Green Coworking: How Ecofriendly Coworking Spaces Can Look

ARTICLE BY LAILA COLA WEEKS

Keeping it Green on all Levels

Marissa Feinberg and Jennie Nevin are the co-founders of Green Spaces. Feinberg works in the Manhattan location and Nevin is based in Denver. Green Spaces opened in Brooklyn, NY, in 2008 and was conceived as a coworking space for the green community. In 2009 they moved out of their old space and into the current locations. In the beginning, Green Spaces called itself a “Workspace for Green Entrepreneurs,” and it was this self-description that led to a lot of environmentally friendly focused startups to call Green Spaces their home base.

Green Spaces New York is based in Tribeca in Manhattan. Feinberg told Deskmag that the companies working out this particular space typically fall into one of three categories: environmental, non-profit, and social entrepreneur. In the environmental category, cleantech companies like Highview Creations, which builds vertical gardens, IPP Solar, and the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice all work out of Green Spaces New York. But accommodating these environmental companies is only the first step towards environmental friendliness that the coworking space exemplifies.

The next step is creating strong relationships with environmentally friendly businesses that exist independently from Green Spaces. For example, if a member is looking for catering, Feinberg will refer them to a local, organic service. Or if someone is looking for printing, she can refer them to a green printer. These are all businesses with which Feinberg has developed relationships via events held at Green Spaces. She wants to “encourage [a] local economy of businesses sending business to one another … that’s how we all grow stronger together.”

Thirdly, Feinberg spoke of the inherent eco-friendliness found in the coworking model. “We have designed a whole system around a sharing economy,” she said. Consider Feinberg’s paper cutter example: “100 companies would have 100 paper cutters. At Green Spaces, 100 companies have one paper cutter. That makes so much more sense in terms of using resources wisely. We don’t need another 100 paper cutters out there.” She says that coworking intrinsically possesses, “sustainable values of sharing … not just sharing all the tangible resources like the real estate and the electric bills, but also sharing ideas and caring about one another and [working] in a collaborative spirit.”

The Denver Green Spaces is located in River North, an up and coming area next to the downtown area. It is also home to many green startups, including several green architects, an advocacy group focused on climate change, and GreenLeaf. The events at the Denver space are primarily focused on being environmentally conscious. And while not all of the startups working out of the space are green per se, all new members fill out a green mission statement as a part of their new member orientation.

And the coworking space itself also practices what it preaches. Green Spaces is 100% solar powered, owning one of the largest arrays of solar panels in downtown Denver. Nevin also says that they use some innovative green technology like light tubes. When remodeling their building, they used all reclaimed materials, including barn wood and recycled granite. They also source their materials consciously and do composting and recycling.

Not only are the people inside of these coworking spaces creating a more eco-friendly world with their companies, but the physical space is also purporting those same ideals all the while, and so allowing environmental sustainability to be integrated into all facets of the operation.

Leeap Project - NYC - The True Hustler

New York (or ‘Silicon Alley’ as it’s known within the startup community) breeds a special kind of entrepreneur – the true hustler. The level of competition here is staggering, however there is such a dense and supportive community to help give you a real fighting chance – watch out Palo Alto! But be warned, the cost of living here is extreme so prepare to familarise yourself with Ramen Noodles, fast.

The startup community in NYC is growing at astronomical rates with groups like Tech Meetup’s 28,000 members regularly gathering in swarms of 800+ every month. Every vertical you can image has a thriving community, even the most ‘niece’ industry or sector will have a meetup or gathering organisation of some form. From distributed information systems, to secondhand clothing, to nanotechnology – whatever the industry, you’ll find a group of people in NYC who share you passion. Being immersed in a highly dense environment by driven and like-mined people is what makes the allure and opportunity of New York so appealing.

Considering that Manhattan accounts for almost 10% of national GDP, it’s not hard to understand that capital and personal wealth is in abundance here. Venture capital firms in most cases are looking for strong business models as well as other partnering firms that would be able to add value to a potential round of capital raising.

One of the most first criteria that a VC will grade a potential deal on is how the opportunity got in front of them in the first place. As Andrew Mitchell (Managing Partner at ZIG Capital) told me – “How did this deal get on my desk?” Although cold calling/emailing can *sometimes* work, how the VC game is played in NYC is all about connections – so if you’re willing to take the plunge, prepare to build a network and take the time to understand the community (and investors) before reaching out for money.

A rising trend towards promoting and fostering more socially impactful, clean tech and non-profit startups is especially abundant in a place like NYC and has driven the creation of dedicated co-working spaces like Green Spaces as “playgrounds” for innovation and socially conscious entrepreneurs wanting to make a difference. Very impressed with this space, and those inside of it!

The popularity of co-working spaces over the last 2 years has grown exponentially around the world, however no single entity has arguably been as successful than NYC-born General Assembly. In under 3 years Adam Pritzker, Matthew O.Brimer and Brad Hargreaves have expanded GA campus’ and educational services across the nation and recently opened up offices internationally. If you decide that NYC is in your sights, make sure GA is one of the first places you land.

There is an indescribable buzz and energy about the city that’s completely intoxicating and infectious. Although you’re a tiny fish in a seemingly endless ocean, the osmosis effect of the city pushes your harder, makes you work smarter, and places you in an environment where you have the capacity to truly excel on the world stage.

If you can make it here, everyone will pay attention.

NY Is Co-Working Mecca

With more professionals today working as collaborators or freelancers, NY has become the co-working capital of the world. Companies such as New Work City, Green Spaces, or Bitmap Creative Labs are making “rent-a-desk” locations a profitable business. According to Crains New York, these businesses provide a place to work and the opportunity to share ideas, expertise or gossip with fellow freelancers and startups.

Currently the bulk of revenue for most co-working sites come from membership fees, usually tiered and allowing different levels of access. This could mean the number of days or desks available to an individual or company, or desk-free memberships that allow people to participate in workshops or other community activities. Additional profits come from hosting frequent events for members and nonmembers, film screenings, discussions, or classes.

Crains 

Startup Tech Companies with Revolutionary Idea

There are a lot of startups being built today and many of those have ideas that aren’t found in any companies before. A lot of these also rely heavily on technologies to get things done and if you are interested in knowing some of them, you better read on because we have quite a few startup tech companies with revolutionary ideas.

Green Spaces 

If you live in New York or Denver or are planning to set up an office in any of these locations, then consider checking out Green Spaces for your needs. This is because one of the aims of Green Space is to provide coworking office space for social technopreneurs. The good thing about Green Space is its environment itself. You will be surrounded with a community of people who are willing to do networking and work together with you. Read more: Green Spaces: Entrepreneurial Space in NY & Colorado

64 Co-working Spaces For Every Entrepreneur

Last summer, you voted on the Top 10 Cities for Young Entrepreneurs. Now, we’re listing all the innovative co-working workspaces in those cities.

Here are 64 co-working spaces for every entrepreneur…

New York City

• Green Spaces NY – Collective workspace for sustainability-oriented small businesses. Green Spaces also has a Denver location.
• Green Desk – Locations in Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Greenpoint and soon to be Williamburg, this is one of the original co-working spaces in the 5 boroughs.
• Wix Lounge – This free co-working space is run by Wix Website Builder and provides a space for anyone to come and grab a desk.
• New Work City – Manhattan’s oldest community coworking space. Full-time, part-time, and drop-in memberships, as well as workshops and events.
• The Hive at 55 – Shared workspace for 30+ people, three private workrooms, as well as flexible space for conferences and workshops. Sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York.
• WeWorkNYC – Arguably the hottest co-working concept in the city with Midtown, Meatpacking and 2 SoHo locations.
• Grind Spaces – Located at 26th and Park in the Flatiron District, this space is one of the nicest designs in the city and a sponsor of Lean Startup Machine.

Thanks for the mention of us alongside our NYC peers!

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. 

How To Be Creative # 01: Surround Yourself With Good Company

We’re all about promoting creativity – it’s what we live to do and that’s why we’re launching a new series on what we know will help you make awesome. It’s in your reach, but like anything sometimes you just need a little nudge. Inertia’s a bitch like that.

Being creative is about sharing ideas. So much so that I’d say any of us are only as creative as the company we keep. By sharing ideas we’re clued in on the minds of others from different places and backgrounds, which I believe makes us that more likely to foster great ideas. It doesn’t have to be mind blowing like time travel or inventing the electric blanket mobile. Sometimes being creative is simply taking an idea one step further or applying a concept differently like T-post did with t-shirt magazine subscriptions.

Co-working is a great way to surround yourself with a diverse group of people. We do it here and learn so much from participating. It’s blown up on a worldwide scale, but you don’t really even have to be that organized. Who do you know in your life that has a really cool job or interesting side project? Strike up a conversation, take them to coffee or lunch and get them talking about their passion. You’ll be surprised how much hearing the excitement in their voice will motivate you.

Ready to take action? Be sure to check out:
Jelly
The HIVE
Green Spaces
Benefits of Co-working

Green Festival NYC at Green Spaces on NBC NY

This weekend Green Festival NYC will take over the Javits Center. It's no small feat to put together such a show. For Alix Davidson, this is the culmination of a lifetime of work. Green Spaces co-Founder Marissa Feinberg sings Alix's praises toward the end of the clip. Here's her story.

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Collaborative Consumption hits NYC

The Sustainability Practice Network (SPN) organized an event that took place yesterday at Green Spaces to discuss the trend of collaborative consumption, which was identified by Time in 2010 as one of the 10 ideas that will change the world. The talk was moderated by Roo Rogers, founder of Ozolab and panelists included the entrepreneurs Jen Abrams, Our Goods; Ron J. Williams, SnapGoods; Paul Steely White, Transportation Alternatives; Danya Cheskis-Gold, Skillshare. Other representatives from related businesses were there as well, including Shared Squared NY and the German-founded carpooling.com, which is coming soon to the United States. Read more about the event and background information here.

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.