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Green Office Tips

  1. Print your Resident Handbooks on both sides of the paper.  By doing so, in only a few handfuls of move-ins, you can save a ream of paper. Submitted by Canterbury Woods.
  2. No more styrofoam!  Do you serve coffee at your office?  Eliminate styrofoam cups in favor of reusable cups for coffee or other beverages.
  3. Are you an admin? Do you get the mail every day with that thick rubber band around it? Most of them get thrown away, but they can be recycled. Bag them! When the bag is full, put a "please recycle" note on the bag and place them right back in your mailbox. Your mail carrier will take them and reuse them.
  4. If you have a laptop, unplug it until the battery starts draining. You'll save up more energy that way.
  5. Turn off your monitor. It saves a whole lot more energy than simply using a screensaver. Did you know the EPA has estimated that using a computer’s “sleep mode” reduces its energy consumption by 60-70%, and, on a large scale, ultimately could save enough electricity each year to power Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, cut electric bills by $2 billion, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of five million cars? A screen saver that displays moving images causes your monitor to consume as much electricity as it does in active use. A blank screen saver is only slightly better because it reduces energy consumption by a small amount. The best screen saver is also the best energy saver. Turn off your monitor when you are not using it. The next best idea is to use your computer’s power management feature to automatically shut the monitor down when it is not in use. Despite the rumors, leaving your computer on overnight is in fact less efficient that shutting it down and booting it up the next day. Turning off your computer will decrease the amount of energy it uses, reducing its mechanical stress, and prolonging its life!

Green Living Tips

  1. I like to incorporate edibles in to my flower beds. Many herbs such as basil and dill attract butterflies and are great looking in addition to great tasting!  Radishes and lettuces are fun surprises when tucked in to the corners of beds. When these are gone and the summer is here, replant with cabbage, kale, peppers or squash.  Seeds are only a few pennies a packet and it will allow you to experiment with new plants that you may not realize you can even grow. Apartment living is not problem as even the smallest patio will accommodate a tomato or pepper plant.  The huge benefit with this plan is not only will you have a great looking garden while enjoying the benefits of your own "practically free" healthy produce, but you will also reduce your carbon foot print by eating locally!
  2. If you're into green shopping and sustainability, you may want to bookmark a new Web site called Earthster.  The site is still under development but will become an open source database that will allow shoppers to find green products and evaluate them based on their entire life cycle.  In other words, it takes into account things like the energy needed to produce the products, the materials used, the transportation necessary, etc.  The site's founders are also behind Sylvatica, a life cycle institute that works with Fortune 500 companies.  Get more information at www.earthster.org.
  3. Re-useable water bottles are a great choice, but make sure they are BPA-free.  Contigo makes BPA free water bottles that are also spill-proof. www.GoContigo.com.
  4. A driveway car wash is estimated to use 80 - 140 gallons of water. These soapy suds are filled with brake dust, gasoline, detergents and other contaminants which pollute waterways. Consider switching to a waterless car wash products like eco touch, visit www.EcoTouch.net. Simply spray on the dirty car panel and wipe clean with two microfiber cloths. Intended for lightly-moderately soiled cars.
  5. I am attempting to take my green living to a new level that I call my "green conscious" state. Being a victim of the big box shopping, buying toilet paper in the 120 rolls (seems like it anyway)has left me perplexed on what to do with the behemoth plastic wrapper.  I have started to line my trashcan with the wrapper.  At some point I hope that my area will start to recycle plastic wrap and then I will change my plan.  Until then, if I must throw something in the landfill, what can I do with it before it goes there?  Also, consider what alternative use can be made of that object you are considering throwing into the trash.  Start that small compost pile in your back yard.  Research and discover what you can do with some of the trash before it becomes trash. ~ Submitted by Fred Dean

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