Minimizing our Carbon Footprint

One step, one action at a time

Joan's sensitivity to environmental concerns can be traced back to her childhood. Her father was a conservationist in the 1960's, though his efforts were likely economic rather than "green." Lamenting the fact that they didn't have a lawn like every other family on the block, but instead a front yard filled with drought-friendly desert like plants native to Southern California, Joan was no doubt influenced by the conservation efforts of her parents.

She started to develop her own environmental consciousness while attending UC Berkeley in California, at which time she chose to write a research paper called "Drip Drop" about the enhanced communication efforts between the local water utility and the Bay Area community during the drought of 1976. A couple of the practices she incorporated during that period persist today, though the need to do so subsided in 1977. For example, when washing dishes she still turns off the water between rinsing each dish that is hand washed. It's a simple habit, but who knows how much water she's NOT used over the past 24 years.

Today's efforts at Lifework Business Partners

• Home based business since the beginning. LBP, like many other service businesses today, was launched as a home based business. This has been good for the well being of the business owner, and significantly reduces the many aspects of stress and consumption associated with commuting.
• No commute - except for periodic outside business meetings we use the phone and email to communicate with the majority of our clients and to conduct other business. Total car miles per year are less than 8,000, business and pleasure.
• Virtual Business Team - we subcontract with other business owners around the country, also working from home offices, to support our business efforts. Many are women entrepreneurs with children, though not all. Included are our bookkeeper, administrative and marketing assistants, web designers and coaches throughout the US.
• No dry cleaning bills - ever
• Lunch prepared and eaten at home office - 90% of the time. Keeps use of paper, plastic and styrofoam containers to minimum.
• Coffee prepared and consumed at home - no paper cups, far less money spent. Reusable containers from two popular coffee houses travel with us out of the office (when remembered) to further minimize use of such materials. Fair Trade and/or coffee from local producers at the local farmer's market are purchased about 75% of the time.
• In 2010 moved 25 miles closer to Washington DC - eliminated 50 miles from round trip commute to business meetings in and around DC. Increased business opportunities while significantly reducing miles traveled, gasoline purchased and time in car. Use Metro Rail system whenever possible.

Conservation Efforts at the Office

• Turn on lights only when needed.
• Purchase Energy Star equipment when possible - newest laptop by HP , dishwasher, washer and dryer all have energy star features, which we use.
• Shred and recycle paper waste, and clean and recycle other paper and plastic products.
• Purchase recycled paper products (printer paper, napkins, paper towels and toilet paper). Only printer paper is some times less than 100% recycled materials.
• Use washable wipe-up towels in the kitchen which has significantly reduced our use of paper towels.
• Transitioning to rechargeable batteries for our computer peripherals and to CFL light bulbs.
• Use window and shades to keep house cool and air conditioner at 79-81 degrees in summer when absolutely needed, heater (and warmer clothing) at 68 in winter when needed. Turn off completely between 10 pm and 6:30 pm except in the extremes of summer.
• Purchase Native Energy to offset carbon footprint as estimated by Native Energy organization.

Community Support and Volunteer Efforts

Lifework Business Partners received the 10% Solution certification in 2009, an independent verification of our efforts to give back to the local community. When Joan lived in Southern California she was an active volunteer leader in the Orange County chapter of the International Coach Federation for 5 years. For three of those years she served sequentially as president elect, president and immediate past president. She also served on the volunteer handbook committee in 2004 at the national level. Joan worked for a short time with Working Wardrobes in Orange County, California, as a career coach in their foster care joint career program with Orangewood.

Since moving to Northern Virginia in 2009, Joan has focused her efforts in two directions. She is an active volunteer for the Green Business Network at Green America, averaging 1-2 hours a week. Additionally, she's been co-leader of the Green Economy Group of EcoWomen DC since summer of 2009.

In all her efforts, Joan has contributed her business knowledge, coaching and facilitation skills to her volunteer work.

Products - Vendors and Materials

All of our products, whether audio or workbook products, are available for download to your computer in ebook or mp3 format, accordingly. We find that most of our customers prefer the convenience of an immediately downloadable product, and that by giving them this choice we also minimize the use of paper and CD's. While we realize that you are likely to print what you order from us, you may choose to print on recycled paper, or only portions of a workbook, and double or single sided copies.

The Master Calendar Solution and Delegation Planning Kit workbooks are produced through an on-demand printer, Vervante. We chose them because they require no inventory be carried and will produce our products fully on demand regardless how few or how many are ordered in a single year. Vervante prints our workbooks on standard paper stock made from 30% recycled paper.  Furthermore, they use a recycling service for paper products, cardboard and discs.

We don't have information about the labor practices (living wages, reasonable hours, and fair treatment) at the printing facility Vervante outsources to at this time, though we have asked. When looking for a printer who could verify fair labor and conservation efforts we've not yet found one that will also accomodate our preference to print only when a customer orders a printed copy of a workbook without adding a significant premium to the cost of our products. So we appreciate our arrangement with Vervante.

For more information about our efforts, please contact us.