Life on the Cyber Farm
In recent years, the agricultural industry has made tremendous gains in productivity and efficiency with the emergence of wireless communications, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Position Systems (GPS), information management tools, and Internet-based software and services.
Today, many mainstream farmers across the US are relying on these technologies and tools to maximize their operations and decision-making. Precision agriculture, as the practice is called, uses a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning and tracking system to provide farmers with autosteer guidance, soil mapping, fleet management, asset tracking, inventory management, and vehicle tracking.
Though there are a few companies offering this technology, such as John Deere and Trimble, their products have some common characteristics. These systems allow the operator to visualize the farm site in real time (usually from a dedicated display) in 3-D and to have real time two-way communication with assets. With this technology, farmers can multi-task, produce straight crop rows with sub-inch accuracy, reduce idle time, lessen the wear and tear on machinery, and engage in precision seeding and spraying.
And that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Other companies are coming up with unique tools and products to help farmers farm better. Last year, Leica Geosystems introduced a unique feature called the Virtual Wrench. This web-based diagnostics and servicing tool allows Leica service technicians to remotely reach into any system via the Internet to fix problems and fine-tune equipment while field work is underway. The operator merely presses a button to request a Leica Virtual Wrench service technician and soon afterward receives a return call.
According to a recent article in Farm Industry News, Leica now plans to use the same technology for its Virtual Wrench product to provide farmers remote access to all aspects of the farming operation via the Web. The farmer just needs to got to the website where he can not only monitor operations, but send information to operators in the field and control any software enabled variables. This service will also be available for mobile devices, such as smartphones.
Got the Picture? Check Out bMighty’s New Imaging How-To Center
If you dream of freeing your small business from a seemingly endless stream of documents, memos, reports, and invoices, then bMighty’s new Imaging How-To Center may be just what you are looking for.
Coming in the wake of its informative Server How-To Center, bMighty has created another guide for small and mid-sized businesses that offers practical information on using document imaging to save money and maximize workflow efficiency.
The site contains several free downloadable guides, with titles such as “Document Imaging, Simplified,” and “7 Steps to Document Imaging” as well as a growing collection of pertinent articles and resources culled from the Web, case studies, videos, and other useful information.
If you are thinking of bringing document imaging into your business this site is definitely worth checking out.
Recycling and Conserving Construction Material to Save Money and Your Business
Those who make their living in the construction industry have a lot to worry about these days- and I am not talking about the slump in commercial and residential construction. In the face of rising fuel prices and the surging cost of raw materials, many small and medium-sized contractors are realizing that in order to keep operating they must change the way they do business.
To that end, numerous builders, contractors, and demolition companies are learning how to best conserve and recycle their resources. Here are a few of the most successful ideas:
Get what you need for cheaper:
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Shop at a stores that sell used building materials and check out your local materials exchanges.
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Keep your eye on the global markets for price-volatile, commodity items, such as wood, metal, and aggregates and where possible negotiate bulk purchases for future projects and advance buys.
Make the most of what you have:
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Many raw materials, such as wood, metal, drywall, and concrete can easily be recycled for resale or reuse. You should research your options to see whether it pays transport material to a recycler or to recycle on site with your own equipment, such as a wood chipper or an industrial grinder.
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Fuel can also be conserved with the use of various location-based and telematic devices.
Plan ahead:
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Create a waste reduction or recycling plan for your business, and give it over to your employees.
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Use standard material sizes in your building plans
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Include the use of recycled supplies in your building plan
For more information on construction material recycling and waste disposal check out these sites:
The Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/debris-new/index.htm
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cea/publications/pubs/section3/ie211.pdf
Winham Solid Waste Management
Constructionbusinessowner.com
www.constructionbusinessowner.com/
Building Materials Reuse Association
When Driving is a Must: Choosing The Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles For Your Business
If you own a small business that involves fieldwork, then knowing which vehicles to include in your fleet can get very confusing. A few years ago you may have sought vehicles that were economical, reliable, and practical, but these days you need to take into account fuel efficiency and the vehicle’s environmental impact.
Whether you are looking for a pickup truck, van, or a standard car; a hybrid gas and electric vehicle, or one that uses diesel, ethanol or regular gasoline, the only way to cut through the confusion is by doing your research.
Check out the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide where you can search for vehicles under a variety of factors such as fuel economy and air pollution score by make, model, and availability by state. You can also download the EPA’s 2008 Fuel Economy Guide to get tips on fuel conservation and see their picks for the overall top automotive performers on the market today.
Another site worth checking out is that of the US Department of Energy. This informative site has comprehensive collection of tips, news, and information regarding fuel economy. Be sure to also look up their list of the 10 best and worst automobiles in fuel efficiency.
What to Do When Going Green Gets Confusing
History attests to countless social movements that took off with exuberant momentum only to create a collective backlash years later. This is the natural flow of human psychology and desire.
In recent years the public has been inundated with the concepts of green conscious, sustainability, and the necessity of protecting the environment. This was closely followed by a virtual flood of environmentally friendly products and services that was bolstered by strong consumer demand. Even at the beginning of this year numerous industry trend forecasts predicted that eco-friendly business would be a major money maker.
But according to recent studies, the call for all things green has turned into a “green noise” that many consumers are quick to shut out. Though these studies suggest that the state of the economy is partly to blame for this reduction in consumer demand, much of the consumer apathy is due to the overload of information and conflicting messages promoted by eco-marketers and environmentalists.
For those consumers and businesses that committed to protecting the environment, yet are either confused or jaded (or both), check out these helpful links:
Blog Post: Five Suggestions for Businesses Confronted with Green Fatigue and Green Noise
Simplesteps.org: Get practical advice on green living depending on if you want to spend a minute, a morning, or a month on the project.
George Carlin: A deep and humorous look at “saving” the planet
Tips for Cooling Your Small Business with Energy Star
With the summer fast approaching, now is the perfect time to invest in an eco-friendly workspace. The Environmental Protection Agency recently put out this list of tips to help small businesses keep a comfortable work area while saving energy and protecting the environment:
5. Turn off lights and equipment when not in use and use Energy Star qualified CFLs wherever appropriate. High utility costs are often a result of paying for energy that is completely wasted by lights left on for long periods while not in use. CFLs use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, last up to 10 times longer, and generate less heat than conventional light bulbs.
4.Use fans to reduce the need for air conditioning. Energy Star qualified ceiling fans can cut energy use — circulating air can make a somewhat higher temperature and/or humidity feel more comfortable. In fact a temperature setting of only 3 to 5 degrees higher can feel just as comfortable when fans are used. So turn the thermostat up several degrees while using the fans to deliver the extra cooling comfort. A ceiling fan cools you - not the room - so remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room.
Each degree of higher temperature can save about 3% on cooling costs. When the temperature outside is more comfortable than inside, a “box fan” in the window or large building fan in the attic can push air out of the building and pull in comfortable outside air.
3. Install an Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat. Install as Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat to automate your air-conditioning (HVAC) system and save energy while your small business is closed or unoccupied. This solid-state, electronic device automatically adjusts temperature settings based on your schedule, and can be “overridden” as needed for unscheduled events. This “smart thermostat” can turn on the HVAC one hour before arrival and keep it off or at a higher, more energy- efficient temperature on weekends instead of heating or cooling unoccupied space.
2. Schedule annual, pre-season maintenance checkups with a licensed contractor to ensure your cooling system is operating efficiently and safely. “Tune-up” your heating, ventilating, and HVAC system with an annual maintenance contract. Even better, have your HVAC serviced prior to both heating and cooling seasons.
A new Energy Star qualified HVAC system, like a new car, will decline in performance without regular maintenance. A contract automatically ensures that your HVAC contractor will provide pre-season tune-ups before each cooling and heating season. You save energy and money, and your system may last years longer with reasonably priced yearly maintenance fees. Your chances of an emergency HVAC break-down also become very remote with regular maintenance. Change (or clean if reusable) HVAC filters every month during peak cooling or heating season.
1.Use Energy Star qualified products. Energy Star qualified products are a good business investment. Products that display the Energy Star label operate more efficiently, save energy, and help protect the environment.