Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Green with Envy: Cool Office Space

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by Danelle Brown · 01/14/07

HOK is one of the foremost respected architectural and interior design firms in the world. They are known for their commitment to quality, efficiency, and the environment.They strive to encourage all of their employees to get LEED certificated so that they are more equipped as a unit to give back to the community through design.

In their fairly new downtown Toronto office, management posted posters of Kermit the frog proclaiming “it’s easy to be green”. In addition, the provided classes and workshops to help prepare the staff. HOK has now exceeded it goal of having more than 40% of its employees certified. I am sure by working in a LEED certified space, the employees found major inspiration to do so. The new Toronto branch for instance, is a great model for green office design. It is hip, functional, and has an equal level of comfort and style.

This particular office has been designed for approximately 200 employees. 85% of the construction waste, 18,000 pounds, was recycled or redistributed. Each of the work areas themselves have individual thermostats and there is plenty of natural daylight with the operable windows encasing the open studio space. It is not effective business management to have employees who are for better lack of words, “high” off of toxic and radio active fumes and waves, so ventilated copying and mounting rooms are situated throughout.

For the 82% of the employees who use public transit, walk, or bicycle to work, there is a special allocated space for their bikes as well as showers. With an office such as this, I too would be excited to ride my bike or sub-it to work. Check out this featured article to read more about this project.

bikes, business, community, design, Eco-Chick, epa, model, recycle, recycled, spa, style, waste

A Coat Check—For Your Bike!

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by Ann Benoit · 03/27/06

As a new Berkeley resident, I’m slowly discovering all the cool things the town has to offer. Just recently I came across Bikestation, a “non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in urban communities through the development and operation of bike-transit centers and related infrastructure.”

Modeled after European and Japanese examples, Bikestations offer bike services to the community to promote bicycle riding as a clean transportation option. Some of the services include: free attended bicycle-parking, bicyle repairs, bike-sharing, bicycle rentals, and 24-hour bicycle parking depending on the station. Membership is free at most stations, although some charge a minimal fee of $20 a year for all of these great benefits.

Currently there are Bikestations in Berkeley (CA), Embarcadero (CA), Long Beach (CA), Palo Alto (CA), and Seatlle (WA) with plans to open others in Washington DC and Santa Barbara (CA).

bikes, community, Eco-Chick, epa, Europe, Home, model, sport, transportation, urban

Ask Chicky: Clear Skies or Dirty Air?

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by Starre Vartan · 03/06/06

Dear Chicky,

My boyfriend and I (we’re both in our early 30′s) have a bet: I say air quality is better than when we were kids, he says it’s worse. Who’s right?

–Itching to Be Right
Dear Itching,

Though it’s always fun to watch one half of a couple do the “I’m right and you’re wrong” dance, I’m sorry to report that nobody’s winning the bet on this one. You’re both right, depending on what kind of standard you’re using to judge air quality, and where you live.
Overall, air quality has improved in most parts of the United States, due to several decades of pollution rules and enforcement under the Clean Air Act. In the Southeastern parts of the country where population growth has exploded, there are higher levels of pollution than before (since housing wasn’t exactly planned around people riding their air-friendly bikes to work), but they’re still within the normal range on most days. Some cities, like Los Angeles, have made dramatic improvements in air quality, something that Angelenos notice when they step outside their doors and enjoy visible views. That’s the good news.

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Ask Chicky, bikes, car, carbon, cars, children, cities, Easter, Eco-Chick, emissions, Energy, epa, fur, health, kids, Los Angeles, News, Plants, Pollution, reduce, Technology

Nice Package!

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 01/05/06

Rawganique. They sell nice packages….err…organic underwear. I thought I’d put this image up, because aside from being frustrated, Valentine’s Day is nearly a month away. What best to get for your significant other than organic undies? Looks great on! But of course, look far better on the floor. (Speaking first hand knowledge here, ladies…it’s just first hand knowledge that’s been a while…quite honestly though, it’s like riding a bicycle. Hopefully it’s one of those really great state-of the art mountain bikes with a fabulous guarantee, but we’ll take what we can get sometimes…)

Oh yeah…Rawganique has women’s wear too:

bikes, Organic, underwear, women, women's