Greener Printing From Your Computer

Before you print that next document, here are some ways you can achieve greener printing from your computer.

1. Make sure you are using an EnergyStar printer (and computer). You may think this one's a no-brainer and you've got it covered, but wait...did you know that computer standards were revised in 2007 and new printer standards take effect this year? So if your computer is older that 2007 and your printer is older than 2009, it may no longer meet EnergyStar standards, even though it met the standards that were in place at the time it was manufactured. If you should decide to upgrade, don't forget to recycle the old one!
   


2. Change the margins. Read the studies from both Penn State University and Michigan State University. The Penn State study suggested that changing all university printer default margins to .75” (adding 19% more print space to the page) could save the university over $122,000/year and Michigan State estimated a savings of $67,512/year.
   


3. Use paper with recycled content. Although both the Penn State and Michigan State studies found that switching to recycled content paper was more expensive, this has not been the case in my consulting experience. Many businesses that are not under contractual purchasing agreements do have the flexibility to comparison shop. A recent client was able to save 10% on paper costs by switching from virgin fiber to recycled content paper. Other "green" options are to look for unbleached paper or, better yet, tree-free paper!


4. Recycle and buy recycled. Recycle your paper, toner cartridges, and ink jet cartridges. And don't forget to buy recycled, too!


5. Install software to manage and reduce paper usage. Print management software programs (such as PaperCut, GreenPrint, and many others) can reduce printed pages and printer waste.


6. Use vegetable-based ink toner. SoyPrint is an environmentally-friendly alternative to petroleum-based toner. Look for additional vegetable-based toners and ink jet cartridges to hit the market soon.


7. Change the font. A Dutch company has created Ecofont, a new font that requires up to 20% less ink. Ecofont is free to download and use.

Green Drinks - A Green Social Mixer

Green Drinks is a network of individuals interested in environmental issues who get together once a month to network and mingle. Individuals come from nonprofits, academia, government, and industry.

Green Drinks is an informal, organic, self-organizing network. Green Drinks social events have been organized in over 400 cities around the world. Melbourne Australia claims to have hosted the largest Green Drinks event, with over 1800 attendees. And New York City hosted a sizeable event with over 900 attendees.

Whether you have 5 or 500 attend your event, Green Drinks is a great way to meet and socialize with others sharing your environmental interests. Check out Green Drinks' website to find a location near you or start your own group.

From the Delmarva MD Green Drinks group: "Mix Drinks and Ideas to Ensure a Green Future." And from the Johannesburg Green Drinks group: "Saving the World One Sip at at Time."

Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee

In a new series airing Sunday nights on Planet Green, Battleground Earth will pit two well-known musical acts against each other to see which one can green up their act the most.

The show will feature ten episodes in which hip hop star Ludacris and rock star Tommy Lee and their "ecorages" attempt to educate audiences on the state of the environment. Battleground Earth's "Toxic Tommy" vs. "Luda the Polluta" will tour 9 cities and face 13 eco-challenges. The show will also offer eco-tips to viewers from other celebrities. The series will conclude with a green carpet benefit concert.

"BATTLEGROUND EARTH is not about winning the race but ultimately raising awareness about the environment."

You can watch the trailer here. The series will premiere Sunday, August 3 on Planet Green and Thursday, August 7 on TLC.

The Greening of Religion

St. Joan of Arc Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota composts at the Parish and at the on-site school, the church recycles, uses compostable dinnerware, hosts a Sustainable Fair Trade Market, and educates members on sustainability-related topics.

At All Souls Interfaith Gathering of Shelburne, Vermont, the new facility was built with locally harvested wood, bamboo flooring, compact fluorescent lights, and a furnace that will heat the facility using grass, corn or wood pellets. Programs often contain an environmental message and community members are invited to talk about their passion for the planet.

These examples are representative of a larger movement within religion and places of worship to address environmental issues. While this movement is not new to religion, it is becoming more mainstream and green buildings for synagogues, churches, and mosques are growing in popularity.

To help organized religious groups in the U.S., The Regeneration Project and the Interfaith Power and Light Campaign seek to mobilize "a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation." San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral will be installing photovoltaic panels through their work with the California chapter of the program. Check their website to find (or start) a program in your state that will help congregations of all denominations.

At least two denominations have made a concerted effort to encourage all their member churches to pursue environmental measures. One denomination is the Unitarian Universalist Church which sponsors "The Green Sanctuary" program. The program congregations and individual members to live a sustainable life in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as a way to measure happiness. The website lists the congregations in The Green Sanctuary program.

One of the Green Sanctuary churches is the Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Pennsylvania. The church is run on wind energy, recycles paper and batteries, sells shade-grown coffee, and composts to fertilize the children's garden. The church also encourages members purchase and install compact flourescent bulbs and proceeds from the sales help buy bulbs for low-income communities.

Another denomination promoting environmentalism is The National Council of Churches of Christ which sponsors the Eco-Justice Program. The program works with member Protestant and Orthodox denominations to protect and restore God's Creation. One example is the Church of the Savior, United Church of Christ, in Knoxville, Tennessee which has a compost bin, uses mugs instead of styrofoam, and purchases green power. And the Congregational United Church of Chrish in Greensboro, North Carolina recently held a tire clinic to check tire pressure on members' cars. There are many other examples of member churches' environmental efforts. You can search their website for locations.

For links to position statements on climate change from other denominations, click here.

For those interested in helping your place of worship begin the green journey, Church Solutions magazine explains how green relates to religion, why green is important, and offers tips on greening existing and new building projects. Or contact The Regeneration Project.

Richard Branson's Latest Eco-ventures

Sir Richard Branson plans to turn the uninhabited Mosquito Island in the British Virgin Islands into the world's most eco-friendly resort. His vision includes harnessing all necessary power from wind and sun, use of biofueled vehicles, use of cool thermal airflows instead of air conditioning, and an organic orchard. The proposal is currently under review by the British Virgin Islands' planning department.

Branson also plans to start Virgin Green Owls in August, an eco-consulting firm to assist governments and corporations in becoming more environmentally-friendly.

Read the full story in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Green for 20 Years in Ventura

Ventura, California had a "double green" theme this year by promoting an evironmental message for St. Patrick's Day. Saturday's (March 15) parade included unicyclists promoting pedal power as well as entries promoting composting and recycling. After the parade, a green-themed party was planned with a hybrid car on display, drought-tolerant plant and compost give aways, and a Best Green Costume contest judged upon environmental message and use of materials.

Read the full story here.

GLOBE 2008 Trade Fair and Conference on Business and the Environment

The GLOBE 2008 biennial trade fair and conference on business and the environment will be held in Vancouver, BC, March 12-14, 2008. There are five conference themes: Corporate Sustainability, Climate Change & Energy, Finance & Sustainability, Building Better Cities, and Future of the Automotive Industry. The conference expects to attract more than 2000 attendees. A preliminary program is available online highlighting the planned workshops, panel discussions, and speakers. Early registration ($500 discount) ends December 14, 2007.

Earth Class Mail - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Can you imagine a life without all that annoying junk mail? Earth Class Mail can! By offering online post office boxes, "Earth Class Mail is changing how postal mail is delivered, for the betterment of individuals, businesses, national post offices, and most importantly – the planet. Instead of making physical postal deliveries which are so dependent on fuel for planes and trucks, we deliver postal mail online - where people can deal with it instantly, anywhere in the world."

How does it work? Customers "log-in to view pictures of their mail and decide what they want to do with each piece. For example, they can choose which pieces to have opened and scanned so they can read them online, and which to recycle, archive, or have sent to them in “snail mail” form wherever they are located." You can also identify certain pieces to automatically be delivered (such as bills).

Studies report that the average person recycles perhaps 20% of her mail, while Earth Class Mail customers recycle more than 90% of their mail. We expect to have recycled more than 5 tons of paper a month by the end of this year alone. In 2008, our goal is to recycle more than 200 tons of paper. For every ton of paper we recycle, we reduce the marginal air pollution generated by new paper production by 74%, and water pollution by 35%.

10 Tips to Green Your Office - Blog Action Day

Monday, October 15 is Blog Action Day. All bloggers are asked to unite and post a blog on a common topic: the environment. The purpose of Blog Action Day is "to get everyone talking towards a better future." So here is my Blog Action Day post.

The Green Office calculator allows your office to determine its current carbon footprint. "The self assessment tool aims to promote sustainability in the workplace by increasing awareness of the issues and providing easy, cost effective resources for improvement."

Here are some steps recommended by Sustainable Business Design that your office can take to reduce your environmental impact (and save money!):

1. Use email instead of paper.


2. Print and copy on both sides of the paper.


3. Buy recycled paper with the highest percent of recycled content.


4. Use environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies and detergents.


5. Purchase refillable office products (cartridges, pens, etc.).


6. Unplug items not in use or not used frequently.


7. Switch to a "green" hosting service for your web site.


8. Report and repair water drips and leaks immediately.


9. Start a vanpool or carpool program.


10. Create a "green team" to continue the work toward greening your office or workplace.

Inconvenient Youths & The Littlest Eco-Warriers

The Wall Street Journal has published two articles today by Ellen Gamerman. Inconvenient Youths tells the stories of several children and youth who are learning the global warming and environmental conservation message at school and church and who are, in turn, educating their parents. The Littlest Eco-Warriers provides a list of resources for children and youth on these topics.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint OR Carbon Offsetting?

Should you reduce your carbon footprint or just buy carbon offsets? Carbon offsetting is popular and is a lucrative business. I've seen credit cards that make donations to offset your carbon usage, I've seen travel companies that allow you to purchase carbon offsets for your travels, but mostly I've seen large corporations purchase carbon offsets. The dilemma is that carbon offsets allow the offenders to pay for the right to continue offending while those who reduce their carbon footprint create more and more room for the offenders. There are, however, circumstances where cleaner alternatives do not exist and carbon offsetting allows these companies to attempt to mitigate their environmental damage. To parody the absurdity of carbon offsets, the humorous CheatNeutral website was created. Check it out: http://www.cheatneutral.com/

Extraordinary Photos of Our Impact

Although I intend this blog to be related to BUSINESS issues, I saw some photos today that were particularly disturbing and I felt compelled to share them. Oceans Live offers a teaching guide, entitled What's for Dinner?, about the human impact on seabirds. If you download the lesson and scroll to the end of it, you will see three photos: the beach of an uninhabited remote island, the stomach contents of a dead albatross, and the contents from this bird's stomach laid out for you to see. There is also an accompanying video entitled, Albatross Necropsy. These photos alone provide an irrefutable case for the need to reduce our environmental impact.