Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Email and the Environment
The dream of a paperless office hasn't turned out quite the way we thought. If anything, technology has created more paperwork. Through technology, we are inundated with information and neat ideas that we want to hold on to. So, we print out a web page or email and put it in our pile, or file. Stop! Think before you print! Do you really need a hard copy of that information, or can it be easily found again online by bookmarking it, or saving into a folder on your computer? If you do have to print it, only print the pages you need. Often when you print an email, you'll get extra pages with one or two words of graphics on them. What a waste! Make sure you select the print mode in your email program, so you are not printing everything, or cut and paste the information you need into a word document and print just that.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Simple Steps to a Greener Life
Adjust the Thermostat
· Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
· Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
· Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators. And make sure not to put heat-absorbing furniture—like a couch—in between the radiator and the room.
Change the Light Bulbs
· Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They produce 75% less heat (i.e. energy) than regular light bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer.
Turn off the Power
· On average, idle machines use 11% of a home’s electricity.
· Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. This is not bad for your computer and hasn’t been since the days of mainframe computing.
· Plug all electronics into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.
· Call your utility company and learn how to buy green power.
Use Less Water
· Use low-flow shower heads and take short showers. There are good low-flow shower heads that feel like you’re getting the same pressure as you would with a traditional shower head.
· Skip the bath.
· Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
· Go to wateruseitwisely.com for more information on reducing water consumption.
Insulate
· With nothing more than proper insulation, most homes can cut their bills by over 30%. Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. If you’re home pre-dates 1980, re-insulate it. Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated.
· Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, lights, plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
· Caulk and insulate everywhere.
· Close fireplace dampers when not in use.
Stop Junk Mail
· Junk mail produces more C02 than 9 million cars, kills 100+ million trees and wastes 28 billion gallons of clean water each year.
· Try optoutprescreen.com, catalogchoice.org, and 41pounds.org to get off the junk mail lists. Start Recycling· Remember – almost EVERYTHING can be recycled.
· Most towns and cities have recycling information on their websites. If you are unsure of what you can recycle, start there. Many transfer stations and dumps accept items that you cannot recycle at the curb.
· Check for local non-profits or stores that will accept items for recycling.
· Set up a recycling station in your home and get your family involved.
Waste Less Plastic
· Plastics are made from petroleum -- the processing and burning of which is considered one of the main contributors to global warming. Each year Americans throw away 38 billion plastic bags and 60 million plastic water bottles.
· Bring reusable shopping bags with you wherever you go. They fit more than you can imagine and their lightweight design makes it easy to scrunch them up and fit them in your bag, purse or glove compartment.
· Use only reusable food storage containers.
· And finally, stop it with the single use water bottles! Switch to reusable bottles, preferably in aluminum, which contains no BPA.
· Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
· Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
· Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators. And make sure not to put heat-absorbing furniture—like a couch—in between the radiator and the room.
Change the Light Bulbs
· Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They produce 75% less heat (i.e. energy) than regular light bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer.
Turn off the Power
· On average, idle machines use 11% of a home’s electricity.
· Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. This is not bad for your computer and hasn’t been since the days of mainframe computing.
· Plug all electronics into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.
· Call your utility company and learn how to buy green power.
Use Less Water
· Use low-flow shower heads and take short showers. There are good low-flow shower heads that feel like you’re getting the same pressure as you would with a traditional shower head.
· Skip the bath.
· Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
· Go to wateruseitwisely.com for more information on reducing water consumption.
Insulate
· With nothing more than proper insulation, most homes can cut their bills by over 30%. Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. If you’re home pre-dates 1980, re-insulate it. Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated.
· Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, lights, plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
· Caulk and insulate everywhere.
· Close fireplace dampers when not in use.
Stop Junk Mail
· Junk mail produces more C02 than 9 million cars, kills 100+ million trees and wastes 28 billion gallons of clean water each year.
· Try optoutprescreen.com, catalogchoice.org, and 41pounds.org to get off the junk mail lists. Start Recycling· Remember – almost EVERYTHING can be recycled.
· Most towns and cities have recycling information on their websites. If you are unsure of what you can recycle, start there. Many transfer stations and dumps accept items that you cannot recycle at the curb.
· Check for local non-profits or stores that will accept items for recycling.
· Set up a recycling station in your home and get your family involved.
Waste Less Plastic
· Plastics are made from petroleum -- the processing and burning of which is considered one of the main contributors to global warming. Each year Americans throw away 38 billion plastic bags and 60 million plastic water bottles.
· Bring reusable shopping bags with you wherever you go. They fit more than you can imagine and their lightweight design makes it easy to scrunch them up and fit them in your bag, purse or glove compartment.
· Use only reusable food storage containers.
· And finally, stop it with the single use water bottles! Switch to reusable bottles, preferably in aluminum, which contains no BPA.
Monday, June 8, 2009
A Simple Way to Stop Junk Mail
41pounds.org is a non-profit organization designed to help stops your junk mail and catalogs — protecting the environment. Junk mail wastes an incredible amount of natural resources and contributes to global warming. Our nonprofit service covers your entire household for five years, saving...
Time — No credit card offers to shred or unwanted catalogs.
Trees — Keep 100+ million trees in forests, cooling the planet.
Water — Protect 28 billion gallons of clean water.
Climate — Junk mail produces more C02 than 9 million cars.
Planet — We donate to your favorite charity when you sign up.
Go to http://www.41pounds.org/ and stop getting junk mail today!
Time — No credit card offers to shred or unwanted catalogs.
Trees — Keep 100+ million trees in forests, cooling the planet.
Water — Protect 28 billion gallons of clean water.
Climate — Junk mail produces more C02 than 9 million cars.
Planet — We donate to your favorite charity when you sign up.
Go to http://www.41pounds.org/ and stop getting junk mail today!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Choose Cloth over Paper
Consider organic cloth napkins and towels rather than paper. Cloth is washable and reusable and can also be more decorative and practical. Plus, cloth napkins are sturdy and nicer to use than paper napkins (think softer on your face!) By using cloth rather than paper, you reduce the number of trees cut down and also decrease the trash cluttering our planet.
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