Mix Business Travel With Volunteerism
The Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica is popular with businesses looking to combine team building with social responsibility. The five-star luxury resort works with a program called Growing Together to organize custom volunteer experiences based on your budget, experience and time. Groups help communities on Costa Rica's Papagayo peninsula; your team may be tapped to plant a garden, paint a school, or build a fence.
Website: http://www.fourseasons.com/costarica
Charge Your Phone With the Sun
Looking for an energy-efficient way to talk business during road trips? The Iogear Bluetooth Hands-Free speakerphone mounts to a car windshield and gets a charge from the sun, even on overcast days. It takes about 10 to 12 hours to fully charge for about 12 hours of talk time.
Website: http://www.iogear.com
Stay at a Green Hotel
Luxury and environmental consciousness go hand-in-hand at the Orchard Hotel, one of San Francisco's first LEED-certified hotels. The building features low-emission paint and carpets made from partially recycled material. Housekeeping uses only non-toxic cleaning supplies and the bathrooms are stocked with organic products. Another environmental plus: the hotel, located two blocks from Union Square, is steps away from the Powell Street cable car line, so there's no need to rent some gas-guzzling car.
Website: http://www.theorchardhotel.com
Frequent Green Businesses in Other Cities
There's no reason to feel guilty about that Iced Angeleno -- four shots of Black Cat espresso shaken with ice, agave nectar and milk -- at Intelligentsia Coffee: The beans are sourced directly from growers committed to healthy environmental and sustainable social practices. The chain has five spacious coffee bars in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Website: http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
Use Green Gadgets on the Go
Stuck in meetings all day, but can't wait to hit the great outdoors after? The Casio Pathfinder is the watch for you. It gets a charge from just a few minutes of sunlight a day, and it also powers up under fluorescent lights indoors. This watch, which is water resistant up to 100 meters, includes useful features such as a compass and thermometer. Plus, you’ll never need a replacement battery.
Website: http://www.casio.com
Links:
[1] http://www.fourseasons.com/costarica
[2] http://www.iogear.com
[3] http://www.theorchardhotel.com
[4] http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
[5] http://www.casio.com
[6] http://www.inc.com/ss/12-cool-web-tools-small-business
[7] http://www.inc.com/ss/10-must-have-blog-techniques
[8] http://www.inc.com/ss/tips-virtual-ceos
[9] http://www.inc.com/ss/15-ways-be-more-productive
[10] http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100401/on-the-road-with-a-supersalesman.html