UPS Smart Pickup - Saves Fuel and Reduces Co2 Emissions

I noticed that UPS has added to its Decision Green shipping options something called UPS Smart Pickups. This service allows UPS drivers to skip a stop at locations that do not have a package to be picked up.

"... simple change ... will save an estimated 800,000 gallons of fuel per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7,800 metric tons. ..."
me insight from UPS CIO David Barnes:

This is a great way for UPS to leverage its technology and a way for customers to be green.

Via: greenautoblog LINK

Tips for a GREENER Kitchen

Here are some EASY tips to make your kitchen GREENER ... these and more came from the ReynoldsRecycled website ... link at end of post. Most of these are easy to do ... but you may not have been aware of them.

" ... Save 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of water each year by foregoing the pre-rinse and sticking your dishes straight into the dishwasher. ... never run a dishwasher that isn't full ... Conserve energy by cooking in the right size pots and selecting the air-dry option on your dishwasher. ... Recycle anything you can, including paper, plastic, glass and cans. ... Bring your own reusable bag anytime you go shopping ... Cook in batches and freeze or refrigerate the remaining portions ... less energy, time and effort to reheat the leftovers than to cook new meals."



Via: Reynoldsrecycled.com LINK

mobGAS© Mobil Application to Track YOUR Impact on the Climate

Knowing how your behavior can impact the planet is a great way to help make changes ... mobGAS© " ... will be the first mobile application about climate change with wide distribution in Europe and world. ... aims to make the connection between daily activities and the emissions of Greenhouse Gases and ... suggest changes to improve individual performances. "

" ... application includes several icons representing activities or appliances that are usually used every day (more than 60). These activities or appliances ... will finally be converted in individual emissions of GHG [green house gas] that may be compared with the weekly average or with country and world average."

Some tips / facts from mobGAS ...

"... bus carries the same number of people as 10 fully occupied cars, but takes up a third of the road space and emits half of CO2 per km per passenger. ... when your charger is not connected to the phone, it is still draining electricity. Unplug your mobile charger when you're not using it ... Reducing the temperature by just 1°C can cut 5-10% off your family's energy bill and avoid up to 300kg of CO2 emissions per household and year...."


Via: mobGAS LINK

Low Cost Energy Saving Tips !

In an earlier post I wrote about some free energy savings tips. Once you have covered these basics it is time to move on to some that are, while not free, are low cost ... and further ways to save energy.

"Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators, ... Seal and weatherstrip your windows and doors, ... Add ... pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes, ... look for the ENERGY STAR® label, found on more than 40 different products, ... Replace your five most used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs to save $60 each year in energy costs."



Via: Alliance to Save Energy LINK

Biodegradable Trash Can Liners

I recently needed to by more garbage can liners for my simplehuman garbage can and found that they now offer biodegradable bags.

Per the text on the box (itself recyclable cardboard) it says " ... eco-friendly plastic degrades naturally ... made from an oxo-biodegradable plastic ... designed to degrade naturally into the earth".

" ... Traditional plastic is constructed of long, repeating polymer chains. ... bonds of these chains are very strong—too strong, in fact, to degrade naturally into the earth. ... additive ... interrupts these bonds, breaking the chains up into much smaller pieces. ... Mother Nature can break down the liners so that 50% is decomposed within 1-2 years. ... contrast to traditional plastic bags that may take upwards of 500 years to degrade—if at all."


Via: simplehuman LINK

greenthing - 7 Ways to be Green

greenthing "... is a public service that inspires people to lead a greener life. With the help of brilliant videos and inspiring stories from creative people and community members around the world, Green Thing focuses on seven things you can do - and enjoy doing. Join people from 196 countries doing their green things and making a difference."

The seven things are "walk the walk, stay grounded, all-consuming, easy on the meat, human heat, plug out, and stick with what you got".

>>> Check out the video for details on each of the seven ...

Meet Green Thing from Green Thing on Vimeo.

Via: greenthing LINK