Environment | Land Grant Alliance

How To Have An Environmentally Friendly Home Office

If you have a home office, you may be curious about how to make your space more environmentally-friendly. Luckily, you can get started in the process by simply participating in a few simple steps.

Many inhabitants of a home office environment would be stunned to find out just how much paper they use in an average week or month. From notes to bank statements to proposals, paper seems to be present in almost every home businessperson’s life in one way or another. However, you can make a small but noticeable improvement by using a whiteboard or chalkboard to make notes instead of using traditional paper.

Also, investigate the possibility of sending documents in an electronic format rather than printing them out on paper. If you have clients who are not accustomed to documents that are in electronic formats, you can urge them to use one of the many free document readers that allow documents to be edited, saved and viewed without ever having to make use of a printer.

Consider the use of energy efficient appliances and electronics. Many tools such as printers have a “sleep” mode so that they will only turn on when they need to be used.

Finally, consider outfitting your home office space with organic accent such as bamboo rugs, organic linen curtains or recycled artwork. There are many companies that specialize in creating artwork from recycled glass or other materials. When it is time to update your home office with a coat of fresh paint, consider buying brands that pledge to be committed to the environment through their business and manufacturing practices.

Often, you’ll find that by taking the above suggestions and coming up with some of your own, you’ll be more productive as you work, since you are inspired by your personal efforts to conserve the environment.

Filed Under: Business Finance, Environment, Land Grants Tagged With: Business, Construction and Maintenance, Environmental, Environmentally friendly, Home, Home Office

How To Take An Environmentally Friendly Vacation

When planning a vacation, it’s important to consider efforts that you can make to ensure that you have a great time while doing your part to protect the environment.

Your mode of transportation is an especially important aspect to consider. Most of us don’t have the luxury of using hybrid vehicles when we travel, but there are other options that may suffice. For example, see if there is any possibility of getting together with friends to engage in a group travel excursion. That way, if you take the time to arrange for a full car load before setting off on your journey, more people can enjoy the passing scenery and vacation activities for the same gas prices as it would have been if just you and a spouse or sibling were on the trip.

If you are staying in a hotel, consider requesting that your linens are not changed for the duration of your stay, and mention that you don’t mind using your bath towels more than once. This helps the environment because it cuts down on the amount of laundry from the hotel.

Plan a vacation activity that allows you to immerse yourself in all the benefits of nature. Whether it is something as simple as bird watching, or taking a stroll along a sandy beach, the enjoyment of natural surroundings is often one of the most powerful motivators to encourage an environmentally conscious lifestyle long after the vacation is over.

Also, although it is very important to stay hydrated when traveling, consider using water filters or containers that allow you to refrain from purchasing multiple packages of bottled water from a store. However, always make sure that the local water supply is safe to drink without special purification efforts.

As you can see, it is possible to be conscious of the state of the environment even when taking a vacation!

Filed Under: Business Finance, Environment, Land Grants Tagged With: Bottled water, Shopping, Travel, Water filter, Water supply, Water Treatment

Being Environmentally Friendly At The Office

Although the need to be kind to the environment may be the farthest thing from your mind as you head to work each day, it’s important to take steps to do things from the environment even within a workplace. After all, some of us spend forty hours or more per week in our workplaces, and thanks to some easy tips, it’s possible to earn a living and save the environment at the same time.

Keep a recycling bin under your desk so it is easily accessible at all times. You may even want to volunteer to start an office-wide recycling effort so that all your coworkers can contribute to the cause of recycling in order to help the environment.

Many of us can’t fathom getting through the day without at least one cup of coffee. Help the environment while indulging your caffeine fix by purchasing a reusable coffee cup. Most traditional options such as Styrofoam and plastic are harmful to the environment because they contribute to waste. On the other hand, reusable cups are not only environmentally friendly, but convenient. Get into the habit of taking your coffee mug home each night to be washed, and bringing it back with you at the start of your next shift. If you’ve gotten into the habit of purchasing coffee from a particular shop and bringing it to work with you, check to see if they offer any discounts because you brought your own cup from home.

Finally, keep tabs on your use of paper. Use both sides when possible, especially if you are just using scrap paper to take notes at your desk. Additionally, consider the use of a whiteboard and marker system that would allow you to jot down notes and erase them at will without having to worry about wasting paper.

Filed Under: Environment, Land Grants Tagged With: Coffee, Environment, Mug, Paper recycling, Recycling, Waste management

Climate Change and Ignoring Climate Change

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you have been living on Earth for the past few years, you have doubtless been exposed to the three different sides of the climate change debate. On the first side, there are people who say that our climate has been changing rather rapidly since human beings began burning fossil fuels in large volume (in other words, since the start of the Industrial Revolution roughly 250 years ago). These people believe that within the lifetimes of an average young adult’s grandchildren, the climate of our planet may be altered to the point where sea levels may have effectively washed away (or simply submerged) many coastal cities around the world. This group has called on the removal of greenhouse gas emissions from factories, automobiles and any other sources that can be identified.

The second group of people believes that, while there may be climate change, this change is simply a natural cycle that our world has always undergone. And since our planet has experienced these cycles for an untold number of eons, we really have nothing to worry about one way or the next. The temperature will go up a little, but then it will go back down again whenever it feels like doing so. In the end, we aren’t going to end up like the dinosaurs just because some giant ice cubes are melting up north. The people who believe global climate change is our fault often accuse these people of being in denial.

While most folks believe that those are the only two sides, there is a third, very powerful group involved in this argument – the people who could not care less. The fact that our biosphere may be experiencing a level of change that could end all of our lives and destroy our species simply does not matter to these people. To them, the money we make today is the justification for doing whatever. And if something happens because of it, we will probably just end up fixing the problem before too many people get hurt. Since these are the people who vote, politicians play to them.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Climate change, Industrial Revolution

Planning An Environmentally Friendly Wedding

: Image via Wikipedia

Some people say that they spend their whole life planning for the day that they will become married to the one they love. Now, there are many ways to fulfill the requirements of a dream wedding while being kind to the environment at the same time.

A great way to get started is to use environmentally friendly invitations. Although many people would stop short of using electronic invitations (because of the lack of tangible memories) there are several companies that sell invitations made from recycled paper.

When discussing the wedding reception, plan a menu that features local, sustainable and organic foods. Although this option will likely be a bit more expensive than serving standard foods, many catering companies will offer a discount when serving large groups of guests. Also consider options created from fair trade products including coffee and chocolate. If you use candles on the tables for your guests, seek out choices that are created with the environment in mind, such as those that are made entirely from soy.

There are a variety of ways that the wedding party can be outfitted in attire that is friendly to the environment, too. Search for options such as hemp silk, which is becoming very popular for wedding dresses while offering a reasonable price. In regards to rings, consider using items that have been passed down from family members. In the event that you choose to buy the jewelry, always take care to ensure that the materials were sourced responsibly.

Finally, don’t forget to be environmentally conscious during the honeymoon! There are many companies that specialize in travel packages for the “green minded” couple. Some conservation organizations even offer a list of suggestions on their websites and within their literature, so it is easy to choose a honeymoon destination that is fun as well as environmentally responsible.

Filed Under: Business Finance, Environment, Land Grants Tagged With: Environment, Environmentalism, Environmentally friendly, Shopping, Wedding, Wedding dress

Minimizing Your Impact On The Environment

If you’re serious about leaving the environment in better condition than you found it, you’ll be glad to know that it’s easy to help the planet without too much extra effort.

One thing you can do almost right away is to take steps to reduce the amount of paper that you use. Replace standard notepads with dry erase boards so you can change the messages as you see fit. Also, do what you can to remove yourself from any catalog mailing lists, unless you order from a certain company frequently. Even so, remember that you can usually go online to the company’s website, and the information there may even be more current than what’s in the catalog.

You can also check to see if there is any way for you to enroll in “paperless” billing cycles from your credit card bank, utility company and more. As an increasing number of people are taking a stand against the condition of the environment, more companies are enabling their customers to pay bills, check account statuses and more, without ever using any paper.

Also, consider reusable bags when you go to the grocery store. Traditional plastic bags can be harmful to wildlife and they can be costly to produce, especially since most people only use them once before throwing them away. Reusable bags are convenient, strong and many even come in trendy designs that are easily folded to stow in a purse or pocket.

Finally, don’t underestimate the worth of recycling. Many towns and cities have started curbside recycling programs so that citizens can simply collect their recyclable items, take them to the curb, and wait for them to be picked up on a periodic basis. Usually this service is free, or very low cost. As you can see, it’s very easy to help the environment just by changing a few habits.

Filed Under: Business Finance, Environment, Land Grants Tagged With: Business, Environment, Grocery store, Plastic bag, Recycling, Reusable shopping bag, Shopping bag

Building An Environmentally Efficient Home

If you’re getting ready to build a new house, prepare yourself for a momentous occasion that is satisfying, yet requires a great deal of thought. After all, there are so many possibilities that can come into play when a house is being built. How many rooms should it have? Shower or bathtub? What color should my daughter’s room be? All these questions are very important, but if you desire to make a positive impact on the environment and save yourself a bit of money at the same time, consider building an environmentally friendly house. Although experts say that this decision could increase your building costs by fifteen percent or more, consider that if you do things properly, you could actually end up saving yourself a lot more than that on utility costs over a long term basis.

For starters, there are a lot of things you can do to reduce water consumption. Think about installing water conserving shower heads, and research the possibility of a toilet that flushes with the use of a tank that collects rainwater. You can also consider the use of solar panels to help heat water.

You can also harness the sun’s energy by including a lot of windows in the design of the house, particularly in the northern side of the house. Besides helping to save energy, natural light helps to brighten up a room and provide a great sense of ambiance. Also, by choosing a double insulated ceiling, you can help the sun’s rays heat your house during the winter months.

Finally, you can install energy efficient lightbulbs. Even though this seems like a small change, it can really cut down on your monthly utility bill while still providing the same functionality as a standard lightbulb. Additionally, the energy efficient styles usually don’t need to be changed as often, which is definitely a bonus if you’re trying to install a lightbulb in a hard to reach place!

Filed Under: Business Finance, Environment Tagged With: Business, Conservation, Efficient energy use, Energy, Energy conservation, Technology

Green Power: it’s for Real

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If you live and work in a part of the country where you can elect to buy your electricity from sources other than fossil fuels, you are doing reasonably well. Not so long ago, that simply was not an option for most people or businesses. But now, in a large segment of the country, you can elect to get at least a portion of your electricity from sources that generate using absolutely no fossil fuels. Through these sorts of programs, you can avoid the huge carbon footprint (and all of the nagging guilt) that you have if you buy your electricity from the more traditional types of generators that produce most of the world’s power.

Those types of generators use diminishing resources, after all. Sooner or later, they will either need to jack up their prices to pay for the dwindling supply of materials they need, or completely shut down their operations for the simple fact that there may not be enough of these materials left to actually run their plants. Between the uncertainty of fossil fuel availability in the future and the fact that they are polluting like crazy right now, it only makes sense that green power is eventually going to take over. Don’t expect it to dominate next week, but every year more households and companies sign up for it. And every year people realize a little bit better how much we’re really saving, for spending a buck or two more per month.

In some parts of the country, the green power options include hydroelectric power and solar. In other parts, the clean and renewable energy options extend more into the realm of wind generating plants and the methane gases of land fills. Believe it or not, land fills are actually a viable source of power in the modern world, that you can actually tap into legally. You ever think it would be fun to have your home be powered by garbage? Well, whether you have ever thought such a thing or not, you totally have that option nowadays. You can get your power forever with garbage.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: Hydroelectricity, Renewable energy

Greenhouse Gases: Beyond Direct Emission

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The corporate standard in the world of businesses that attempt to go green measures the first two “Scopes” of greenhouse gases (also known as GHG). The first two scopes are the direct consumption of fossil fuels, and the indirect consumption of fossil fuels by way of purchasing power and steam from a company that directly produces GHG. While these are relatively easy to quantify and do represent a significant share of the GHG emitted in the world of business, it has been suggested that as much as 75% of the GHG which is emitted in this world comes from a third, far less easily quantified source. This source has been classified as Corporate Value Chain, or Scope 3.

Scope 3 emissions are tricky to quantify because it is difficult to determine where one company’s use ends and another’s begins. It is also difficult to track how much an end user contributes the the emissions, as most individuals do not report on such things in their private lives. Scope 3 emissions require the collection of emissions data from a variety of different sources, which makes it a tricky horse to ride. 35 companies have actually gone through with road testing their Scope 3 emissions, and most of those who have done so have noticed a rather extensive level of GHG being emitted out of the least suspected places.

But you might be wondering what sorts of activities release Scope 3 GHG. These activities can come from both upstream or downstream of your actual direct emissions. For one thing, what level of GHG are your suppliers emitting? What level of emissions occur during the inbound transportation of your raw materials? How many greenhouse gases do your products themselves actually emit? How much GHG is produced when someone transports away your products? How about when your products reach the end of their life cycles, and need to be disposed of by their end users? How many greenhouse gases are released during the average daily commute of your employees every day, and how many more are emitted when they go on business trips?

Filed Under: Environment

There Is Something For Everyone in New Jersey

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Visiting New York City? Consider adding New Jersey to your vacation itinerary. The Garden State has some great off-the-beaten path attractions that are fun for the whole family. From museums, the theatre, and historical sites, to mountains and the beach, there is something for everyone in New Jersey.

Go across the Hudson River from New York City and you land in Newark, the state’s largest city. Located just eight miles from Manhattan, it is part of the New York City metro area. Newark is culturally diverse, and has several museums, galleries, and theaters that are worth visiting. In addition, there are neighborhoods ranging from the upscale that are home to New Jersey luxury apartments and elegant houses, to high concentrations of beaux-arts architecture.

New Jersey’s seashore is a popular destination, with miles of coastline for swimming, surfing, sunbathing, and taking on stroll on the beach. There are several parks and beach access points, making it easy to enjoy sun and surf for a day. The Jersey Shore and Atlantic City are not to be missed.

Historical sites are scattered all over the state, which has a long and rich history. Don’t miss the Albert Einstein House in Mercer County, and the Princeton Battlefield of Revolutionary War fame, also in Mercer County.

Though populated, the state still has some wild places left that are well worth visiting. Head inland to explore New Jersey’s mountains, located on the west side of the state. Don’t miss the Pine Barrens, a huge preserve with extensive trail networks and opportunities for outdoor recreation, for a day of hiking, biking, and enjoying the scenery. There are also several lakes and rivers that are fun to explore by canoe or kayak.

Escape the crowds of New York City, and visit New Jersey! You’ll have no problem spending a few days and having some fun in the Garden State.

Filed Under: Business Finance, Environment, General Tagged With: Albert Einstein House, Atlantic City New Jersey, Garden State, New Jersey, New York City, Newark, Newark New Jersey, Pine Barrens