Is an electric vehicle for me? (Infographic)

by niegeborges.

Going beyond going paperless to save energy

image courtesy of : wikimedia commons

Going paperless is a mantra of many cost and environmentally conscious folks. We embrace the opportunity to utilize email for communication. We use email to receive everything from jokes, to sales fliers, to family news, to corporate communication. If you've embraced paperless communication in order to lessen your impact on the environment, you're ready for the next step.

Even less paperless communication. Yes, you read that right. Email has become a "paperless tiger", loading up our inboxes with an unending stream of communication. Ask any business person what wastes more time in the day than anything? Going through email. According to an independent study by Atos Origin: 

...the average employee spends 40% of their working week dealing with internal emails which add no value to the business. In short, your colleagues only start working on anything of value from Wednesday each week. Our own analysis found worrying levels of email traffic: of 95,000 emails sent, 75,000 were internal, while 68% of the 127,000 received also came from internal sources. 

It's not just the issue of time, there is actually a carbon footprint to all that sending, opening, reading, or deleting email followed by a repeat every single day. Projections from The Radicati Group estimate that in 2015, the average business person will handle 125 emails/daily, up from 105 in 2011. Each email sent uses about 4 grams of carbon, which doesn't sound like much, until you extrapolate those numbers per person, per email, per year and suddenly, the average person emails the amount of carbon equal to a 200 mile car trip. We're not advocating to stop emailing, but rather email intelligently.

Considering the amount of useless emails we send and receive, it shouldn't be difficult to cut that number in half. Here are some tips from SingleHop cloud computing:

• Stop hitting reply all. Often, a conversation between two people need not involve an entire email list. 

• When you email, you do not need to contact everyone in your address book. Instead, judiciously send to those who need to know. 

• Search your email by keywords instead of asking someone to resend a document that was buried in those 100+ emails from the day before. 

• Unsubscribe. Often, whenever we shop for something online or research a topic, our email gets entered in a database and we receive daily notifications. It's just as easy to go to the website instead of have the website come to you in an email. 

• Get up and walk over to someone's desk instead of sending an email. Talk to your co-workers face to face. Think of the number of emails that are generated that may have simply needed a 2 minute conversation. 

Taking these steps to reduce our paperless output could make the words "You've Got Mail!" a welcome thought, in addition to saving the planet.

What does organic mean and why should it matter?

photo credit: marfis75 via photopin cc

What Does Organic Really Mean and Why Does It Matter?

If you're concerned about health and wellness, you’ve probably heard about organic foods and their advantages. The organic movement has become popular in recent years. By learning more about these earth-friendly practices and how they work, you can discover the benefits of using organic products.

 

Understanding Organic Certification 

Manufacturers can’t simply declare an item to be organic. Their products must fit a very specific set of requirements. All organic crops must be grown in unmodified soil and kept separate from conventional crops. They must be free of chemical pesticides, genetically modified seeds, artificial fertilizers, and sewage-based fertilizers. Organic livestock must be allowed to graze freely outside. They can’t be fed antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-products of any sort. 

Origins of Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture isn’t a recent invention—in fact it’s as old as human civilization. Before scientists developed artificial herbicides and fertilizers, farmers used natural techniques such as herbal pest control, manure, and crop rotation to grow their plants. By the year 2011, the organic industry in America was flourishing, with more than 30 billion dollars in annual sales. It is one of the most robust and quickly growing industries in America. As more and more farmers choose to go organic, people have become better educated about the differences between organic and conventional products. These changes have led to increased job opportunities in many parts of the country.

How Can You Benefit From Organic Products? 

A major benefit of organic cotton and other crops is the absence of harmful pesticides which can cause serious harm to the human body. Kids under 18 are especially vulnerable because they have less developed immune systems. Organic crops aren't just better for you—they also taste and feel better. Organic vegetables and fruits are known for their fresh, delicious taste. Careful regulations bring the food to your table in top condition. When you choose organic towels or sheets, you can feel the difference against your skin. These products also help the environment by cutting down on water use, energy use, pollution, and soil erosion.

Making a Smart Choice 

Foods and fibers grown without chemicals can be more expensive than their conventional cousins. Natural pest management, weeding by hand, and other labor-intensive activities mean that organic products often come at a higher price. When household budgets are tight, it can be difficult to pay a bit more for organic products. As these farming and production practices become more popular, the cost of going organic is beginning to drop. Supporting organic foods and products is a great way to influence market prices and guarantee healthy generations in the future. Always check labels to make sure the organic certification is genuine.