Green Selling Tip: Preparing for the New Year

Allow me to begin by paraphrasing an old adage “if one has no specific destination in mind then any road will get you there.”

Thus among all the family events and Holiday shopping and end-of-year customer meetings it is also time to conduct an annual self-assessment to determine where you are, what you’ve accomplished during 2007, and finally develop a plan for 2008. And while all of this is very basic it saddens me to find sales people who don’t take these steps because it is the details that increase our chances of success.

Calls for Action

Three important items are still available for your input.

• Voting is currently still open for the revision of LEED-EB, and if you haven't already voted, PLEASE get your vote in today. More Here
• Green Seal issued a notice and call for comments on the revision to GS-37 (Green Seal Proposed Revised Environmental Standard For Industrial and Institutional Cleaners). More Here
• And, relative to the State of Illinois, a comment period on their Green Cleaning in Schools legislation is open for your input. More Here

ISSA Mexico Green Cleaning Workshop a Success

Bringing together representatives of key institutional markets, including education, healthcare, industrial facilities, and contract cleaners, the first “Green Cleaning Products and Services Workshops” to be held in Mexico City provided crucial information on greening the Mexican cleaning industry. The program was sponsored by ISSA and other key players and attracted representatives from more than 100 prominent organizations.

Ashkin Group News

Steve Ashkin appointed to editorial advisory board for Better Homes and Garden Magazine!, its circulation now reaching 3.7 million readers. If you purchase a copy of the January 2008 issue, you'll find a picture of Steve and loyal family dog Shelby on page 12!

Ashkin has also been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Healthy House Institute, and to the Technical Review Panel for the Green Guide to Healthcare.

Cleaning Industry Climate Initiative launched!
The Cleaning Industry Climate Initiative will create awareness and help companies, especially janitorial product distributors and facility service providers to voluntarily begin measuring, reducing and offsetting their emissions.

The Green Cleaning Network, the initiative’s co-sponsor along with the Leonardo Academy, has stuck true to the wishes of its Board of Directors – permitting only end-users in their online forums. But, due to the overwhelming interest from the supply side of the marketplace and their wish to become directly involved in making an important contribution to finding solutions for climate change, the initiative is particularly designed for distributors and facility service providers.

Please click here to read the entire press release (PDF file).

Green News Roundup: This Month's Top Headlines

The Green Consumer Eco-friendly product claims often misleading. America's store shelves are filled with products claiming to be good for the environment. But some environmentalists think you're being "greenwashed." From NPR's "Morning Edition". Read More Here

Global Green Bali leaves big concessions needed on climate change It is a deal that, for all its flaws and limitations, just six months ago few had thought would come. For the next two years, government officials from 187 countries will meet regularly to hammer out an agreement intended to curb global warming. Read More

In our Backyard Bali climate plan leads to Washington The "Bali Roadmap" for new climate negotiations leads to one address and one date: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and Jan. 20, 2009 Read More

Green Group of the Month:
The Winners of American School and University Magazine's Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities

We also want to show appreciation to those out there who are currently setting future standards for comprehensive, quality, supported green cleaning programs - specifically, the inaugural winners of the American School and University Magazine's Green cleaning Award for Schools and Universities. Follow this link to read the complete article from American School and University Magazine (PDF file).

Universities
        Grand Award: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
        Honorable Mention: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Colleges
        Grand Award: Delta College, University Center, MI
        Honorable Mention: Union College, Schenectady, NY
Schools
        Grand Award: Hernando County Schools, Brooksville, FL
        Honorable Mention: Mayfield City School District, Mayfield Heights, OH

The Ashkin Group Calendar of Events

Click below for The Ashkin Group's schedule of upcoming events and presentations.