By Leanne on October 3rd, 2008
Lots of companies are looking into more and more ways to go green. Well, here are a few simple ways you can:
1. Buy in bulk- this will not only save money, but you will cut down on trips to the store. An even better way is to order supplies online.
2. Reuse and Recycle Packaging- You can go either figure out ways you can reuse packaging in the office or you can recycle the packaging at places that are in your area.
3. Get the Warranty- This way you can get your electronics repaired instead of having to spend more money to buy new products. And lets face it the warranty is probably less money than buying something brand new.
4. Recycle the Scrap- What does this mean? Well I bet you never new that you can recycle staples, paper clips and pretty much anything else around the office that will is attracted to magnets.
5. Refill Your Ink Cartridges- Instead of buying new ones you can just simply refill your ink cartridges. Which is only about 25% of the cost of buying a brand new cartridge.
6. Monitor Paper Usage- Only make copies when necessary, use a removable stick-on label for your fax cover sheets, and set printers/copiers to print on both sides of paper whenever you can.
7. Set up an Office Recycling Program- This way you can recycle left over paper products from lunch, soda cans, water bottles ext. and earn a little cash for the company as well. Who knows maybe you can use the money for a fun activity for the company as a reward.
These are just some simple ways that everyone in your company can pitch in to save money and help out the environment at the same.
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Keywords: environment, green, recycle, savings
By Loyd on October 1st, 2008
Even though many feel the economy is slowing down some companies are continuing to go the extra mile to make the world a better place. One such company is Toyota who, on Monday, donated 5 of their Prius automobiles and over $600,000 in cash to Yosemite National Park.
YosemiteBlog: “Working as partners with the National Park Service, institutions of higher learning and nonprofits, Toyota’s generous contribution advances leadership and education opportunities to protect and preserve Yosemite National Park,” said Bob Hansen, president, The Yosemite Fund. “The breadth of their contributions provides the resources to inspire new generations to develop an interest in conservation, environmental management and a passion for the outdoors.”
Toyota’s donation will also be used to establish a two-week Executive Leadership Seminar in 2009 designed specifically for experienced professionals in park and protected area land management. Leaders from government, corporate, and non-profit sectors will focus on proactive approaches and strategic leadership for use in complex, real-world land management challenges. This course draws on the University of California’s academic leadership, and pairs it with the unparalleled opportunity for field study and experiential learning in Yosemite National Park.
“The development of environmental education programs is key to preserving our majestic national parks for future generations,” said Bill Duff, Corporate Manager, Environmental Office, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Toyota is proud to be part of this endeavor through our donation to The Yosemite Fund and Yosemite National Park.”
Photo by Doug Bradley via Flickr.com
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Keywords: automobile, green, hybrid car
By Katrina on September 25th, 2008
Do you ever wonder why there are so many diseases and overall health issues that weren’t around when our grandparents, or even our parents, were growing up? Do you ever wonder if the plethora of medicines and protective measures that we have available to us are what’s causing all the health issues in the first place? There are more pills and potions out there that cause more damage and side effects than they cure the original problem!! If you ever listen closely to the disclaimers at the end of the commercials, you hear a multitude of side effects. It doesn’t seem worth it to take the pill in the first place!
For example, do you ever wonder why there is so much skin cancer today, with all the protective potions and lotions that are available to us that weren’t available to previous generations? Can you really blame it all on the ozone layer and global warming? Have you ever considered the products (and chemicals) that you are lathering into your skin thats being absorbed into your body? Coincidence? Maybe. But it is a question I have always asked.
So lets take that thought further to the way we clean our homes… We have a larger variety of cleaning products available to us than we have choices in toothpaste (and we have a lot of options when it comes to toothpaste!)!! Do they really work? Or do they cause more problems for us than cleaning solutions (pun intended)?
Some of the most popular products out there have ingredients in them that cause some serious health issues! The VOC levels these products give off are through the roof.
inhabitat.com: Some of the “top-selling” products are the most toxic to us. For example: Lysol Antibacterial Spray, who’s ads encourage parents to spray wherever children are, contains denatured ethanol (which can cause central nervous system depression) and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a known pesticide. Wow! Now is that really worth using for a little case of some germs? Kinda harsh don’t you think? The majority of glass cleaners contain glycol ethers that have been shown to cause reproductive effects if exposed to high enough levels. Pledge, the leading wood cleaner, contains silicones, butane gas, and propane. Most air fresheners contain formaldehyde (which is highly toxic and is a known carcinogen) and phenol (a delightful chemical that can cause cold sweats, convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma, and even death). If aware, I think most people would prefer not to expose their children or pets to such harmful chemicals.
You can cut through the marketing by looking for a few obvious things: products that have grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve. Use borax instead of bleach. Also, look for products that are “petroleum free” and avoid products that include phosphates (such as dishwasher soaps). You’ll also want to avoid any furniture polishes or PVC products that include phtalates. A safe general rule of thumb is if you can’t pronounce it, don’t use it. If you can’t tell what the active ingredient in a cleaning product is, then you might want to reconsider slathering it all over the house.
These types of products weren’t around in the day our our grandparents, and gosh, neither were these wonderful health issues as common as they are now…. It’s food for thought at the very least anyway.
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Keywords: green, green living, health, healthy living
