpage.co.uk)

An environment reporter on a Midlands daily saw her work featured in a national newspaper pullout after being shortlisted in an annual competition. Mary Griffin, from the Coventry Telegraph , was runner-up in the Guardian’s second International Development Journalism Competition which celebrates the best in journalistic writing about issues affecting the developing world.

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Environment reporter makes Guardian pullout (holdthefrontpage.co.uk)

Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc. (SMEV.PK) to be Featured in Small Cap Stock Newsletter QualityStocks Daily (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—-Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc. announced that they have agreed with QualityStocks to be featured in The Small Cap QualityStocks Daily Newsletter, QualityStocks Daily Blogs and Message Boards.

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Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc. (SMEV.PK) to be Featured in Small Cap Stock Newsletter QualityStocks Daily (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

Innovative Pond cleans up at Environment Awards (Scoop.co.nz)

An innovative dairy effluent storage system has been hailed as the way of the future at the Environment Southland Enviro Awards. The Hynds Hypond system featured in both the Rural Award won by David Hughes of Ballyhooley Dairies and the Environmental …

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Innovative Pond cleans up at Environment Awards (Scoop.co.nz)

Making a Green House

I’m talking here about building a green house, not a greenhouse. It’s about making a house that is friendly to the environment from the get go, so you don’t need to upgrade it later. You might need to spend more in the beginning, but in time those costs will be recovered and your finances will thank you.

First of all, when you make a green house, think of the electricity that it will use. One comfortable option would be to rely on the electricity provided by the city, but if you rely on renewable energy instead, you will save money and be environmentally friendly at the same time. It’s been decades since solar panels have been invented, but people still don’t take advantage of them like they should. You can use solar panels to provide you with electricity, while keeping the city power as a backup. The end result is a lot of money saved.

The second thing you should pay attention to is the insulation of the house. Icynene is an insulation material that is environmentally friendly and efficient. Air leaks should be hunted and fixed. Air leaks can increase the amount of money you spend on heating or air conditioning. Another option to save money and the environment is to get the heating lower during the winter and the AC higher during the summer.

The third option would be to buy appliances that are environmentally friendly. All your appliances should be energy star approved and up to date. It’s the same for your washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, computer monitor, TV or dryer. Absolutely everything should consume as little energy as possible. The toilets should be modern as well, as they consume a smaller quantity of water for each flush. Add recycling bins and use trash bags that are bio-degradable.

Going Green at Work

Wherever you are, at work, on the road or at home, it would be a good idea to go green. This is especially true for those that have a business or an office. Home isn’t the only place where people are vulnerable. Below are a few tips that you can follow if you want to go green at your office.

1. The office printer. A lot of people will use the printer from the office to print useless stuff. Since people don’t pay for the ink or the paper, they think it’s OK to do it. But, if they realized how harmful that is for the environment, they would stop. Only print stuff that needs to be printed. Chances are that you will not recycle absolutely everything you print, so you are hurting the environment when you do that. Also, try printing on both sides of the paper.

2. Going and returning from work is the most common type of transport all over the world. You hurt the planet and you spend money on petrol at the same time. Instead, try carpooling. If the distance allows it, consider using a bike. Other options are using the subway, train or the bus. You will help the planet and save some money at the same time. You can use that extra time to listen to an audio book or to music while you’re commuting. Instead of driving through all that road traffic, relax on the way to and from work. One other option would be to video conference, if you really want to work.

3. Instead of a desktop, get a laptop. Laptops consume less energy when compared to desktops and they’re also portable. To realize how they compare, a laptop will need around 50w of energy, with desktops needing around 270. The power saving features of laptops are also better than those of desktops.

Building a Green Business

Do you have your own company? If you haven’t already, you should consider going green. It’s not a very hard thing to do and since you are the owner, you need to take that decision. There are just some rules that need to be enforced in order to make the company green and you can see below which are those.

1. Make sure the employees recycle. If you want to do this the best option would be to add a recycling bin next to each garbage can. Then all that people need to do is put the recyclable stuff in the right bin, instead of going to one that is farther away from their desk. If people don’t need to make an effort to respect the rule, they will dispose of their garbage properly. Clean those bins at least once a day, or more often if it’s necessary. Also, add a recycle bin in the vicinity of the water cooler and of the office printer. A lot of the water cooler cups are usually not recycled.

2. Use refilling for your ink cartridges, instead of buying new ones. Besides helping the environment you also spend less when you refill them.

3. Use laptops instead of computers. While you need a considerable investment when you do that, in the long run you will save money. You also have the risk of laptops being stolen. Their advantage is that they have techniques to save power and they aren’t always plugged in.

4. If some of your employees live in the same area, encourage them to use group commuting. Or, if your business allows it, let them work from home. In this case, you only need a meeting room at the office, so you save money on the rent as well.

There are many other ways to help the environment and save some money in the process. All you need is the will to implement them.