Daily Archives: March 9, 2009

DST Is An Energy Suck: Here Are 7 Energy-Saving Tips

March 9, 2009

As most of America is well aware of, we went into Daylight Savings Time (DST) this past weekend–you know, when we set the clocks to one hour later and “spring ahead.” I don’t know about you but I’ve been feeling a little jet lag today, like I’d traveled across a time zone without actually going anywhere. Well, I guess in reality, I did.

This jet lag effect was the most apparent this afternoon. Normally, around 3:00 I’ll start to feel a bit drowsy, and I’ll usually brew a second cup of coffee to perk me up and help me make it through the rest of the workday. Today, sure I felt drowsy at mid-afternoon, but when I glanced at the clock on my laptop, guess what? It was 4:00. Well, that took me by surprise. I had no idea it was that late in the afternoon, and, in my mind, it was just too late for another cup of coffee (that is, if I wanted to sleep tonight). Besides, I would be eating dinner in less than two hours. So I grabbed some water instead, which was probably better for me in the long run.

You know what else surprised me? Reading about this study in Fast Company that showed that DST increased energy usage. The notion behind setting the clock ahead an hour is to give us more light in the afternoon–originally so that farmers could work longer in the day. People once thought that this change would also save energy, because we wouldn’t have to turn on our lights until later in the evening. But these days it seems that with office buildings that have lights on no matter the hour of the day, switching to DST does nothing to save energy. But if switching the clocks really isn’t helping on the energy front, why bother changing the time twice a year?

Well, since I’m not going to go lobby Congress to make this change, I figured I’d at least help you avoid becoming an energy-sucking statistic by offering this simple reminder of the 7 ways you can save energy at home.

Turn lights off when you leave a room.
Wash clothes in cold water only so you’re not using energy to heat hot water.
Plug all electronics into surge protectors and then shut them off at night when not in use.
If you have a laptop, charge it once during the day, pull out the plug (from both ends) and run on battery power for as long as you can.
Clean the coils behind your refrigerator to make sure that it’s running as efficiently as possible.
Keep the heat or air conditioning off for as long as you can stand it on cold or hot days.
Replace your old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Even though these tips are basic, they really do work. How else can you explain the fact that our electricity bills plummeted when we moved from a new, energy-efficient home to an older, less energy-efficient house? Well, we started putting these small changes into practice, and all together, they added up to big savings.

What are some of the ways you save energy around the house, regardless of what “time” you’re in?

Make a Referral Week

March 9, 2009

By Leah Ingram

One of the things about freelancing that my husband has never understood is when I refer another freelancer for a gig. I saw this as good karma. He saw this as potentially giving away a job that could have come my way.

Granted, I don’t hand out referrals left and right, and there are certain clients whose whereabouts I keep close to my chest. But I’m a big believer in the notion that the way folks like me stay in business is by referring business to others in hopes that others will do the same for me. And plenty of writers have.

I was pretty stoked to discover that this is Make a Referral Week, a so-called small-business stimulus program to encourage small business owners to refer others to possible projects. So I signed up at the website makeareferralweek.com to pledge that I will refer one other person this week for work.

This shouldn’t be too hard for me to accomplish since I’m used to sending leads to other writers and editors I know. Also, I’m a member of Freelance Success, an online community of freelance writers. Twice a year FLX (as we call it) runs something called a Query Challenge. This eight-week contest is all about marketing yourself (through queries–what story proposals sent to magazines are called) in hopes that more work will come your way.

FLX members join teams and together they work to earn as many points–and freelance projects–as possible. Along with cheering each other on via listserve message, team members usually end up referring gigs to their team members whenever possible.

Just two weeks ago one of my team members recommended I contact the editor of a regional parenting publication with whom she’d worked. You see, I sell reprints to my lifestyle and parenting articles to regional magazines, and this recommendation was to a magazine I hadn’t approached before. While the editor didn’t buy any of my stories (yet!), that referral opened a door for me. Conversely, if I see a job listed on Craigslist or Journalism Jobs that I think would be right for one of my teammates, I send her the link to that gig.

If you’re a small-business owner like I am, will you pledge to make a referral on behalf of another small-business owner you know? Remember: what goes around comes around, and in this sagging economy, we independents can use all of the good work-related karma that we can get.

8 Tips for Surviving Company Layoffs

March 9, 2009

By Leah Ingram

I’ll never forget what it was like when I worked in a company where every week brought a new round of pink slips. My stomach would knot up each Monday when I stepped off the elevator, pushed through the office’s door and sat down in my cubicle. Would I be next? Did I need to duck and cover? Should I start floating my resume?

These days, the pink-slip stress is a daily occurrence for many individuals. Maybe a pending layoff could be a reason you’ve decided to adopt a frugal lifestyle–and therefore found your way over to this blog.

That’s why today, thanks to the folks at administrative staffing firm Office Team, I’m offering 8 tips for surviving company layoffs when you’re not laid off–and how you can continue to make yourself valuable to your employer (whether you’re a manager or a subordinate) in hopes that you will continue to stay employed.

1. Make yourself indispensable.

Focus your efforts on projects that help boost your firm’s bottom line. Take courses to learn skills that allow you to contribute in new ways.

2. Build visibility.

In uncertain times, it’s important to be noticed for the right reasons. Volunteer for projects that no one wants to tackle or that fall outside your job description. Also provide periodic reports updating your supervisor on your achievements.

3. Adapt to change.

Managers appreciate employees who can roll with the punches and maintain productivity when faced with adversity. Demonstrate your ability to stay positive, motivated and focused on doing good work.

4. Conduct an audit.

Now is the time to be nimble. Evaluate current processes and offer suggestions for cutting costs or saving your company time or resources.

5. Avoid the rumor mill.

While increased water cooler chatter is inevitable after layoffs, avoid contributing to the gossip. Also, don’t believe everything you hear. If you have questions about your company’s direction, ask your manager but understand he or she may not have all the answers.

6. Be generous with praise.

After downsizing, employees may begin to doubt their abilities and question their own future with the company. If you are a manager, you may not be in a position to make promises of job security, but you can give direct reports positive feedback on their performance in challenging times.

7. Reach out.

Offer assistance to those who have experienced a job loss by introducing them to your professional network and helping them with their job search.

8. Look out for yourself.

Layoff survivors often experience increased workloads, which can lead to burnout. Talk to your manager about setting priorities, delegating projects or bringing in temporary professionals.

Remember, these are just suggestions, not guarantees. But they’re worth keeping in mind if you happen to work at a company that’s been trimming its employee ranks–and may continue to do so in the future.

As for me I survived all of the layoffs that my company went through way back when. And when I did choose to leave, it was on my own terms to start my full-time writing business. I’ve never looked back.