Tag: carbon footprint

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with Seven Easy Practices
By Categories: Blog Tags: , , , ,

company green claimsIt’s no longer debatable that climate change and carbon pollution is having a bad affect on our planet. While most people can’t stop an iceberg from melting, individuals can take steps to contribute to a cleaner planet.

  1. Unplug. Power off your devices and chargers. A charger plugged in, even without a phone attached, uses electricity. Put your computer into sleep mode overnight. You’ll not only save on electricity, you’ll extend the life of your device.
  2. Buy a water filter or pitcher. Fill a reusable water bottle from your filter rather than buying all those plastic water bottles that go directly into a landfill. You are adding to your carbon footprint with the shipping required to truck it to your local store.
  3. Switch out your light bulbs. Use compact fluorescent, halogen or LEDs, all of which use much less electricity and have a longer lifespan. Less bulbs will be on that truck, shipping to your local store, adding to the carbon footprint.
  4. Whether you read in print or online, think about how you read the news. Print newspapers cause roughly their weight in carbon emissions. Online reading uses electricity.  Try reading on a device that doesn’t use electricity, like a tablet or e-reader.
  5. Buy local. Farmers markets are just about everywhere. Buying direct from the farmer is healthier, fresher and tastier and wasn’t shipped across the country—or the world.
  6. Invest in curtains or energy-saving blinds. Keep them open in the winter to let in the sun, close them at night to keep in the heat. In summer, close them during the day to block the hot sun and cut down on your air conditioning use.
  7. Use energy-efficient appliances. A microwave saves not only time, but energy. If you must use the traditional, us the upper shelf since heat rises.

Incorporating these seven tips will not only help your pocket, but the planet. Think of ways to save during the holidays when you may use more electricity. The tree lights are on, the stove is baking more goodies and the games are plugged in longer.

Let’s all pitch in to save our planet.

In This Huge Sustainability World…You Matter
By Categories: Blog, Sustainability Tags: , , , , , , ,

Almost every day I am reminded of being a good environmental steward.  Public service announcements have President Obama encouraging home energy efficiency from the oval office.  News articles tout the value of water conservation.  In my local community, I can place my recyclable glass, plastic, and aluminum cans for weekly curbside pickup.  Since this is voluntary in my community, it feels good to know that I am doing my part in preserving life on earth.

However, various studies have shown that most utilities have a long way to go on educating consumers about smart energy and water management.  Furthermore, I notice that very few of the neighbors in my suburban development recycle.  Surely, many of my educated and professional neighbors should understand the value sustaining our planet.

The fact is that this entire “green” movement is still abstract to the average person, and it does not resonate to most of us in a way that is immediately personal.  As I engage people on topics of the environment, it has occurred to me that I spend most of the time simplifying the message for people.  At that point, I get the “now I get it” response.

It’s not that hard, but it takes some effort. When President Obama ran for office his second term, there were countless commercials touting the effects of voting. “Yes, in the grand scheme of things your vote does count…” is what we heard. And it does. Every little bit counts. The same goes for recycling. Every bottle you recycle, every plastic bag that gets reused, every light that is not turned on…matters. The people need to know, and need to know the way they understand.

Messaging and strategic communication are critical.  Government entities, utilities, and major community stakeholders have to simplify the message.  We are told to get ready for the Smart Grid or to reduce our carbon footprint.  If we are to really prompt public behavior modification, then we have to put an end to the esoteric jargon.   This necessitates effective public relations and strategic communication planning.  When you can explain to a 93-year-old grandmother exactly how reducing her carbon footprint can require less of her fixed income, now we are onto something. In This Huge Sustainability World…You Matter