What's coworking? And why is it so awesome?

For entrepreneurs and other independent workers, coworking offices like Green Spaces are an ideal alternative to working at home.

With the economy in a long, slow recovery, with many people still looking for work, some have created their own jobs. Others have found that working for someone else is frustrating, unfulfilling, or just doesn't fit their personalities (I'm a part of the latter group). For whatever reason, more people than ever before are working for themselves. About a year and a half ago, I chose to join the growing group of American workers who are independent workers, and while it has been a tough climb to financial stability (and I still don't have health insurance), I'm making it work — and I love it. 

The advantages are numerous; working for yourself means you set your own hours and work when it suits you best — I like to meditate and work out in the mornings, and then eat a big, homemade breakfast, so I don't get to my desk until 11 a.m., but I work until 7 or 8 most evenings. This schedule takes advantage of the time that I'm most productive. Other advantages include being able to work while traveling, and taking weekdays off when I feel like it (and working on a Sunday instead). And yes, sometimes I work in my pajamas, and in any case, am always wearing something comfortable and in a relaxed, healthy environment with lots of fresh air and quiet (no water cooler chit-chat or random pointless conversations with coworkers to distract me — one of the things that drove me really insane working in an office). 

 

But if you work at home, you know the cons. Sometimes it can feel isolating, or a bit lonely. Receiving all your business mail at your home means you are giving your home address out to anyone who asks, and separating work from home life is a challenge.

 

Enter coworking offices. I have recently begun working at one part-time in NYC called Green Spaces (the same owners have a similar office in Denver, too). It is lively and dynamic, but not loud or distracting, filled with other eco- and socially involved entrepreneurs and independent workers. While I'm working in an environment that's definitely not lonely or isolating, there are other advantages, too. It is inherently more economically sustainable, and shared resources means that it's more eco-friendly. Green Spaces is even greener by providing compost and recycling, a dishwasher for reusing dishes and glassware, as well as recycled paper in the shared printer, and other healthy aspects, including the use of green cleaners (so I can literally breathe easier). I can also take advantage of conference rooms to do interviews or conduct meetings and network at weekly lunches to crowdsource opinions, ideas and feedback about my work from people who do different, but related types of work. 

 

As a part-time coworker at Green Spaces, I just bring my laptop and set up in the laptop lounge, which is so much better than fighting for space at a coffee shop and feeling the need to leave after a couple of hours. But if you are in need of a real desk, a dedicated phone line, and storage space, Green Spaces offers that as well. Check out the company's virtual tour for more details. 

 

Coworking is growing in popularity across the U.S. and Europe, and I think it's the future of how we work — near, but not always in our homes, coworking offices like Green Spaces allow us to get out and about without the distractions of a typical office. And it gives us independent workers a place to go and an excuse to get out of our pajamas every day.

Message in a Bottle

By Mera McGrew

Mission Blue is offering an exclusive online preview of New York artist, Asher Jay’s, newest art installation — Sea Speak Sphere: Message in a Bottle. The art installation is part of a larger conceptual, collaborative campaign that aims to highlight various ocean initiatives and advocates marine conservation.

Jay told Mission Blue, “ I just wanted to come up with a way in which I could speak up for the oceans but that would also encompass all the voices that are doing something similar.”

The art installation is made up of 100 painted bottles that bring to life personal statements or “blue memos” about the world’s ocean from some of the biggest names in marine biology, conservation, photography, exploration, journalism and more. Using recycled plastic bottles, scrap paper, and paint Jay has found a way to offer a visual voice to help communicate complex ocean issues, solution strategies and urgent blue memos.

“Sea Speak Sphere is about collaboration, community and a strong commitment to the cause,” explained Jay. “This is a very quick way to communicate, in a glimpse, something that people don’t take time to fully understand or didn’t previously have a particular interest in.”

The meticulously curated content of the installation serves as a call to action for people from all walks of life. Jay explained, “I feel like images have the power to mobilize the masses, and that is why I am doing this…”

The premier of Sea Speak Sphere: Message in a Bottle by Asher Jay will premiere this Friday June 8th, 6:30-8:30pm at Green Spaces in New York. Preview the installation here. Click through the gallery to get an exclusive look at 28 of the bottles paired with excerpts from the personal statements that were offered and which helped inspire the beautiful works of art.

For more information about Sea Speak Sphere visit the campaign website. To find out more about the premiere of the installation and tickets click here.

All photographs of original artwork taken by Dar Riser, Good Light Works. 

Simplify Green: Tips on How to Go Eco - Easy Ways for Businesses to Save While Saving the Planet

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 4.20.12, BY FRAN GOLDEN

For small businesses, going green can be more than a do-good move inspired by Earth Day. Sustainability practices can actually help your bottom line.

"It's saving the planet. It's best to look at everything we do through a sustainable lens," U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) Deputy Administrator Marie Johns tells the Daily News.

"There's also a financial benefit. In the long run, it's going to end up saving costs."

When it comes to going green, you don't need much effort or cash to get started, experts say.

"The infrastructure of your company is an easy place for everyone to make a start," says Marissa Feinberg, co-founder of Green Spaces, a coworking space for eco-focused entrepreneurs in Tribeca.

"A lot of people are scared of going green because they don't know what it is. But even something like switching to recycled paper is a great start."

Going green doesn't mean you have to install solar panels or bamboo flooring or other costly upgrades, adds Zach Fried, a small business sustainability consultant with smartBizNY .

"Businesses that focus solely on products and other 'sexy' aspects of green may succumb to the common misperception that green is too expensive," he says.

"Yet, companies of all sizes that have become leaner and meaner through a sensible implementation of green measures can see reductions of 10% to 30% in their operating costs."

Replacing an old and inefficient boiler in your basement can save money, plus you can get help paying for an upgrade.

"Energy Star, NYSERDA and ConEd offer programs ranging from tax credits and rebates to energy audits," Fried says.

Green projects may qualify for federa
l government guaranteed loans , Johns says. The SBA also has a website in collaboration with the Navy (green.sba.gov).

Whether your business is home-based or brick-and-mortar, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed - what Fried calls "green paralysis" - with simple, basic changes to save money.

Adjusting climate controls, turning off lights and recycling efforts pay for themselves, can build momentum and add value to your business, he says. And greening doesn't mean giving up basic business functions.

At Green Spaces, for example, Feinberg says the Xerox machine turns itself off at night.

Another good way to look at going green is through collaboration. Feinberg says starting a carpooling program or sharing conference room space with other businesses is one way to start.

"Create a sharing movement in your office building," Feinberg says. "Sometimes, we have these huge highrises in the city and everyone does their own thing and don't collaborate."

And if you've got it, flaunt it, she adds. Green practices can put your business in a positive spotlight and attract customers.

Adds the SBA's Johns: "Many customers are looking for busi- nesses that are doing things in a green way."

TIPS ON HOW TO GO ECO

HERE ARE several ways your business can save some green by goin ggreen:

Create a green plan. Get the entire staff involved and nominate one member as the "green leader." Avoid broad state. ments about your commitment to greenness and focus on simple actions instead, says Zach Fried of smartBizNY.

Do more recycling. Try to improve on the city's minimum requirements. Make sure recycling bins are easily accessible to employees. And look at what can be reused, such as packaging materials.

Reduce paper. Encourage communications by email, share reports on PDFs, switch to paperless bill pay, print double-sided documents, and buy recycled paper.

Cut back on gas. Look at ways to reduce the commute of your employees by telecommuting, carpooling and buying hybrid company cars.

Save energy. Turn off lights at night and on weekends, shut down computers and copy machines (standby mode still draws power). Don't overheat or over cool your office. 

Use eco-friendly products. Go for recycled shipping materials, and nontoxic cleaning products. Green Spaces' Marissa Feinberg said the disposable cups used in her office are made of corn and are biodegradable - and are put in the office's compost bin.

Reuse office furniture. If you need furniture, don't shop new - go to Craigslist and look in the free section, or post your specific needs on Facebook or Twitter. 

16 Cool Coworking Spaces

Ready to get out of the basement and into a real office? Before you strike out on your own and get locked into a lease, consider a coworking space. They’re more affordable, full of start-up geeks like you, and probably cooler than any office your start-up could afford. Here are 16 spaces to check out.

 Green Spaces

Locations: Denver and New York City
Cost: Full-time memberships start at $325 a month in Denver and $550 a month in New York.
These coworking spaces come highly recommended by DeskHero because of their focus on sustainability and the environment. The Denver space has 40 businesses working from its solar-powered facility, replete with soft cork flooring in the restrooms and original concrete elsewhere, all-natural clay walls with no VOC paint and solar tube light fixtures. It also hosts events that raise social awareness, such as a monthly vegan supper club and a “Handmade Homemade Market” that features local vendors. Sixty businesses work from the New York space, which brags of composting, eco-friendly cleaning products, and efficient energy sources.

Thanks for the mention, Danielle of Inc.! Click here to read about our peer spaces.

Ten Green Business Ideas for New Entrepreneurs

This guide was put out by Green For All. Thanks for including Green Spaces, Van Jones! We're grateful to be included in the section highlighting successful organizations across the U .S . that are solving critical environmental problems, addressing social inequities, and creating green-collar jobs in their communities.

Here is the table of contents. Click here for the full report.

Ten Green Business Opportunities: Enterprises that Preserve Environmental Quality, Improve Social Equity, and Stimulate Local Economies 

1 . The Healthy, Local Food Movement

2 . Renewable Energy Alternatives, Green Collar Job Training, and Green Business 

Incubators 

3 . Green Transportation

4 . Green Product Innovation and Consumer Goods Retail 

5. Green Home- and Office-Cleaning Services 

6 . Become Part of the ReUse Revolution! 

7. Energy-Efficient Homes and Green Home Retrofits 

8 . Green Landscaping and Green Plumbing 

9 . Green Information Technology (IT) 

10. Green, Grassroots Community Lending and Microfinancing 

Green Franchise Opportunities

Successful Examples