Even though Earth Day should be celebrated every day, for many, its just another day on the calendar. For those who want to appreciate the Earth and reduce their own carbon footprint, the Basex research firm has offered up a checklist of simple everyday practices that you can do every day to reduce your energy usage. And here they are:

1.) Unplug chargers, such as those for mobile phones or smartphones, when not in use. Chargers still consume energy when plugged in, even if not charging a device.
2.) Go paperless.  Print less and sign up for paperless billing from vendors and credit card companies. Think about how much extra paper we generate needlessly. When you do print, use double-sided printing to save paper and print only those pages that are necessary.
3.) Telecommute whenever possible, saving gas and other natural resources.
4.) Recycle older computers and donate unused mobile phones to charities. Recycled mobile phones can be used as an emergency lifeline for senior citizens, the disabled, and victims of domestic violence.
5.) Minimize use of goods packaged for "convenience."  The manufacture of bottles used for water, for example, require vast quantities of petroleum and its distribution is also fuel consumptive, resulting in unnecessary greenhouse gas and sulfur dioxide emissions. Airlines are learning this and cutting back on smaller planes which are more convenient but less fuel efficient.
6.) Turn unnecessary lights off, especially in rooms that are unoccupied.
7.) Turn off computers and monitors at day's end.
8.) Make sure you have appropriate recycling bins in the office for paper that you do use.

About Basex

Basex is the world's foremost knowledge economy research and advisory firm.  Founded in 1983 and headquartered in New York City, Basex provides senior business executives from organizations across the globe with strategic advice, business and technology guidance, best practices, and insight about knowledge worker management and productivity.  More about Basex at http://www.basex.com.

Posted at 10:01AM Apr 22, 2008 by John Virata in Inform  |  Comments[0]