Working on the next great thing, but need help developing a business plan, building a financial model, or connecting with investors? Blue Horizon Venture Consulting (BHVC) provides innovative expert entrepreneurial business consulting services to clients who seek to raise capital to fund startups, spinouts, growth investment projects, to expand internationally, or to implement core strategic improvements. BHVC’s business advisory services have helped entrepreneurs, middle market and Fortune 500 “Growth Ventures” obtain investment capital. Raising capital is a full-time job. BHVC develops your customized venture capital grade business plans while you drive your business forward. Since 1998, BHVC has provided professional venture development services to growth ventures. BHVC’s innovative approach, highly skilled experts, private equity contacts, and project management experience enables them to complete strategic engagements with exceptional results (a 65% success rate in raising capital) and client satisfaction.   BHVC maintains the mission to help entrepreneurial ventures obtain the resources and capabilities they need to achieve rapid growth. The BHVC vision is to become the leader in consulting to companies who seek outside capital, knowledge and connections, and to strive to conduct business with three core values: innovation, funding, and growth. And BHVC’s commitment extends to their CarbonFree^® Partnership with Carbonfund.org, making a donation to purchase 35 metric tonnes of carbon credits to offset a portion of their business emissions. If your new venture is in need of business plan development expertise, contact the professionals at Blue Horizon Venture Consulting to help launch and grow your next venture.

As a consumer, making the choice to “go green” is not hard, but to do so cost-effectively can be overwhelming. In a time where ‘green’ labels are the fad, often the eco-friendly choices provided to the public are more expensive than the average person can afford. Enter Green Apple Supply, a new non-profit online source for eco-friendly school, home and office supplies at super-low costs, making it easier for anyone to purchase Earth-friendly products.  Green Apple Supply partners with customers to educate them about eco-friendly options and the advantages of making environmentally sound decisions. Green Apple Supply views high costs for sustainable goods as a roadblock to consumers making the ethical choices in the checkout lane. That is why Green Apple utilizes the popularity of ‘buying green’ to the environment’s advantage. By supplying eco-friendly items at prices people can afford, the website hopes to encourage and teach people to take the next steps in making more Earth-conscious choices. By utilizing economies of scale, wholesale purchasing power, and personal product experience, Green Apple Supply endeavors to make it easier for anyone to purchase Earth-friendly products. The people who work at Green Apple Supply are normal people. They aren’t scientists or environmental biologists. They ARE the average consumer. It just so happened that they have a passion for making their own lives more earth-friendly, and in the process, are trying to help other people navigate that complicated world. So when choosing products, they not only consider how it affects the environment but whether its use can be incorporated into a person’s everyday life. The objective is a small step approach to environmentalism: to be the segue from environmental consumerism to sustainable living. Green Apple Supply’s concept to use wholesale purchasing power helps to create a society that can afford to live green. By making eco-friendly products readily available and affordable, consumers can start to see how making ethical choices regarding the environment is practical and convenient. Consumers can make small changes in their lives, like buying sustainable products to reinvent a better future for the world. Green Apple Supply also chose to partner with Carbonfund.org, in order to offset its own operational emissions and to assure customers of its environmental responsibility. “As an eco-friendly business, we are committed to providing our customers with a carbon neutral shopping experience. Carbonfund.org is just what we were looking for!” - Stephanie K. Tobor, President of Green Apple Supply

Whatever your financial goals, no matter how big your dreams, you deserve an investment strategy that gives you the greatest reward with the least risk, lowest cost and greatest peace of mind. And the folks at Merriman consider it their job to help you find that strategy.  Today, Merriman manages approximately $1.5 billion in investments, giving ongoing financial and retirement planning guidance to thousands of families across the country. Merriman advisors take the time to understand your financial goals and your emotions around money, helping you stay on track by finding and implementing an investment solution tailored specifically to fit you and your risk tolerance. Merriman’s fiduciary responsibilities include putting their clients’ needs first. As a fee-only advisory firm, they are paid only by their clients - their investors - and this enables Merriman to provide the most objective guidance possible. And the firm’s commitment extends to environmental responsibility and sustainable operations. In 2007, Merriman decided to look at sustainability and become a green organization. At first, the goal seemed vast. But the City of Seattle’s Climate Protection Initiative pledged that Seattle would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below its 1990 emission levels by 2012, and created the Seattle Climate Partnership to help achieve these goals. Merriman volunteered to be part of this program and committed to become a green organization. Once Merriman mastered the basics of reducing, reusing and recycling, they moved on to bigger and broader ways to achieve sustainability within their work space. They were inspired to implement green concepts into the design and architecture of their office space, from DIRTT walls to recycled ceiling tiles and motion-sensor lights. The firm’s commitment is proudly proclaimed in each employee’s email signature, a regular reminder of their leadership in this initiative. And their employee recognition program, “Caught You Green Handed,” encourages employees to think and act green. The prize they receive is a green product they can take home, enabling them to continue their green behaviors outside of the office. Merriman posts weekly green tips on the company intranet to keep the concepts fresh and in the forefront. Even with all the positive efforts, Merriman recognizes that the firm still leaves a carbon footprint, so they partner with Carbonfund.org to offset their remaining annual business emissions footprint, and to support the mission and projects of Carbonfund.org.  Merriman’s sustainability and environmental conservation programs were initiated by their CEO, and this passion for sustainability and inspiring positive change helps Merriman employees make the world a better place for all its inhabitants.

Anvil Knitwear has always been a champion for responsible business and has been an important partner to Carbonfund.org since 2009. Made from 69% pre-consumer recycled cotton, AnvilRecycled is Certified CarbonFree®. Anvil calculated the carbon footprint of the recycled t-shirt and is reducing and off-setting the carbon emissions of each shirt sold through our 3 year and counting partnership. But Anvil is doing so much more to lead the global green movement. In October 2011, Anvil Knitwear teamed up with fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and the United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) GreenUp campaign to help Europe to ‘GreenUp’ as the world looks towards the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012. Vivienne Westwood’s Tree-shirts, printed on the AnvilOrganic(TM) and AnvilRecycled(R) line, will raise funds for reforestation efforts in Europe. “Buy a Tree-shirt, Plant a Tree” is the first of 10 actions of GreenUp. Tree-shirts are available exclusively on www.yoox.com, giving all net sale proceeds for the program. Follow the campaign on Twitter @UNEPGreenUp for monthly citizen actions on what you can do to help make a green economy! Also, in May 2011, Anvil Knitwear was awarded “Best First Time Report” by Ceres and the Association for Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for North America at the Ceres conference in Oakland, California. And, in December 2011, they will be releasing their 2011 CSR Progress Report that debuts Anvil’s first Water Footprint Assessment. Anvil Knitwear, Inc., an American brand since 1899, is a leading manufacturer of sportswear and accessories, with a proven track record in engaging in responsible business practices. The company is also a leader in the sustainable apparel industry with its AnvilOrganic® and AnvilSustainable™ brands. Anvil has been ranked by the Textile Exchange as the world's seventh-largest organic program and it is the largest domestic purchaser of U.S.-grown certified organic cotton. Anvil offers a wide variety of affordable styles made from fibers such as certified organic cotton, transitional cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled PET bottles and blends in addition to over 70 traditional styles. For more information, please visit www.anvilknitwear.com, www.anvilcsr.com, www.shirtscan.com and www.TrackMyT.com.

Green Earthling Deals, a green and tech deals service, is partnering with many amazing companies with cool products to offer to you at a significant discount.  EarthTechling launched this service to help readers who want affordable  green options, and at the request of advertisers who work closely with EarthTechling to find options that work for readers' budgets too. Subscribe to the Green Earthling Deals weekly email by Friday, November 25, 2011, and EarthTechling will donate $1 for every new Green Earthling Deal subscriber towards Carbonfund.org’s tree planting efforts (capped at $3000 total donation).

Be sure to visit the Green Earthling Deals site this week to make a tree-planting donation to Carbonfund.org. Plant 50 trees for a $25 donation or 100 trees for a $40 donation – but hurry! It’s this week’s featured Green Earthing Deal. Green Earthling Deals are offered by EarthTechling.com, rapidly becoming a trusted resource and "must visit" web destination for consumers seeking information on green technology and its impact on their lives. EarthTechling.com is an online consumer publication focused on all things green technology. From clean energy and electric vehicles to green gadgets and green buildings, their passionate team and readers weigh in on the latest green news, services, and products. EarthTechling covers advancements in green technology occurring around the world from their home base in Portland, Oregon. Their website features news headlines (available on Apple iPad, iPhone, Google Android, and Amazon Kindle) product reviews, buying guides, podcasts, and an events database. EarthTechling appeals to both the casual consumer looking to conserve natural resources and reduce the carbon footprint of their daily lives, and the hardcore environmentalists seeking the latest conservation news and product information. EarthTechling’s Green Earthling Deals site promotes environmentally-focused products offered at deep discounts for limited time periods to the 180,000+ monthly visitors to the EarthTechling.com site. Deforestation is responsible for about 20% of global warming, and reforestation is a critical part of the solution. Planting trees: • absorbs carbon dioxide to reduce climate change, • improves air quality, preserves biodiversity, • controls flooding by minimizing runoff and topsoil loss, • provides habitat and nutrition for wildlife, • creates jobs through planting and managing tree nurseries. All of those benefits for an affordable donation. So take action this week – join the Carbonfund.org Million Tree Challenge and make a donation through Green Earthling Deals.

First of Electronic Devices Sold by AT&T to Automatically Power Off When Fully Charged

When under the mattress or locked in the attic isn’t good enough, turn to the team at KL Security Enterprises to store your valuables and collections, including irreplaceable data and software. Think safes, vaults, fireproof file cabinets & ioSafe rugged hard drives. With a complete focus on the customer experience, KL Security is helping clients protect their valuables & collections, their digital photos & video of their lives and their experiences. They are helping businesses protect their vital data and documents, so they can focus on growing their businesses. At the end of the day, it’s about peace of mind – a quality focus on doing their jobs to the best of their ability so their customers can focus on what matters most to them. KL Security Enterprises brings over 40 years combined experience in the safe and security industry, and offers a full line of fire safes, depository, floor, wall, and GSA approved safes. They also provide complete consulting and installation services for vault doors, modular vaults and pneumatic air tube systems for banks, commercial applications and manufacturing facilities. KL Security Enterprises, Inc began as a family owned business, and continues to maintain its hometown values. In addition to safes, hard drives and banking equipment, KL Security Enterprises offers GSA Locksmith services as well as nationwide delivery & installation services. And KL Security Enterprises maintains a strong commitment to environmental responsibility in its overall operations. “Our commitment to the environment runs deep and by partnering with Carbonfund.org, we ensures that every bit of CO2 emissions is accounted for. Every safe and vault that we ship to each and every one of our customers across the United States can take comfort that the emissions are offset through reforestation, renewable energy and energy efficiency,” says Johnny Klemme, CEO. “We’re doing our part to effect positive change in the world in which we live, work and play, and we hope our customers value this commitment as much as we do.” In addition, KL Security Enterprises recycles all materials used in their office, to be turned into sustainable products for packaging, playgrounds and more. They have partnered with Resolve Earth Solutions to reduce the waste sent to landfills. KL Security also participates in local tree-planting initiatives to improve the value to wildlife and the air we breathe. If you’re seeking the best in security, for your valuables, collections and data, check out the services that KL Security Enterprises has to offer.