Joyce Gioia-Herman - Future Workforce Trends

Saving Water through Technology

Sometimes, due to external circumstances, a product that has been around for a long time becomes economically and socially viable seemingly overnight. No one would argue that water shortages plague many areas of the globe and especially throughout many regions of the southeastern United States.

Though the product Bonaqua® (now from Joseph Charles, Inc.) has been around for more than 20 years, it was never marketed appropriately, in part because water was in relatively plentiful supply. This leading-edge process eliminates the need for chemicals, often used to remove the minerals and other impurities that cause scale and corrosion in water pipes. Even more impressive is that in most cases, the product can be installed in a day and requires no external power source.

Already installed selectively around the world, this technology makes being environmentally responsible not only economically feasible, but actually profitable. When Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina installed the system, the college saved USD$36,000 in chemicals and 6.1 Million gallons of water (almost USD$50,000). Moreover, Meredith realized increased efficiency of its equipment and the lengthening of asset life. The breakeven on Meredith's investment came at a remarkable seven and a half months.

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Herman Trend Alert: Free for All---Recycling Unwanted Machines

Just in time to save cash-strapped consumers comes a movement to encourage "giving away usable unwanted items to others instead of depositing them in landfills". (Wikipedia) Called "freecycling" or "free recycling", this concept offers a socially conscious, environmentally responsible way to eliminate overhead.

Many of us have seen perfectly good furniture and other items set out at the curb for the garbage men to take. Some of us "went shopping" at the curbs, when we were in college.

Registered in the United States, The Freecycle Network (TFN), sometimes known as Freecycle, is a non-profit organization. TFN has organized a worldwide network of "gifting" groups: With a worldwide online registry, including groups in Brazil, Columbia, Singapore, and Slovakia, the organization coordinates the creation of local groups and forums for individuals and non-profits which offer and receive free items for reuse or recycling. Promoting gift economics as a motivating cultural outlook, the official tagline of TFN is: "Changing the world one gift at a time".

As of February 2006, TFN passed the 2 million member mark; it has a global organization of over four thousand local chapters. As of this writing, the membership was an impressive 6,626,000 in 4,726 communities across the globe. Hundreds of similar groups worldwide have replicated TFN's original idea. TFN now has a number of corporate sponsors, including its first, Waste Management, Inc. For information about a community near you, visit http://www.freecycle.com

A wide variety of products are freecycled, from computers to copy machines, from televisions to toasters, from food to fuel to cars to paper goods. Whatever you have that you want to dispose of, there is someone who can make good use of it.

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Energy from Algae

When we wrote about biofuels in the past (http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive_6-13-2007.html), we included the importance of using non-food-grade feed stocks. Versatile algae can be fed sewage and carbon dioxide and grown in many places, including deserts, ponds, and oceans. Within the next year or two we expect the number of companies involved in producing biofuels from algae, already over 50, to double.

For years, ExxonMobil was publically skeptical about biofuels; last month, the company invested about $600 million into a collaborative research and development program with Synthetic Genomics. According to a research associate with Lux Research, private investment in algae fuel ventures has at least doubled every year since 2006. This trend is likely to continue.

Among other approaches, Synthetic Genomics is considering the use of adjusted metabolic pathways in algae to boost the plant's oil production. (Metabolic pathways are processes involving genes and proteins that facilitate the transformation of algae to biofuels.)

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Green Banks Thrive

Capitalizing on the green movement, a growing number of financial institutions have sprouted up in the United States and elsewhere. Promoting earth-friendly policies, these green banks have appeared in numerous US cities and other countries, including France, Mexico, and elsewhere.

The concept originated in Europe with the need to finance "alternative projects", socially and environmentally desirable developments. Committed to ethical and responsible banking practices, France's Credit Agricole supports producing responsible products and services and reducing effects of climate change.

Green banks support environmentally friendly strategies by providing lower interest rates on loans to green builders and borrowers who buy fuel-efficient cars, as well as incentives to depositors who opt out of paper statements. Consumers feel positively towards these green improvements. A recent survey found that 56 percent of respondents believe paperless statements to be ecologically friendly---not just a cost-cutting ploy on the part of the banks.

As the economy emerges from its contraction, GreenChoice Bank, located in the Midwest, hopes to be one of the region’s first green lenders. GreenChoice’s chief operating officer, Steve Sherman, is accredited in green building practices by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). GreenChoice will reward green builders and penalize consumers who opt to continue to receive paper statements. They will soon provide envelope-free ATM deposits and "remote deposit capture", a way for business customers to deposit checks without visiting a bank.

Another example: First Green Bank, which opened last February, offered zero-interest loans to workers who bought cars that get more than 30 miles a gallon.

Another traditional lender, PrivateBank, financed part of a USD $1 million-plus loan for the Little Green Tree House that opened an environmentally friendly day-care center.

Jumping on the bandwagon, the major banks of the US have embraced green practices. HSBC donated $100 million USD to four environmental organizations and Wachovia, now a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, announced that it would build only "green branches" as it expanded into California and Texas.

Expect more financial institutions and other enterprises worldwide to join in this green movement; it makes organizations more attractive to both internal and external customers.

Looking Forward. . .

Joyce Gioia-Herman

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Resorts Going Green

Ecotourism is "in". People want to believe their precious vacations are not creating a giant carbon footprint to harm the environment, but rather are at least carbon neutral. And the hoteliers are responding. Going green is not just a good idea for impressing guests and supporting the environment, but energy-saving practices also often benefit the bottom line. For now, some resorts will use it as their "unique selling propositions".

In Hawaii, an increasing number of hotels and resorts now use recycled water and computer-monitored ‘fertigation’ (irrigation with doses of organic fertilizer). Another attractive feature they provide is beach-site, solar-power restrooms.

Nominated for the World's Leading Green Resort and located in Bahia, Salvador, Brazil's is the beautiful and luxurious Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte. Boasting five stars, this idyllic resort features simple architecture in harmony with the spectacular scenery and the impressive biodiversity of the area. Guests enjoy colorful gardens and natural pools as well as "a culinary journey through exotic flavors".

Founded after British environmentalist/businessman, Jan Telensky happened upon a pipe gushing hot water near Slovakia's High Tatras Mountains, AquaCity was named the World's Leading Green Resort in both 2008 and 2009. AquaCity uses available geothermal energy to heat and power its extensive facilities.

Guests minimize their carbon footprints, at the same time enjoying the highest standards of service at affordable prices. AquaCity has earned a global reputation for its pioneering approach to green tourism. Since it opened, it has welcomed over 2 million travelers and now daily saves more than 27 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

In the February issue of its in-flight, Qantas announced its "Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism". Among its state award winners are the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Australia. The hotel identified 30 actions it could take to become more eco-friendly. Among them are replacing light bulbs, reducing water and gas usage, and installation of a system that reduces in-room air-conditioning use by 25 to 40 per cent.

Expect the "green movement" to gain momentum, as every industry will look for ways to go green, while saving energy (and money) and attracting both talent and customers.

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GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION

If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! www.hermangroup.com/assessments.html

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ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Check out The Herman Group web site for free and low-cost resources to help you attract and retain top talent. Visit http://www.hermangroup.com/valuable_resources.html to see some interesting articles; then to see our list of valuable, yet inexpensive, downloads at
http://www.hermangroup.com/store/pdf_articles.html

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Looking Forward. . .

Joyce Gioia-Herman

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Another First Step

From the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) comes a breakthrough
that is certainly a first step in artificially producing hydrogen reserves.
Energy companies could then use these reserves to generate electricity or even
produce liquid fuels for transportation.

Using sunlight, MIT researchers have created a catalyst solution that splits
water into its two atomic components---hydrogen and oxygen. Imitating
photosynthesis in plants, the researchers engineered M13, a simple, harmless
virus that assists in the separation process.

In this process, the hydrogen atoms in the water are actually split into
their component protons and electrons. Within two years, the team hopes to
develop a new process that would combine these components back into hydrogen
that could be stored.

Other researchers had already developed different systems that use
electricity to split water molecules. As the team explained in their article
published in the journal "Nature Nanotechnology" (www.nature.com), the
difference is that their system, based on biology, uses sunlight, rather than
electricity, to power the reaction.

The approach that proved the best was to mimic the processes that take place
in plants, rather than simply borrowing their components and re-adapt them like
others had done before. "In plants, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight while catalysts
promote the water-splitting reaction." The team engineered a wire-like,
bacterial virus that efficiently splits the oxygen from water molecules.

Acting as the chlorophyll the virus captures light, then, acting like a wire,
transfers the energy down its length. The viruses' wire-like structure also
allows the other ingredients to line up in such a way that it drastically
improves the system's efficiency.

To be competitive with solar power, the new system must be at least 10 times
more efficient than natural photosynthesis. Moreover, the system must be able to
repeat the reaction almost indefinitely, as well as use cheaper materials. MIT
has clearly accomplished the first step.

Sometimes we forget the importance of pure science in our technological
advancement. Support for research like MIT's will be critical to US remaining
competitive. More importantly, our support of Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math (STEM) subjects will be important, if we are to have the people to
conduct this research.

Looking Forward. . .

Joyce L. Gioia

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Rewarding Consumers for Saving Energy

Recently, Hilton Worldwide announced it has been secretly monitoring the energy use in 1300 of its 3500 hotels worldwide. Using its proprietary system LightStay, the corporation has calculated and analyzed its environmental impact.

In the first full-year of findings, the 1,300 LightStay-equipped properties conserved enough energy to power 5,700 homes for a year, saved enough water to fill more than 650 Olympic-size pools, and reduced carbon output equivalent to taking 34,865 cars off the road. Reductions in water and energy use alone also translated into estimated savings of more than USD $29 million in utility costs for hotel owners in 2009.

Using LightStay, the Hilton properties reduced energy use by 5 percent, carbon output by 6 percent, waste output by 10 percent, and water use by 2.4 percent in 2009 over 2008. (Hilton engaged an independent auditor and adjusted the results for differences in occupancy levels and major weather events year over year.)

LightStay is an integral part of Hilton's effort to implement sustainability practices in every aspect of their businesses---helping them to quantify their impact on the environment. Excited about their first year results, they have committed to using LightStay throughout their entire network by December 31, 2011.

LightStay measures indicators across 200 operational practices including housekeeping, paper product use, food waste, chemical storage, air quality, and transportation. The data inspired the Hilton New York to donate more than 5,000 pounds of leftover food to a local charity---food that would have gone to waste. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=88577&p=irol-newsArticleOther&ID=1415140&highlight=

On the heels of this announcement, hotelworld Network blogger Jason Freed suggests an "Eco-Loyalty Program" for rewarding "eco-conscious travelers". Freed proposes rewarding them for participation in various sustainability initiatives---particularly those in hotels, including a monitored-temperature program, towel and linen programs, recycling paper and plastic, eating organic in the restaurant, taking the hotel shuttle instead of a taxi, and having the receipt e-mailed instead of printed. http://www.hotelworldnetwork.com/green-new-concept-reward-eco-conscious-travelers/?utm_source=HWN&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily_04_22_10&utm_content=green-new-concept-reward-eco-conscious-travelers

Sustainability is not just good for the environment, it's also good for the bottom line. Given the tremendous cost savings for hoteliers and other businesses, we believe it is only a matter of time before we see these rewarding ideas implemented to effect all kinds of savings.

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JOYCE DEBUTS NEW TECH: SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 20 AT 4PM EDT

Wonder about the Future of Speaking, Training and Meetings? Attend this special online seminar and see for yourself this breakthrough technology that combines streaming video with PowerPoint®. You don't want to miss out and space is limited, so sign up today http://www.telenect.com/u/2b4e66x3w0

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FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL

Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html

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THERE'S A REASON WHY ASSESSMENTS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR

The reason is because they work to help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! http://www.hermangroup.com/assessments.html

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Looking Forward. . .

Joyce L. Gioia

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People Experiencing Green Fatigue

Adults in the United States are now less likely to demonstrate "green" attitudes and engage in various environmentally friendly activities, than they were in the summer of 2009. According to a new Harris Poll, these folks are now less likely to engage in green behaviors in their daily life.

Interestingly, the exception to this finding is adults who self-identify as being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender (LGBT). These non-traditional adults reported being "greener" than their heterosexual counterparts. LGBT adults are more likely to express concern for the environment, describe themselves in green terms (e.g., environmentalist, "green," conservationist), and say environmental issues are important to their voting and purchasing decisions.

Specifically, compared to 2009, adults in America are now less likely to engage in various green behaviors in their daily life, including making efforts to use less water, purchase locally grown produce and locally manufactured products, and compost organic waste.

Moreover, US adults are also less likely think or act green to have adopted certain environmental activities in the past year. In fact, six percent fewer purchased Energy Star appliances, nine percent fewer donated or recycled electronics; six percent fewer switched from bottled to tap water, five percent fewer installed a low-flow showerhead or toilet and, five percent fewer purchased a hybrid or more fuel-efficient car.

A more shocking finding is that now only 36 percent of adults say they are concerned about the planet they are leaving behind for future generations, compared to 43 percent who said so in 2009. Plus, fewer adults said environmental issues were "very or extremely important" to them when deciding how to vote for political candidates as well.

We believe that this waning of support for the environment is the direct result of the worldwide Great Recession and the distraction of the American public by more immediately pressing (and personal) issues. When people everywhere are struggling to survive, they are much less likely to consider the effects of their actions. Expect this trend to reverse, once unemployment is significantly reduced and the economy really recovers for ordinary people. Increasingly alarming climate changes will also draw more attention to the imperative of "going green".

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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM

A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548. We expect to schedule at least two in the first half of 2011.

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FOR A DYNAMIC KEYNOTE SPEAKER?

You need look no farther. Joyce Gioia (joy-yah) is a sought-after speaker for corporate and association audiences. Joyce shares her knowledge and expertise about talent engagement and retention with business executives around the globe. Her understandings and insights will inform and fascinate you. For more information, call Carol McKinney at 336-282-9370 or visit the web site at http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html for more information on Joyce's topics.

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FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL

Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html

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Looking Forward. . .

Joyce L. Gioia

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GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION

ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION RESOURCES AVAILABLE

JOYCE DEBUTS NEW TECH: SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 20 AT 4PM EDT

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL

THERE'S A REASON WHY ASSESSMENTS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM

FOR A DYNAMIC KEYNOTE SPEAKER?

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL

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More Keyboard Culture...

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GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION

ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION RESOURCES AVAILABLE

JOYCE DEBUTS NEW TECH: SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 20 AT 4PM EDT

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL

THERE'S A REASON WHY ASSESSMENTS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM

FOR A DYNAMIC KEYNOTE SPEAKER?

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL

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Keyboard Culture
Experts

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