Imagine supports design and production methodologies that are eco-friendly towards the earth we inhabit. For our clients who are concerned about the effects our daily activities have on the carbon emissions into our atmosphere, Imagine provides and encourages sustainable practices known as Green Design. While Imagine will be providing much information about the benefits of Green Design in the future, here's some information that will help those interested in reducing their carbon footprint make a difference today in their daily lives.
Our carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that we leave in the atmosphere during our lifetime. Nearly everything we do results in the emissions of CO2. From breathing, buying food, our transportation systems, caring for our ourselves, and our homes, we can't stop the emissions of carbon from our daily activity. But we can certainly reduce it.
Today, CO2 is being released three times faster into the atmosphere than it can be reabsorbed. For businesses, the production, processing, transportation, and disposal of the goods and services we provide add to our carbon footprint.
• Invest in a energy-saving washing machine.
• Buy a frontloading washing machine rather than a toploading machine.
• Save water and energy by waiting until clothes are dirty and washing fewer loads.
• Wash at cooler temperatures.
• Hang clothes to dry.
• If you must tumble dry, run loads back to back while the drum is warm, and keep the lint filter clean.
• Hand wash your car with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge.
• Rake your leaves instead of using a leaf blower.
• Use an electric or manual mower for your lawn.
• Grow your own flowers, your own fruits, and your own vegetables.
• For building, use wood wherever you can.
• Avoid using cement whenever possible. If you must, try to source a cement substitute.
• Shop and eat locally, and buy your produce in season at local farmers markets.
• Cut down on your meat and dairy consumption.
• Purchase unprocessed organic foods, including milk.
• Purchase non-food organic products.
• Consider purchasing or trading used clothing, and recycle clothes that are not wearable.
• Avoid disposables that have a high carbon impact, such as foil, plastic wrap, and paper towels.
• Sell, donate, or swap items you no longer want.
• Take care of your finances online.
• Download music from the Internet instead of buying CDs.
• Because it requires less energy to make, purchase nonperishable items in bulk.
• Select products that are sold in refillable containers and reuse them.
• Pack your lunch in reusable plastic containers.
• Register with a mail preference service and check the "don't pass on my address" box when filling out applications.
• Reuse and recycle paper materials.
• Recycle glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum cans.
•Captain recycled products such as recycled paper or toilet paper.
• if it's an option, consider breast-feeding your baby.
• Swap baby equipment and grow your own organic baby food.
• Purchase secondhand toys, and toys made with wood.
• Consider alternatives to having fun with toys, such as playing outside.
• Turn off unneeded lights and appliances.
• Walk and ride bikes whenever possible.
• Make your next computer a laptop.
• For desktop models, purchase a flat LCD screen.
• Donate old computers to nonprofit organizations.
• Choose an inkjet printer over a laser printer, and consider using recycled printer cartridges.
• Use rewritable CDs and DVDs, or save files onto a flash drive.
• For businesses, don't heat or cool storerooms and corridors unnecessarily.
• Organize carpool programs.
• Consider videoconferencing over traveling to meetings.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Recycle your running shoes.
• Purchase LED Christmas lights.
• For gifts, give experiences or services instead of material goods.
• If possible, locate within walking distance to your job.
• Take the bus or a train.
• When driving, accelerate and brake slowly, and keep your speed down.
• Unload unnecessary excess weight from your vehicle.
• Service your car on a regular basis.
• Roll down the windows instead of using the AC. At higher speeds, use your cars flow-through ventilation.
• Purchase the smallest car and engine that will get you to where you want to go.
• Buy an electric or hybrid car.
• Support change that speeds up the transition to a low-carbon society.
• To save paper with printed documents, set your margins in MS Word (or whatever word processing software you use) to be smaller than the standard 1 to 1.5 inches. For most documents, .5 inches all around works well. If your document is going in a binder or you need to write in the margins, .75 inches on the sides is usually sufficient.
Source:
Joanna Yarrow, How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Andrea Rogers, Grass Roots Media
If you know of any simple eco-friendly green living solutions you would like to pass along, please send us an email at:
See Simple Tips for Green Living (Part 1)