NEWIEE Mentorship Program

New England Women in Energy and the Environment is a group of accomplished professionals working for environmental sustainability in both the public and private sectors across the northeast. The group is a non-profit that provides business networking, education, mentoring, leadership, career development, and social opportunities for New England's female executives, engineers, consultants, attorneys, academics, policy makers, and other professionals with an interest in energy and/or environmental issues.


NEWIEE recently launched  a new mentoring program!  The goal is to create one on one matches or mentoring groups to allow women from all stages of their careers to come together and learn from those with different levels of experience.  If you are interested in either becoming a mentor, or a mentee, CLICK HERE  to fill out a survey.  There will be a kick-off event for the mentoring program in late March.  Responses to the survey will allow NEWIEE organizers to match compatible mentors with mentees. Please contact Jennifer Bernazani-Ludlum at jbernazaniludlum@ferriterscobbo.com with any questions about the mentoring initiative or this survey.

I am really thrilled about this program and recently filled out the survey myself! I am looking forward to the many learning opportunities that would come with participating.

image courtesy of NEWIEE.org

Show the earth your love with green valentines

Valentines Day is a potentially wasteful holiday - individually wrapped candies, cards, envelopes, etc. But Valentines Day is such a fun time to celebrate your loved ones, so this year, lets explore some green ways to show our love and appreciation!

One such option is Delightfully Valentines. For $3, Delightfully provides an awesome "present opening" experience that uses absolutely no paper and is handled completely online. You visit the site, either enter in your gift (ex., "A Home-Cooked Dinner for Valentine's Day") or buy a gift card on the site. Then,  electronically "wrap" it using either a collage of pictures or a photo puzzle. Next, your Valentine receives notification that their gift is waiting and when they visit the site, receive the experience of putting together a puzzle or sifting through photos to reveal what you've planned for them. So much better than saying, "Honey, the reservation is at 8," and so much greener than a Hallmark card at CVS.

Another option is to give potted plants rather than bouquets. Potted plants last much longer and can help improve indoor air quality. Your valentine is sure to enjoy having a permanent decoration rather than a fleeting piece of beauty.

Finally, try making homemade treats instead of purchasing individually wrapped candy that has likely been shipped across the country. Try your hand at making fudge, cookies, or brownies for a personalized sweet treat that shows more thought and effort than a candy bar! Or personalize an everyday item for a cute surprise - like a sticker on an organic apple:

image courtesy of onehungrymama.com

Stay Safe in the Storm!

image courtesy of theweek.com

Planning for a Green Weekend in NYC

At the end of the month I am heading down to the Big Apple to attend the Gold Gala event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (donate to the cause by clicking here). Before packing, I am making a plan to make my trip as sustainable as possible:

image courtesy of icoolhunt.com

1. Make a packing list, and check it twice (don't want to have to buy an extra toothbrush or deodorant!)

2. Get to town in a sustainable method. Take a bus or train down to NYC, and opt for the subway instead of a cab.

3. Pack light. Light-as-possible bags reduce the amount of fuel needed for a bus/cab.

4. Tell the clerk: "no receipts". What is a trip to NYC without a little shopping? Reduce paper consumption by skipping the receipt.

5. Pack a day bag wisely. Don't go out without bringing a reusable shopping bag and a drink tumbler/mug.

6. Choose eco-aware restaurants and boutiques, and eat vegetarian on the trip.

7. Plan the day out ahead of time to avoid unnecessary travel.

8. Think twice before purchasing anything.

Review: St. Ives Deep Restoring 24 Hour Moisture Body Lotion

Pros                                                               Cons             

-Effective, long lasting moisturizer                    -Rated 5 (moderate hazard) on EWG SkinDeep

-Great price, $5                                              -Contains artificial fragrances

-Widely available                                            -Term "100% natural" used on packaging (greenwashing)

-Besides fragrance, all ingredients rated

    4 or below

-Large bottle, lasts a while

-Company has environmental commitments

-No parabens/phthalates

Conclusion: I am pleasantly surprised by this product. I am always wary of items that claim they are "100% natural" because the word "natural" doesn't have a standardized meaning - so its difficult to tell what this 100% claim is all about. This greenwash-sounding claim combined with the low price of the product had me ready to believe that it wasn't sustainable, but I was quite pleased with St. Ives after doing a little research. Though their products use artificial fragrance (grrr!), the company has a thorough commitment to health and the environment. St. Ives is committed to sourcing from sustainable vendors, using post-consumer recycled material for their packaging, and making sure all of their products are paraben free. This product may not be the absolute greenest on the market, but it is definitely the best choice for the price range! 

Local EcoFashion: GreenLine by K

I recently learned about  GreenLine by K, a small clothing company based in Mashpee, MA. Their new spring line just came out last week, which features some great pieces (pictured) - and by purchasing one of these items, not only are you supporting a local business, you are also supporting its charity affiliates including the Starfish Project (helps improve the lives of exploited women in Asia) and Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod. GreenLine by K features natural and organic materials, and fair trade accessories. Definitely something to consider next time your wardrobe needs a revamp!

Green Goal: Unplug Your Workout

Unplugging my workout has been on my list of green lifestyle goals for a while. In warm weather it is easy to skip the energy-intensive gym machines and go for a run outside, play tennis, or hit the North End pool for some laps, but in the midst of a New England winter, options seem to decline. Luckily, North End Yoga  is currently having a promotion for new members: $30 for 30 days of almost unlimited classes! Yoga is a great way to unplug, unwind, and shape up. I am excited to get started!