7/24/13

Recycled paper is good for the environment. It's also more energy- and water-efficient to make new paper products from old paper than from virgin wood pulp. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, contaminants in paper recycling can ruin a load of recyclable paper, forcing the recycler to send it to the landfill. So be sure to remove plastic covers and spiral bindings from reports, peel off stickers and labels, and toss paper if there is any food waste on it.

7/23/13

You've heard of staycations, but have you heard of traincations? When traveling for work or play, choosing a train instead of driving or flying is the greenest way to go. The carbon emissions savings by using a train instead of a car is about 50 percent; instead of flying, it saves a whopping 68 percent. Most major cities have train stations in the heart of town, unlike airports that are often far away. Instead of the stress of driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you have views from a comfortable seat where you can also plug in personal electronics. If half the fun is getting there, why not try a traincation?

7/22/13

The battery inside your smartphone can be recharged about 1,000 times before it needs to be replaced. One way to extend the life of your battery is to do just a few things to help preserve its lifespan. One easy tip is to take your phone's ring tone off vibrate; the buzzing motion uses more power than noise, and silent mode is the most energy-efficient. Also, disable any animated screensavers on your phone. A still image uses far less energy than one that moves.