Since we are already doing all the big things
(most of the time - we aren't perfect)
this year we have to get more creative:
1. SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRERS AND STRAWS
Americans alone toss 138 billion straws and stirrers annually. Simply putting our sugar and cream in first and then pouring in the coffee will make it well-mixed (this is actually one for hubs who buys coffee every day at a local place near his shop) and we definitely don't need to be drinking from straws in restaurants.
2. PRINT ON BOTH SIDES OF COMPUTER PAPER
I always print out my online orders and then after shipping, since the orders are recorded online, I shred the paper. What a waste! I am now putting my used paper in the rear feed tray (to print things like customer online orders) and my new paper in the bottom tray (for things like shipping labels).
3. ICE CREAM IN CONES AND NOT CUPS THIS SUMMER
Eat the packaging to save the planet - we gotta do what we gotta do folks
4. GET RID OF OUR LANDLINE AND ANSWERING MACHINE
We have kept it for 3 reasons - 1. We have a really cool, easy to remember number
(I guess we can live without this - no one memorizes phone numbers anymore anyway)
2. We need a fax - people tell me you can fax online now - I have to figure that out
3. I like to see if I have phone message by checking for that blinking red light - I will miss that red light.
But answering machines use energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And when they break, they're just one more thing that goes into the landfill. If all answering machines in American homes were replaced by voice mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt-hours - so when it breaks I'm switching to voicemail (another plus is no lost messages in a power outage).
5. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REPLACE METAL DOORKNOBS
So we don't get those little shocks of static electricity - what a waste .... (and carpets and clothes from the dryer and balloons actually now that I think about it) :D
Don't miss the final hours of the EcoEtsy team's Earth Day Auctions - you can pick up my save the bees recycled wine corkboard and lots of other goodies HERE:
Also save 10% in BOTH my shops this week for Earth Day - Uncorked and Polarity with the Coupon Code DOORKNOB
4 comments
..no coffee stirrers and answering machine for me!
and always cones for the ice cream...
Happy earth day, cat!
I love these ideas. We would like to get rid of our land line and ans. machine but our cell phones are too unreliable. Personally, I hate that red blinking light. To me it just means crazy phone calls from mother or angry creditors :( Can't wait for the day it goes away.
My traditional Earth Day activity is to grab a couple trash bags and walk through the neighborhood picking up trash. There's plenty since we have many empty lots that the environmentally challenged use as their own personal dumping ground. I'll be wearing my Uncorked tree hugger necklace, of course :)
I always put my milk in first because I don't want to wash the spoon. I didn't know this worked for sugar.
Love the cone idea.
As for the on-line fax- they all cost money. If you have a landline no need to spend that money. If you do not have a landline they are a good value.
I love crystal doorknobs.
You guys are always one step ahead of me- we should be out cleaning our neighbordhood, too - things are pretty messy in the wooded lot down the street!! xo
and yes, not washing the spoon- saving water, time and energy - I'm not 100% sure it's going to work for the sugar, but it's hubs that drinks that- he is not so fussy
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