How to build customer relationships in your business

How to build customer relationships in your business

Building Customer Relationships is one of the most important things for your business… How do customer relationships drive your business?

Powerful relationships don’t just happen from a onetime meeting or networking event. You need a plan of action to make those connections grow and work for you and your company.

Let’s take a look at a few fundamental steps in order to achieve this.

1. BUILD YOUR NETWORK
➔ Turn contacts into clients.
➔ Add value to the relationship.
➔ Exceed clients’ expectations by under promising and over delivering.
➔ Form personal relationships.

 

2. COMMUNICATION IS KEY
➔ Relationships have a short shelf life. No matter how great your first impression on someone is, no one will remember everyone they meet.
➔ Make contact immediately by setting a follow email or message and stay in touch. No one can forget someone they hear from often, eventually they will remember you and when they need your services, you will be the first one they think of.

 

3. MARKETING
➔ Your brand and marketing make a promise about customer experience and your service/product, so it is crucial to deliver on that.
➔ Build your relationship. Offer interesting and exciting services/products and information.
➔ Entice clients, leave them wanting more.

 

4. REWARD LOYAL CLIENTS
➔ By giving back to loyal clients you encourage them to continuously work with you.
➔ Stay in touch, follow up on services and offer specials.
➔ If you do not keep in touch, your competitors will.
➔ Serving is the new selling.

 

5. REFFERALS/ WORD OF MOUTH
➔ With happy clients come referrals, Word-of-mouth advertising is important for every business, as each happy customer can steer dozens of new ones your way.
➔ The greatest compliment in business is a referral. We should be thoughtful, have the right motives and be connecting people for the right reasons.

6. REMEMBER, RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT OVER TIME
➔ It takes a dedicated amount of time and energy to build good, strong, lasting business relationships today. They don’t happen and develop without dedicated and consistent work.
➔ The most important thing is to be conscious of the service/product you are delivering and to deliver it consistently.
➔ Trust is the one ingredient that builds strong, long lasting business relationships. If you put in the time and work, you will be rewarded.

 

Sources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/77686
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282364
https://www.wikihow.com/Develop-a-Relationship-With-a-Customer
https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/marketing-sales-export/marketing/pages/importance-building-customer-relationships.aspx
https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/customer-relationships-boost-retention
https://www.business.com/articles/6-key-tactics-for-building-strong-customer-relationships

 

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About Candice Van Aswegen

I started working for Leads 2 Business in May 2012 as an Account Co ordinator and more recently the Deputy Head of Department for the Telesales team. I schedule appointments for the Account Executives with potential clients.

Alternative Marketing

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Alternative Marketing

Alternative Marketing

Firstly let’s start off with a definition for Advertising and Marketing:

Advertising:
Is an audio or visual form of marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea?

Marketing:
Defined as “the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.” The term developed from the original meaning which referred literally to going to market with goods for sale. Marketing is a set of processes that are interconnected and interdependent with other functions of a business aimed at achieving customer interest and satisfaction

And now for the Difference between Advertising and Marketing:
Marketing and advertising are fuzzy disciplines to begin with. Advertising is just one component, or subset, of marketing. Public relations, media planning, product pricing and distribution, sales strategy, customer support, market research and community involvement are all parts of comprehensive marketing efforts. As you market your company and its products or services, keep in mind all the facets that work together to constitute marketing:
A simple concept by definition, if not execution, marketing is every way you touch a prospect or customer. That includes tools such as paid advertising, and it also includes dozens of smaller variables, everything from how your receptionist answers the phone, to how an order is fulfilled, to the positive or negative buzz about your product.

What is Alternative Marketing/Advertising?
Alternative advertising and marketing makes use of media strategies that are different to traditional methods, in order to reach a targeted audience.

 

Examples of Alternative Marketing/Advertising:

– Segway advertising with pictures or videos
– Social Media Advertising (Digital)
– Train or bus advertising
– Video Trucks
– Sand Advertising
– Sky Writing
– Street Decals
– Bicycle seat adverts
– Flash Mobs
– Graffiti Adverts
– Adverts on plastic packets
– Interactive (like the Velcro bus stop for Coca-Cola)
– Ambassadors
and a whole host more, you just need to use your imagination and think outside of the box.

Traditional Advertising:

Pros:
– You can easily reach your target local audience
– The materials can be kept.
– It’s easy to understand
– Direct mail was easier to process mentally and tested better for brand recall.

Cons:
-There is very little interaction between the medium used and the customers.
-Print or radio advertisements can be very costly.
-Results on this marketing strategy cannot easily be measured.

 

Digital Advertising (Alternative):
Pros:
– You can target a local audience, but also an international one.
– Your audience can choose how they want to receive your content.
– Interaction with your audience is possible.
– Digital marketing is cost-effective.
– Data and results are easily recorded
– Level playing field
– Brand Development
– Viral

How can we use both Digital & Traditional Marketing?
Traditional marketing methods support digital marketing efforts. The two do not operate in exclusion from each other. Use hard copy marketing materials to further strengthen a relationship with a contact, referral partner or client.
You don’t have to invest in television or radio ads, but you can give brochures to someone who is interested in your services.

To end off -there are some really catchy adverts and marketing going around and there is no better time for the alternative than NOW!

 

If you would like to advertise your company on our website please do not hesitate to contact me on +27 (0)33 343 1130 or SallyN@L2B.co.za

 

Sources:
http://www.marketingprofs.com/2/mccall5.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing
http://altermark.blogspot.co.za/2013/05/examples-and-categories-of-guerilla.html
https://www.digitaldoughnut.com/articles/2016/july/digital-marketing-vs-traditional-marketing

 

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
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About Sally Nell

I joined Leads 2 Business in November 2011. I started in the Daily Tenders department and later moved to the Directory Department in May 2014.

11 Largest Metro Systems In The World

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11 Largest Metro Systems In The World

There are over 165 distinct systems that can be referred as metro system, subway systems or underground systems. Their size can be measured by a number of factors – number of users, total length of rails or number of stations. The below being some of the world’s largest metro systems:

1. New York City Subway, NYC, United States
• Total Stations: 472 stations – (424 if stations connected by transfers are counted as single stations) of stations.
• Total Length: The NYC subway has a total length of 373 km (232mi) – 4th in the world. Overall, the system contains 236 miles (380 km) of routes, translating into 665 miles (1,070 km) of revenue track; and a total of 850 miles (1,370 km) including non-revenue trackage.
• Interesting Facts: Opened in 1904, the New York City Subway is one of the world’s oldest (8th oldest to be exact), public transit systems, one of the world’s most used metro systems, and the metro system with the most stations.
• Users: 1.7 billion riders every year

 

2. Paris Métro, Paris, France
• Total Stations: 303 stations (62 of which have transfers between lines)
• Total Length: It’s 303 stations spread over 214 km (133 mi). The Métro has 214 kilometres (133 mi) of track and 303 stations, 62 connecting between lines, not including the RER network.
• Interesting Facts: The Paris Métro opened in 1900 making it the 5th oldest metro system in the world. The system expanded quickly until the First World War and the core was complete by the 1920s.
• Users: Over 1.5 billion riders every year

3. Madrid Metro, Madrid, Spain
• Total Stations: 300 stations
• Total Length: With almost the same number of stations as Paris and even a larger total length – 293 km (182 mi). But on top of that is another 386 kilometers of suburban rail services.
• Interesting Facts: The Madrid Metro was first opened in 1919. The Madrid Metro has 1,698 escalators, the most of any system in the world and has 522 elevators. The underground stations are so huge that they can hold public events, such as the three-day fitness festival in May 2011, which attracted 2,600 visitors. One station contains a 200-square-meter archaeological museum.
• Users: 500 million riders every year – least number of riders between all the metro systems listed

 

4. Seoul Subway, Seoul, South Korea
• Total Stations: 296 stations
• Total Length: It has total length of 327.0 km (203.2 mi)
• Interesting Facts: TheSeoul Subway opened much later than the previous systems – in 1974. Seoul’s metro system has TV’s, heated seats, cell phone service and are climate controlled. Its first metro line, Line 1, started construction in 1971 and opened in 1974, with through-operation to Korail suburban railways. Today, the network is one of the largest and most efficient urban railway systems in the world, with 331.5 km (206.0 mi) of track on lines 1–9 alone; wireless and internet service on all trains; and platform screen doors at the majority of stations. It also has real-time train information at every station.
• Users: Second largest number of riders of over 2.5 billion every year

 

5. London Underground (“The Tube”), London, England
• Total Stations: 270 stations
• Total Length: It is the third longest system with 400 km (250 mi).
• Interesting Facts: The famous London Tube first opened as an “underground railway” in 1863, but the first electric line opened in 1890 making it the world’s very first metro system. The Travelcard ticket was introduced in 1983 and Oyster, a contactless ticketing system, in 2003. Contactless card payments were introduced in 2014, the first public transport system in the world to do so. The system’s first tunnels were built just below the surface, using the cut-and-cover method; later, smaller, roughly circular tunnels which gave rise to its nickname, the Tube were dug through at a deeper level. Despite its name, only 45% of the system is actually underground in tunnels, with much of the network in the outer environs of London being on the surface.
• Users: More than 1.2 billion every year

6. Shanghai Metro, Shanghai, China
• Total Stations: 393 stations
• Total Length: 644 km (400 mi)
• Interesting Facts: Considering it only opened in 1993, with full-scale construction extending back to 1986 (Shanghai Metro). Shanghai Metro is also one of the busiest systems in the world. On 16 October 2013, with the extension of Line 11 into Kunshan in Jiangsu province, Shanghai Metro became the first rapid transit system in China to provide cross-provincial service and the second intercity metro after the Guangfo Metro. Further plans to connect the Shanghai Metro with the metro systems of Suzhou are under active review, with the first line connecting Shanghai Metro Line 11 and Suzhou Metro Line 3 projected to be completed in 2023. Ambitious expansion plans call for 25 lines with over 1,000 km of length by 2025. By then, every location in the central area of Shanghai will be within 600 meters of a subway station.
• Users: Over 3.53 billion every year

 

7. Beijing Subway, Beijing, China
• Total Stations: 370 stations
• Length: 608.2 km (377.9 mi) [If not counting Xijiao Line, 599.4 km (372.4 mi)] • Interesting Facts: The Beijing Subway opened in 1969 and is the oldest metro system in mainland China. Before the system underwent rapid expansion since 2002, it only consisted of only two lines. The existing network still cannot adequately meet the city’s mass transit needs. Beijing Subway’s extensive expansion plans call for 999 km (621 mi) of lines serving a projected 18.5 million trips every day by 2021. The most recent expansion, which included a one stop extension of Fangshan Line and the opening of Xijiao Line, S1 Line and Yanfang Line came into effect on December 30, 2017. There are currently over 300 km of subway under construction in Beijing, including six new fully automated lines totaling up to 300 km (190 mi) in length using domestically developed communications-based train control systems. This could potentially create the longest fully automated subway network in the world.
• Users: Beijing Subway is the busiest metro system in the world with over 3.2 billion users every year

8. Mexico City Metro, Mexico City, Mexico
• Total Stations: 195 stations
• Total Length: spread over 226.5 km (140.7mi)
• Interesting facts: The first stage of construction (1967–1972) comprised the construction and inauguration of lines 1, 2 and 3. Ten of the lines are rubber-tyred; instead of traditional steel wheels, they use pneumatic traction, which are quieter and cope better with Mexico City’s unstable soils. The system survived the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Many stations are named for historical figures, places, or events in Mexican history. The Metro has figured in Mexico’s cultural history, as the inspiration for a musical composition for strings, “Metro Chabacano” and the 1982 Rodrigo “Rockdrigo” González’s 1982 song, “Metro Balderas.” It has also been a site for the 1990 Hollywood movie Total Recall. During the first stage of construction, workers uncovered two archaeological ruins, one Aztec idol, and the bones of a mammoth.
• Users: 1.6 billion riders every year.

 

9. Delhi Metro, Delhi, India

• Total Stations: 214 Stations (including 6 on Airport Express line and interchange stations).
• Total Length: 296.1 kilometres (184.0 mi)
• Interesting Facts: The system has a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated stations using both broad-gauge and standard-gauge. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was certified by the United Nations in 2011 as the first metro rail and rail-based system in the world to get “carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions” and helping in reducing pollution levels in the city.
• Users: 1.0 billion riders every year

 

10. Moscow Metro, Moscow, Russia
• Total Stations: 214 stations
• Total Length: 364.9 km (226.7 mi)
• Interesting Facts: The Moscow metro system opened in 1935 with one 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. As of 2018, the Moscow Metro excluding the Moscow Central Circle and Moscow Monorail has 214 stations and its route length is 364.9 km (226.7 mi), making it the sixth longest in the world. The Moscow metro is not just another metro system. The stations are known as “Underground palaces”. The beautiful underground structures are designed with care: with pictures on the walls, chandeliers hanging from the ceilings and more. The stations of the Moscow Metro are a major tourist attraction on their own. Some of the most beautiful stations are Komsomolskaya Metro Station, Kievskaya Metro Station, Prospekt Mira Metro Station, Park Pobedy Metro Station, Novoslobodskaya Metro Station, Mayakovskaya Metro station. The system is mostly underground, with the deepest section 84 metres (276 ft) underground at the Park Pobedy station, one of the world’s deepest.
• Users: Almost 2.5 billion people every year.

 

11. Tokyo Metro, Tokyo, Japan
• Total Stations: 179 stations
• Total Length: 195.1km (121.2mi) excluding the 8.3 km stretch between Wakoshi and Kotake-mukaihara shared with Yurakucho Line
• Interesting Facts: Tokyo Metro is operated by Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd., a private company jointly owned by the Japanese government and the Tokyo metropolitan government. The company replaced the Teito Rapid Transit Authority commonly known as Eidan or TRTA, on April 1, 2004. TRTA was administered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and jointly funded by the national and metropolitan governments. It was formed in 1941, although its oldest lines date back to 1927 with the opening of the Tokyo Underground Railway the same year. According to the company, an average of 6.33 million people used the company’s nine subway routes each day in 2009, making the company a profit of ¥63.5 billion for that year.
• Users: The Tokyo Metro is used by 14 billion people every year

 

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Subway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul_Metropolitan_Subway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Subway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Metro

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About Liesel Du Preez

My journey with Leads 2 Business started in August 2005 in the Africa Tender Department, where I researched and uploaded Africa Tender Notifications. Once the Africa Tender Department had grown I was then promoted to Customer Relations in the IT Department in January of 2010, assisting subscribers and staff with any problems they may encounter or with any queries they may have.

The power of plant and equipment hire

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The power of plant and equipment hire.

The power of plant and equipment hire

As the South African economy is seeing renewed energy in economic growth in 2018 while under new leadership, the construction industry is poised for increased growth in the medium to long-term, which is now giving way to much needed increase in opportunities for the general contractor in the near future. As the industry awaits positive growth, competition for public and private projects is still the number one factor hindering the growth of small to medium businesses.

In such a highly competitive landscape, a general contractor knows that a successful bid is won or lost on their ability to price a bill of quantities accurately against other potential bidders. Yes, your experience on previous projects will count in your favor, but having accurate knowledge in costing building materials, labor and most importantly plant and equipment usage could be the key to your success in winning your next project or tender. A vast majority of contractors are now opting to rent, hire or lease expensive equipment over purchasing as this gives them the ability to be more versatile or agile in the types of jobs and projects they bid on as well as keeping their business overheads and startup costs lower on repayment, maintenance and storage of equipment that is not being utilized continuously.

If your business has the liquidity to purchase decent quality used equipment, that you know won’t become outdated, will be used continuously on upcoming projects and you can extract the value of owning the assets, then it still has its advantages to buy, but for many small to medium contractors and companies trying to break into new markets or bigger projects this will not be the case and hiring is your best and only option.

Key tips when deciding to hire plant equipment

Knowledge is key

Gone are the days were decades of experience gave you the competitive edge as the internet has neutralized that. Research the latest trends in new technology and equipment available, join forums and industry knowledge share groups online or blog websites, sign up to newsletter and become an expert in the field of machinery and equipment. Having a deep routed knowledge in what is happening in the market and what technology is available at your disposal and price at what it will cost you to hire will give you an advantage when costing your next job.

Build relationships

Source and locate plant and equipment hire specialists and conduct due diligence on all the suppliers you are interested in. Visit their premises, inspect their equipment and the age of the equipment and meet the owners if possible, as feeling comfortable and confident with the people and the company you are hiring from will give you confidence in your bids. Always find multiple suppliers in various areas as you will need to factor in transport and delivery costs to and from your job sites. Always check availability of equipment and machinery before bidding on work and having relationships with hire companies that have a range of choice is preferable. Building good working relationships will also give you much greater flexibility in negotiating rates for on future jobs with prospect of continuous cash flow for the hiring company.

Customer Service

A critical factor in the success of reaching deadlines on jobs is making sure that the company you hire from offers excellent customer service such as on-site or off-site training to machine operators and best practices for safety and inspections, as well as quick turnaround of servicing and repairs, or be able to swap out faulty equipment in order to continue with the work at hand. These factors will give you peace of mind as daily costs increase when a job has to stand still due to faulty or broken equipment and can critically impact your bottom line profits and hitting tight deadlines.

Get your paperwork in order

Make sure that that company you hire from, has the correct paperwork for the machinery and equipment you are hiring including insurance. Sometimes overlooked, but important to know what your liabilities will be in the event that any piece of equipment is destroyed or damaged on-site by one of your operators or employees.

As in most cases, there will be Pros and Cons in Buying or Renting Equipment for your next job, but when trying to scale your business effectively by bidding on bigger projects in various locations here is a recap on the advantages of hiring.

  • Lower initial investments
  • No maintenance or storage costs once the project is completed
  • Access to broader range of equipment
  • Use of the latest technology available
  • On-site servicing and insurance handle by another party

 

Sources

Capterra
Equipmentrentalpros

 

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About Storm Johnson

I started my journey with Leads 2 Business in 2016 after having a successful career in aviation. I have since found a passion for the construction industry and helping smaller companies break into the larger scale projects/tenders. I am a devoted Sales Executive based in beautiful Cape Town who truly believes Leads 2 Business is the future for any professional within the construction industry serious about growing to their maximum potential through well researched, up to date leads. Uniting one professional to another creating life long business relationships throughout the construction industry.

How is open planning design more energy efficient?

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How is open planning design more energy efficient?

Most of us have heard the term Open planning but what is it?

Open-planning allows air to flows from space to space with minimal barriers between the living areas or no barriers at all.

Did you Know?

Originally homes were designed and built to accommodate different rooms for different functions: the kitchen was for cooking, the dining room was for eating, and the living room was for gathering, entertaining, or relaxing. After World War II, the norm was that homeowners have houses with open floor plans.

Prior 20th Century traditional plan layout. Separate rooms closed in with walls and doors.

2018 Open plan design layouts.

Frank Taylor, mechanical engineer ignited the open plan concept in the workplace calling it the “Taylorism movement” which suggests that open planning design maximises industrial efficiency focusing on worker production only. This shift was massive but people were seen as robots and not human beings. Later with the help of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Burolandschaft an office that reflected both corporate image and gave way to people’s needs.

Taylorism open plan design.

Burolandschaft open plan design style.

Robert Propst invented the“ action office” cubicle that enhanced many companies liberation strategies with open planning design.

As the daily volcanic household cost of living increases, more and more people have joined the bandwagon trend in living a more eco- friendly and energy efficient lifestyle. Thus enabling big-time savings in their water and electricity bills and giving TLC back to our earth.

To date buyers are more aware of the long-term costs of electricity, in saying that energy efficient design can affect the value of property in the future.

Open planning influences energy efficiency through:

A. Natural Light

In a traditional closed floor plan design, you will come across certain rooms that are limited in receiving natural light from windows. Which therefore results in turning on all the lights like a christmas tree and consuming tons of energy. Open floor plan design lends itself to no walls or barriers, which unblock, allowing the spread of natural sunlight eliminating extra costs. In cooler climate places, the presence of added natural light also allows more heat into the building decreasing furnace costs. Sharing of natural light is also encouraged through open planning so each area receives.

B. Air Circulation

Air flow is maximized in an open plan design with open windows than a traditional design as walls impede air circulation making it hard for fresh air to travel into these separate spaces. Lack of airflow requires air-conditioning and ceiling fans to break through the stuffiness and hiking electricity costs.

C. Flexibility

With more space this allows home and building owners to be more flexible and creates opportunities to change up their living / working spaces to their liking and demands.

D. Reduced Square Footage

An open floorplan will be more spacious that a traditional plan
allowing one to cut down on their square footage. The smaller your
Space is the less energy it requires to heat or cool.

E. Socializing

Open floor planning gives way to open communication and interaction between people and employees and allows parents to keep watch over their children. Traffic flow in open spaces is also more viable.

Allandale Building , Midrand Gauteng
New energy efficient open plan building contributes to 30 % less energy.

The new Cuningham Group office, CA, USA

Factors enabling energy efficiency design in open planning:

1. Orientation

Position your home or office accordingly to climate and geo-graphical layout. Keep in mind wind, sun, heat and cooling factors when the architect designs.

2. Light colours

Choose light colours as they reflect heat and keep out heat whilst darker colour pallet absorbs heat.

3. Roof ventilation and insulation.

Roof tiles absorb heat in hot temperatures and re-radiate them into the building at night. When choosing tiles, opt for foil under them to reduce the slow release of heat into your space. Poorly ventilated roof space can lead to scorching temperatures.

4. Building materials

Glass – sunlight through glass windows become trapped like a greenhouse resulting in higher temperatures and illumination of` the space. Installing double glazed windows and doors.

Concrete floors and brick walls absorb heat from direct sunlight during the day to release it at night and absorb coolness though the night to reduce heat during the day.

5. Water

Choosing water saving features such as solar powered pumps, water tanks and grey water systems help aid in energy efficiency.

6. Landscapes & Plants

Certain Plants and trees can help create a cool zone. If you’re open plan home or office is stationed near a pool or water feature an advantage is that cool breezes pass over the pool and into your space.

Did you know plants genuinely give off cooler shade than shade structure due to their transpiration and evaporation of water from plants leaves?

Diagram showing factors to a more energy efficient home.

Sources:

https://www.ga.fr/en/newsroom/brief-history-open-plan-layout
https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/oct/15/history-office-open-small-business-workplaces
http://fortune.com/2016/05/12/the-open-office-concept-is-dead/
https://www.makaan.com/iq/buy-sell-move-property/open-floor-plan-the-pros-and-cons
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-home-design

Green offices that keep staff healthy and happy are improving productivity & boosting businesses’ bottom line, finds WorldGBC report

The Transformation of Office Design

http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/reference.aspx?uid=212937&index=696&mainQuery=hospital&searchType=all&form=home

The history of office design

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/despina-katsikakis/the-case-for-healthy-offi_b_12674958.html
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jul/24/ln/FP607240338.html
https://www.kritzingerarchitects.com/copy-of-french-school
http://www.travelandtradesouthafrica.com/2012/11/south-africas-masters-in-contemporary.html

Allandale Building – Waterfall City

http://www.home-designing.com/2012/02/sensational-doesnt-even-begin-to-describe-it/contemporary-open-plan-living-area
http://materialicious.com/2012/09/mill-valley-retreat-with-a-treehouse-feel-by-urrutia-design.html
https://www.lunchboxarchitect.com/featured/energy-efficiency-redhead-alterations/
https://officesnapshots.com/2013/11/08/cuningham-groups-culver-city-warehouse-offices/

 

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About Bronwyn Brown

Blue Sky Thinker ☾ Advertising & Design Manager Photography, Nature & Animal Lover❁

Why we love Green (and you should too)

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Why we love Green (and you should too)

Let’s start with a simple explanation of what green is.

“Going green means to pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations.”

Let’s take a look at some reasons of why we love green:

  • In the long run, you are doing the right thing for the environment. You are creating a cleaner and brighter future for your children and generations after.
  • Anytime you choose to walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation, you reduce (or totally eliminate) the carbon dioxide and particulate emissions created by driving a gas- or diesel-powered car.
  • Cost saving is always a big positive when it comes to going green – this can be achieved by moving over to digital files instead of continuously using paper.
  • Healthier work places for employees is a benefit indeed. Not only do employees think higher of the company as well as the employer, they tend to work for the company a lot longer.
  • By not inhaling all the harmful emissions there would usually be, there tends to be a lot less health issues
  • Tax credits can actually be added by companies that join the going green initiative, this includes using more environmentally friendly products, solar energy and many more.

 

Consumer demand

A company that has made the choice of being green conscious tends to be more in demand not only by consumers but by investors as well. Simply for the facts that it reflects well on them that they are trying to make a difference.
When a company goes green they tend to save money on utility costs. This does not necessarily mean using solar energy alone, you can also replace normal light bulbs with an energy saving light bulb.

Going green tends to help a company’s public image as well.

People tend to talk more about the good a company is doing when it comes to going green. I am sure you would rather have consumers talk about your company in a positive light instead of being known as just another company harming the environment and not caring.
Insurance companies tend to favour green companies more than usual, if your company or home has gone green or is making an effort to do so, some insurance companies tend to offer you a discount on your premiums.

 

Here are some companies that also love green:

1) Greenfin Financial Services (They finance smaller households to acquire solar installations)
2) Coca Cola (Designed new cans that can save up to 15000 tons of aluminium a year)
3) Dell (Most of their packaging materials are recyclable)
4) Honda (Started making more hybrid models available to consumers)

When looking at all the different reasons & benefits of why we love green, I think it is safe to say it really is the better choice.

 

So go ahead and love green we definitely do!!

 

Sources:
http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green
http://www.thrall.org/special/goinggreen.html

21 Good Reasons To Go Green

10 Leading Companies That Efficiently Went “Green”

 

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About Genevieve Smith

Genevieve Smith, I have been working at Leads 2 Business for just over a year now. I work in the Johannesburg office as an account coordinator.

Quotes about our Environment

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Quotes about our Environment

Sir David Attenborough

There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it.

Chief Seattle

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together … all things connect.

Albert Einstein

The environment is everything that isn't me.

Jacques Yves Cousteau

Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.

Barack Obama

There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate.

Native American Proverb

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children

Thomas Edison

Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not

Hans Christian Andersen

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”

Voltaire

Men argue. Nature acts

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature never hurries: atom by atom, little by little, she achieves her work. The lesson one learns from yachting or planting is the manners of Nature; patience with the delays of wind and sun, delays of the seasons, bad weather, excess or lack of water
 
Environment
 

"An environment is all of the conditions, circumstances, that surround and influence life on earth, including atmospheric conditions, food chains, and the water cycle."

The environment is our surrounding that includes living as well as non-living things. The non-living components like land, water, air, temperature influence how animals, plants and we as human beings live in a particular area. Living creatures too are dependent on each other for food and shelter. If any of the environmental elements change, it automatically becomes harder and sometimes fatal for living organisms to survive.

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/david_attenborough
http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/alternative_energy_quotes_iii.html
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/62807.aspx

 

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About George Harris

I started my incredible journey at Leads 2 Business in 2006. I am the Content Director, custodian of an amazing research team responsible for unearthing hidden gems of information.

Some WACKY & BIZARRE sources for Alternative ENERGY!!

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Some WACKY & BIZARRE sources for Alternative ENERGY!!

Did you know?

When I think of Green or Alternative Energy, I think of Wind and Solar Energy! But wind energy is inconsistent, and solar energy can’t be harnessed at night or on cloudy days.
Unfortunately, we live on a planet of finite resources, and we have some really clever scientist who rather than wait for the oil wells to run dry and coastal cities to disappear beneath rising sea levels, are exploring more unusual sources of producing and harnessing renewable energy, and decreasing worldwide dependency on fossil fuels.
With fossil fuels on the verge of being exhausted, the search for abundant, cheap energy is constant, and has led to some pretty strange, surprising and even ridiculous discoveries, some “pleasant” like coffee or chocolate and some “not so pleasant” like poop!

Here are 14 of the wackier ideas for alternative energy in no particular order!

Wacky no 1. PUSH POWER / TEXTING

Everywhere you look these days, people have their heads down, vigorously texting away as though their lives depended on it. Americans sent a whopping 12.5 billion text messages in just one month in 2006, and cell phone users in the United Kingdom send out one billion a week. Although it can be annoying, what if each of those finger taps could generate power?
That is the idea behind Push to Charge, one of the innovative entries into the 2008 Greener Gadgets Design Competition. The concept relies on what’s called piezoelectricity. Some metals can build up an electric charge under pressure, and this effect can be used to generate energy on surfaces like roads, floors and even cell phone screens.
The Push-to-Charge cell phone would feature plastic buttons sitting atop a layer of hard metal. The bottom layer would be made out of piezoelectric crystals, so that each time you pressed a button, the hard metal directly underneath it would hit the underlying crystal like a hammer, creating a small amount of voltage. Small wires located between the layers would convey the charge to a battery for storage.
The same technology could be used in any other product that features buttons, including computer keyboards and video games.
You have to agree that generating electricity simply by typing on a keyboard or keeping in touch with your friends and family is pretty awesome.

Wacky no 2. SUGAR

Did you know?: That sugar can be converted to hydrogen and that it could be a way to fuel a vehicle.
Researchers at Virginia Tech University are developing a way to convert sugar into hydrogen, which can be used in a fuel cell, providing a cheaper, cleaner, pollutant-free and odourless drive.
The method involves combining plant sugars, water and 13 powerful enzymes in a reactor, converting the concoction into hydrogen and trace amounts of carbon dioxide. The hydrogen could be captured and pumped through a fuel cell to produce energy. This process delivers three times more hydrogen than traditional methods, which translates into huge cost savings.
Research is also underway to develop the same technology to create long-lasting sugar-based batteries for laptops, cell phones and other electronics, although it could be another ten years before we begin to see any results from these experiments or before consumers can actually dump sugar into their fuel tanks.

Wacky no 3. LEFT-OVER FOODS

Did you know?: That the food and waste we throw out on a daily basis can be used to generate biofuel which can, in turn, be used as an alternative source of energy.
Our leftover foods such as fruit skins or coffee as well as other organic matter when stored and degraded over a period of time, generate methane and several other gases that can be used as biofuel.
Many small-scale industries have, in fact, started generating electricity with the biogas generated from collecting garbage.

Wacky no 4. BACTERIA (E.COLI)

If you are like ME, the word ‘E. coli’ makes me want to run for the hills!
But did you know?: That this tiny organism commonly associated with stomach cramps and vomiting could actually alleviate some of our energy challenges … by excreting crude oil.
As you know the world is full of bacteria which, like every living organism, have a survival plan for when food is in short supply. E. coli bacteria store fuel in the form of fatty acids, the same fatty acid that is needed for the production of biodiesel fuel.
Scientists removed enzymes from the bacteria to boost fatty acid production and then dehydrated the fatty acid to get rid of the oxygen, which turned it into a type of diesel fuel. That means because of the raw materials it uses, the process will take even more carbon out of the atmosphere than what it puts back in. And these organisms wouldn’t rely on any single agricultural waste, thereby eliminating the controversy over using specific food crops for fuel. Instead, the process would rely on whatever is abundant in the local environment.
The same bacteria that can make us sick can also help save people money and our environment, by providing fuel for transportation.

Wacky no 5. BODY HEAT

 

 

Finally, we’re reverting back to the traditional way of harnessing energy – Natural Body Heat!
Did you know?: The heat your body produces can warm an entire building? At least that’s what is happening in Stockholm and Paris, but Sweden has the most efficient method of harnessing it.
The body heat generated by the 250,000 commuters who crowd Stockholm’s railway station (Scandinavia’s busiest travel hub) each day is immense. This heat used to drift off into the air and was wasted until engineers have figured out a way to harness it and transfer it to a newly renovated office building down the block.
The heat generated by the commuters is captured by the station’s ventilation system and used to warm water in underground tanks. This water is then redirected into the office’s ventilation, thus heating the entire block.

Wacky no 6. HUMAN WASTE (NOT so Pleasant)

Did You Know?: That faeces (poo) contain methane, a colourless, odourless gas that could be used in the same way as natural gas, instead of fossil fuels.
At Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, researchers are working on an alternative to fossil fuels. They’ve developed a state-of-the-art toilet for use in developing countries that employs microwaves to chemically alter human waste into syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This syngas can then be used in stacks of fuel cells to generate electricity, where one toilet could generate enough energy to power several households.
In Bristol, Australia a VW Beetle car is powered by methane captured from a raw sewage treatment plant. Engineers from Wessex Water estimate the waste from 70 homes can generate enough gas to make the car run for 10,000 miles.
Some companies claim to have found the best source: used nappies, as it’s an unlimited resource. Urea, on the other hand, due to its saline properties, can be easily hydrolysed to obtain hydrogen. Overall, urea is better than simple water for this process.
Urea is also an accessible, non-toxic, organic chemical compound rich in nitrogen. So, humans are constantly carrying around a chemical compound that can produce electricity.

Wacky no 7. Cows

Did you know?: That Cows are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
A 2006 United Nations report estimated that cows, along with other livestock like sheep and goats, contribute about 18 percent of the greenhouse gases that are warming the planet. More than cars, planes and all other forms of transportation put together.
That’s largely true because bovine emissions are rich in methane, a gas that’s 21 times more efficient than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Scientists have already developed a method for extracting methane from cow excrement and converting it to a biogas fuel that’s of sufficient quality to be fed into a standard natural gas pipeline. In California, a company called BioEnergy Solutions uses that method to produce 18,406 cubic meters of biogas from manure, enough to power 200,000 households.
Six hundred cows that produce 18,000 gallons of manure daily are helping a farm in Pennsylvania save $60,000 a year. The waste is used to produce electricity, bedding, fertilizer and heating fuel.
And Hewlett-Packard recently released a study explaining how a dairy farmer could make money by leasing land to Internet server companies, who could power computers with the methane.
In Argentina, a major beef producing nation where the collective herd of 55 million cattle outnumbers the human population, researchers have developed a special bovine backpack that captures a cow’s emissions via a tube attached to the cow’s stomach and discovered that the animals produce between 800 and 1,000 litters of gas each day.

Wacky no 8. VIBRATIONS

Did you know?: That the kinetic energy of people walking, dancing or jumping can be converted into electricity.
Need an excuse to go out clubbing? Club Watt in Rotterdam, Netherlands is using floor vibrations from people walking and dancing to power its own light show. A number of dance clubs in Japan have already implemented this technology in order to make their establishments self-sustainable.
This concept works on the principle of piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is produced when stress or strain is applied to an object, which can then be converted to electricity (see wacky no 1).
The technology used in the sustainable dance floors could potentially be applied to other situations, such as a bus or train station, for example, to make the most of kinetic energy generated by movement.
The U.S. Army is also looking at piezoelectric technology for energy. They put the material in soldier’s boots in order to charge radios and other portable devices, doable but not cheap.

Wacky no 9. Jellyfish

Did you know?: Jellyfish that glow in the dark contain the raw ingredients for a new kind of fuel cell.
Their glow is produced by green fluorescent protein, referred to as GFP. A team at the University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden placed a drop of GFP onto Aluminum electrodes and then exposed that to ultraviolet light. The protein released electrons, which travel a circuit to produce electricity.
The same proteins have been used to make a biological fuel cell, which makes electricity without an external light source. These fuel cells can be used on small, nanodevices such as those that could be implanted in a person to diagnose or treat disease.

Wacky no 10. Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are a form of carbon, similar to graphite found in pencils. They are hollow cylindrical tubes and are 10,000 times smaller than a human hair, but stronger than steel. They are also good conductors of electricity and heat and have a very large surface area.
Carbon nanotubes have a range of potential uses, from armor-like fabrics to elevators that could lift cargo between Earth and the Moon. Recently, scientists from MIT have found a way to use carbon nanotubes to collect 100 times more solar energy than a regular photovoltaic cell.
The nanotubes could work as an antenna to capture and funnel sunlight onto solar arrays. This means that instead of having an entire rooftop covered in solar panels, a person may need just a small space.

Wacky no 11. Coffee Waste (Pleasant)

If you are like me, coffee is a life necessity that you absolutely can NOT go without!
But did you know?: That the cup of coffee that helps fuel you for the day, could soon also be used to produce bio-diesel fuel?
Every year, the global population consumes 600 billion cups of coffee. An average coffee shop throws out 10 kg of coffee every day. However, the coffee grounds that are thrown away can actually be used to produce bio-diesel fuel.
If all coffee grounds could be converted this way, it would create 2.9 million gallons of biodiesel every year. If all of the leftover grounds from Starbucks were reprocessed, they would produce 89,000 tons of such fuel pellets annually, enough to generate millions of dollars in revenue for the coffee-shop chain, as well as help counter rising fuel costs.
There will eventually be a time when your grandchildren will be filling up their car’s fuel tank with some coffee!

Wacky no 12. ALGAE

Did you know?: That Algae has a higher heat content than corn or sugar, making it more efficient as a fuel source?
Algae, yes the slimy green stuff you find at the bottom of a dam, contains cells which produce oil. In fact, half of its body weight is lipid oil. Lipid oil can be harvested and converted into fuel. The resulting biodiesel is more clean and efficient than petroleum and is more sustainable.
Although there are a few obstacles stopping algae fuel from being utilized on a huge scale, much research is being done to overcome these issues. The space that’s required to grow enough algae to produce a significant amount of oil, for example, is one obstacle. As is the fact that conditions, such as temperature, must be exact to enable optimum growth, which may be difficult to control.
The most promising option on this list, however, is algae, which could realistically replace fossil fuels on our planet.

Wacky no 13. ELECTRIC EELS

Did you know?: An Electric Eel can discharge an electrical current of over 400V at once?
Researchers are attempting to find a way to use this electric power of Electric Eels. This mechanism is used by the fish to defend itself from predators and to hunt small fish, but its main purpose is that of a radar system, a replacement for its nearly blind eyes.
A successful experiment was even conducted in Japan where a Christmas tree was lit up using the electricity generated by an eel.

Wacky no 14. Chocolate (Pleasant)

Did you know?: The shells of cocoa beans can also be converted into biofuel?
The waste left over namely cocoa bean shells from a chocolate factory in the U.K. was fed to E. coli bacteria, which resulted in the production of hydrogen. Hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels, it’s only by-product being water.
The fat from chocolate was also converted into biofuel and used to power a racing car, which reached 130 miles per hour on a racetrack.

Wow!, Who would have thought that we could be saving our planet by drinking more coffee or indulging in chocolate, or by dancing the night away!!

What is your favourite wacky and bizarre alternative?

 

Sources:
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/11/21/11-bizarre-sources-for-alternative-energy.html
https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/unusual-alternative-energy-sources-never-heard.html
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/five-forms-alternative-energy10.htm
https://greenfuture.io/sustainable-living/weird-renewable-energy-resources/

 

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About Wendy De Wet

I joined Leads 2 Business as an Account Executive in July 2011 and was part of the dynamic sales team in JHB for 2 years. I relocated to the beautiful city of Durban in 2013 and absolutely love KZN. I am very proud to be part of the L2B family and Legacy!

10 Myths about Green

10 Myths about Green

Most people want to do their part in saving Mother Earth and preventing global warming, make some sort of difference in the world, even if it is by doing something small. Sometimes, however, the small things that you do, doesn’t always seem to be the right thing. There are so many do’s and don’ts floating around that you seem to feel like a small kid with his mother telling you with a pointed finger “don’t do this”, don’t do that” and “ do this and do that”, that you feel you should just crawl into a little corner and remain there for the remainder of your life.

However, never fear, Mythbusters is here (well, almost)

 

Here are a few Myths about ‘Going Green’ that have been, as they say, busted…

 

Myth: The cost of going green is too much. 

Fact: Truth is that some are costly, however in the long haul, developing some ‘green habits’ will save money. In the long run, you will be saving more than what you realize.

Myth: All paper can be recycled.

Fact: Most paper can be recycled; however, used napkins, paper plates and pizza boxes cannot be recycled

 

Myth: Foods that are organic are more earth friendly

Fact: This is not always the case. It all depends on where it has been grown, for example, local fruits and vegetables grown a few kilometres from your house is better than those that are imported. Buying organic is all about weighing the pro’s and con’s

 

Myth: Always turn off the lights when leaving a room

Fact: Turn off your incandescent lights if you plan to leave the room for more than 5 seconds. Turn off your CFL (Compact fluorescent lamp) if you plan to leave the room for more than 15 minutes. The typical incandescent bulb lasts about 1,000 hours, while a 15-watt CFL bulb lasts 10,000 hours and a 12-watt LED bulb lasts 25,000

 

Myth: It is better to wash dishes by hand.

Fact:  Believe it or not, but using a dishwasher is more ‘greener’ than washing by hand. Run your dishwasher only when it is full. By waiting till it’s full, you make the best use of the water and energy needed to wash your dishes.

 

 

 

Myth: Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags

Fact: In actual fact, neither of these is the greener option, it is better to shop with reusable canvas bags

 

 

 

Myth: Holding on to your great-great granny’s washing machine is a way to recycle.

Fact: Older machines and household appliances uses much more power than the newer generation. Machines have evolved with mankind.

 

 

 

 

Myth: Switching your geyser off saves energy

Fact: Switching your geyser off and back on again actually uses more electricity, think of your geyser as a giant kettle, it has an element that heats your water up. When using some of the hot water, it will be ‘topped up’ with cold water causing the temperature to drop a bit. The element will kick in and re-heat the water to the set temperature. When you switch your geyser off the hot water will slowly go cold. Switching the geyser back on will cause the element to heat up all the water in the geyser, which uses more electricity than needed. If you go away on holiday then it will be plausible to switch your geyser off as to not use electricity. Alternatively, you can switch to a solar water heating system.

 

 

 

Myth: Small electronic devices don’t need to be unplugged

Fact: Any device that is not in use can draw some sort of current, such as a cell phone charger. If your mobile phone is not charging then unplug the charger. Even when they are “off”, TVs, electronic equipment, WIFI routers, and computers continue to draw electricity all day. Put them all on a power strip and shut them totally off at night or when you leave the house to reduce energy use and save money.


Myth: Doing your washing in cold water won’t get your washing clean.

Fact: Washing your clothes in cold water will get rid of any dirt, except for the worst dirt or oily stains (this can be washed in hot water), leaving your clothes looking and smelling clean, but without the energy spent on heating the water.

 

 

There are many simple ways you “can do” to help. Take the leap, take the small step, plant a tree and always remember the 3 RE ’s: ReduceReuseRecycle.

 

 

 

 

 

Together we can help to save Mother Earth and look toward a better future.

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/13-ways-to-go-green-simple-ways-to-save-the-environment/
http://www.isotherm.co.za/switching-off-geyser-really-save-energy/

 

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About Nadine Vermeulen

I started working at Leads 2 Business in October 2014 in the Leads 2 Quotes Department. I managed all the Daily Tender Bill Requests and followed up on BoQ's for our Daily Tender Subscribers. In 2017, I was promoted to L2Q Assistant and now work with Bill of Quantities for Contractors. 🙂

Common Security Myths

Common Security Myths

Myth (noun) – An unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution

Use strong passwords and don’t go to sketchy websites, and you’ll protect yourself online, right? Well… That’s a good start. But it’s not quite that simple.
The internet is evolving and so too is cybercrime.

Myth vs Reality:

Myth 1: Firewall + antivirus = total protection
Reality: Antivirus software and a firewall make it difficult for an intruder to get their hands on your information, but you also need to take protective measures. Free only offers basic antivirus and doesn’t have antispam, web filtering and behaviour analysis. Keep your software up to date and patched against vulnerabilities. Combining these technologies with good security habits is the best way to reduce your risk. Remember to lock or log off your computer when leaving your desk, even for a moment.

MYTH 2: Private browsing” is always private
Reality: Surfing the web in private (or incognito) mode prevents the browser — like Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer — from collecting data about your activities. But it doesn’t hide your browsing from your internet service provider and the websites you visit. It also doesn’t hide your IP addresses from web servers and online snoops. Private hides your history from other users on the same computer but it will be tied to your computer.

 

 

 

 

MYTH 3: Infected computers display nasty messages and are very slow.
Reality: The most dangerous hacker is not the one who wants to put a joke or a skull on your screen; it’s the one who stealthily works to take control of your computer and cause damage to your equipment or steal information they can use for their benefit. This type of hacker works to ensure that their activities are not noticed by you.

MYTH 4: I don’t go to dangerous sites, and I check my links, so I’m safe.
Reality: Your browser is the biggest vulnerability. Most recent attacks take advantage of weaknesses in browser-related technologies to compromise your system. By simply visiting a compromised website may be sufficient to allow an attacker to gain control of your system. As if this weren’t bad enough, many legitimate sites are compromised and become sources of infection. Avoid accessing the web from protected systems behind your firewall.

Myth 5: Cyber security? Just leave it to the IT department

Reality: Cyber security is a business risk, not just an IT problem. Setting up the proper technology tools to provide cybersecurity protection are necessary. Organizations, management and staff need to adopt and extend these policies to establish a unified security posture. Staff need to be trained, educated and aware of security risks. Implementing appropriate technical controls to safeguard the information that an organisation holds is the first line of defence against security threats.

Myth 6: My Wi-Fi is unhackable if I hide it
Reality: Most routers give you the option of making your network ‘invisible’. This leaves people believing that since no-one can see their network, no-one on the outside can hack their connection. If someone wants to hack your Wi-Fi, it is quite likely that they have the technical competence to know that most networks are hidden and the know-how to make them visible even though you have hidden the network name. Keep older routers up to date, use strong passwords and check your routers manual to learn how to enable WPA2 wireless encryption on your router.

 

Conclusion

The bottom line is IT security must be a priority for your business, no matter the size of your operation. Based on your industry and security needs, you can work with professionals to customize the appropriate level of coverage for your company. It’s important to remember to apply patches and upgrades and upgrade in a timely manner, but that will only carry you so far. The weakest link in security is still the human element.

Sources:

 

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About Chantélle Naudé

I have been with Leads 2 Business for 9 years, working in the Leads 2 Quotes department. Mother to two beautiful daughters.

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