Asking a writer/law student how to use less paper is like asking a great white shark how to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet, but I’ll do my best. There are a few basic uses of paper and a few different techniques to reduce those uses (don’t worry I won’t be asking you to switch to single-ply toilet paper or anything).

Writing Paper

I love writing paper. There’s nothing like the convenience of grabbing a notebook or a piece of loose leaf paper and scribbling down my latest brilliant (or not-so-brilliant) thought.

Unfortunately, I’m thinking my way to a pulverized tree. According to the website Conservatree, each tree can yield just over 8,000 sheets of paper. That’s 16 reams of paper or 80-100 sheet notebooks. Maybe that sounds like a lot of paper to you, but to me, that sounds like a productive week. Luckily for me, and the trees, many of the places I write for, both academically and professionally, will allow me to fileshare and submit my work digitally.

Even if you’re not much of a typist or if you need to use sketches and figures in your writing, a good tablet computer with a stylus will let you write freehand on the touch screen itself, saving paper and giving you the benefit of spell check (woohoo!) while you are working. For those occasions where you absolutely must use paper, paying a few extra cents and getting the stuff that’s recycled can help with your eco-guilt.

Billing Statements

Okay, chances are you don’t get 8,000 billing statements in a given year, but if you put together yours with your neighbors, coworkers and friends, we’re probably getting into tree-saving territory. Now that just about every company offers paperless billing, you have the option to save those trees, as long as you’re responsible enough to keep an eye on your bank account without those bills to remind you when money is being deducted.

There are other benefits to paperless billing, too. Sometimes companies will offer you an incentive like a gift card or sweepstakes entry for going paperless. You also get to save postage and checks, and save yourself the problems you would incur if a statement were to be lost in the mail. Also, as the Little Green Blog points out, you’ll have a much slimmer file cabinet.

Other Paper Products

Okay, as I said, I don’t expect you to go without toilet paper; heck I’m not even going to ask you to go to cloth diapers (although you would save a lot of landfill space).

Let’s take a look at paper towels, though. Do you really need to use a paper towel for every spill? Wouldn’t a nice reusable washcloth be just as good, or better? Again, you’ll save a few bucks, too, as all those rolls of paper towels start to add up in cost. If you must use paper towels, there are recycled options available.

Saving trees doesn’t have to be painful, and it can really make you feel good about yourself and what you’re doing for the environment. Using options besides paper, or using recycled paper, can make a big impact on your environmental footprint.

Best of all, cutting down on paper use can sometimes help you to save the most important paper of all–the green kind with pictures of presidents on it.

Please welcome today’s guest poster, Jessica Arinella,  creator/writer/producer of the What You Can Do series

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blyzz/4146474229/?q=night%20sky

On my quest to discover one-minute ways to change the world with the What You Can Do series, I have been fortunate to meet many inspiring people. On a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, I learned the importance of protecting the night sky from Dark Ranger Kevin Poe, also known as a “sworn enemy of light pollution”. We all know that sustainable living is critical to fight climate change, but many people don’t realize that the brightening of the night sky is more than an aesthetic issue. Losing the darkness of night affects wildlife, human health and contributes to global warming.

The International Dark Sky Association defines light pollution as “any adverse effect of manmade light”. Below are some surprising facts about light pollution and one-minute ways to help preserve the beauty of the night.   Read more…

Image credit: http://evainathens.blogspot.com/

I don’t know about you, but at my home, we get a lot of junk mail. Sale papers, catalogs for stores I don’t shop, letters asking for donations, and the worst offenders — credit card companies — clog my mailbox on a near-daily basis. Each U.S. household receives close to 1,000 pieces of direct mail a year; 44% of it is never opened and 62% of it is not recycled. That equals 10 billion pounds of solid waste annually.

While I toss all my unwanted mail into the recycling bin, I’d much prefer not to get it in the first place. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get yourself on a no-junk-mail list, kind of like the no-call list that prevents telemarketers from calling you?   Read more…

Summer is the season for cookouts, trips to the beach and naps in the sun. Unfortunately, it also tends to be a prime season for polluting the very resources that allow people to enjoy their favorite warm weather activities This summer, keep participating in the activities you enjoy, but do it in a way that won’t hurt Mother Nature. The following tips should help get you started on a fantastic green summer.

Summer Gardening

Here’s a tip that will help you save money, eat healthy and be a friend to the environment: Grow fruits and veggies in your garden. Eating produce grown in a backyard garden is far better for the environment that consuming fruits and vegetables that have been treated with pesticides, excessively watered and transported across the country in a gas-guzzling truck. Gardening doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Stick with plants that grow well in your region’s climate and you’ll have no trouble growing a bumper crop of delicious fruits and vegetables.

Stick with Reusable Utensils

Once you’ve harvested the produce from your garden, it’s time to celebrate with a delicious and healthy meal. Keep the celebration green by using plates, cups and utensils that can be washed up and reused at a later time. While paper plates save a bit of immediate washing, the long-term impact on the environment can be harsh. Making a point of eating with reusable utensils and dishware doesn’t mean that you always have to take out the fancy china-a more casual set of plastic dishware should work just fine.

Drink From a Water Bottle

This eco friendly hint goes right along with the one listed above. Buying bottled water in the store is not only overpriced, it is terrible for the environment. Do your part by investing in a good water bottle. If you’re worried about the taste of well or city water, simply add a filter to your sink. The end result will be fresh water that keeps both you and the environment healthy.

Use a Canopy Tent

Next time you have your friends and family members over for grilling, keep your guests shaded the eco-friendly way: with a canopy tent. Unlike other shading options, a good canopy tent will shield you and your guests from the sun without using up precious energy. These tents are easy to put up and take down, adding an extra level of convenience to any get-together.

Ride Your Bike

The weather is nice enough now that you really don’t need to take the car everywhere. Not only is riding your bike far better for the environment, it’s also good for your health. Even a short bike ride is capable of burning hundreds of calories. Biking can also be an excellent social activity. Instead of driving all over with your friends, pull out your bikes and ride to the nearest park.

Staying green this summer doesn’t have to be difficult, inconvenient or expensive. With a few basic changes to your routine, you can enjoy your favorite summer activities while doing your part for the environment.

The summer is about to heat up, but with a little bit of effort and good decision-making it can be safe and fun for you and the Earth!

When the temperature starts to soar in the springtime, so do volunteer opportunities in your community. Chances are, there are a few green causes to which you can lend your time! And if you volunteer not for a green cause, but for something that still helps people, that’s great too. Good deeds are good deeds. And you can always green up any group effort by encouraging others to minimize waste, carpool, etc.

Here are three tips for volunteering:   Read more…

I know what I’ll be doing: Playing board games, reading a book, or just talking with friends by candlelight. Anything that doesn’t involve electricity between 8:30 and 9:30. Why? It’s Earth Hour!

Since 2007, households all over the world have turned off their electricity for one hour in a show of support for climate change awareness. It began in Sydney, Australia, but soon spread to the rest of the world. Last year, Earth Hour grew to include hundreds of millions of people across 135 countries.

So how do you participate? It’s easy: When 8:30 p.m. rolls around, your local time, just turn off the lights and unplug most everything that uses electricity. TVs, computers, and alarm clocks are easy. Light some candles and entertain yourself however you see fit from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. And you’re done! Hopefully it’ll inspire you to try and save energy during other hours of your life, too.

(Word to the wise: You could be an overachiever and unplug your refrigerator, but think about how much juice it’s going to take to get it back to the correct temperature after an hour. My advice is to leave the fridge plugged in during Earth Hour, because all your energy savings will be negated when it has to work extra hard to get back to the correct temperature.)

The Earth Hour site has all sorts of inspiring stories, photos and videos of people all over the world showing their support for the environment. There are also many ways to get involved with the Earth Hour movement aside from turning off the lights for an hour. The movement has grown so big that many famous landmarks turn off their lights to show support, including the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Burj Khalifa,  the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Sydney Opera House.

 Have you observed Earth Hour before? What did you do to entertain yourself in the dark?

It’s very simple.

via 13 Wham News This Morning.

As a law student, I’m constantly on the go. Running back and forth between classes, the library and trying to squeeze in some time at the gym burns energy faster than you might think. Most days I pick up food on the go at local restaurants and fortunately, here in Chicago, we have some great ones that offer healthy, energizing options.

Visiting all these different spots has shown me that there’s a lot of competition in the city and running a restaurant can prove challenging. But if you were to advertise your restaurant as “green and healthy” this might attract those who support local eateries and green businesses.

Getting Started

Restaurant experience is helpful. But if you don’t have experience working in or running a restaurant, buying into a franchise is an excellent idea. Once you’re a franchise owner, you will receive training and plenty of resources to help you get started. The corporate office will develop marketing campaigns for you, as well as assign a management team to help you in the beginning.

You can also buy an existing restaurant and benefit from this establishment’s good reputation and client-base. Be sure to ask questions before making an offer. Why is the owner selling? What’s included in the sale price? Others factors to consider include the restaurant’s location, as well as the restaurant’s past and current financial records.

Starting an independent restaurant from the ground gives you creative freedom, in which you’re able to develop a completely original idea and concept. Understand, however, new start-ups require restaurant experience, a lot of time, and generally a type A personality.

Organic Food

Advocating green eating can be somewhat challenging if you buy into a franchise or purchase an existing restaurant. These restaurants have an established menu and switching up the food selection might turn off loyal clients. Independent restaurants give you the freedom to create your own menu. But even if you can’t completely change the menu on a franchise or newly acquired restaurant, you can make little changes and incorporate additional items to show your support for healthy eating.

Start by researching and comparing organic suppliers. Perhaps you can begin buying your meats, dairy products, vegetables and fruits from these companies. Cost is an issue and you’ll need to find a supplier with reasonable prices. This keeps your food costs low, so you don’t have to raise your prices.

Restaurant Supplies

Green restaurant ventures don’t stop with food preparation. Reducing the amount of energy that your restaurant consumes also contributes to your green efforts. Restaurants require ice machines, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, fryers, ovens and other supplies. Replacing at least one restaurant supply or piece of equipment with an energy-efficient alternative can save your establishment hundreds each year. The yearly savings can double or triple by incorporating all energy-efficient supplies in your commercial kitchen.

Smaller Steps

Other green tips to help save energy include regularly changing your air filters, opting for energy-efficient lighting, switching to programmable thermostats, regularly checking pipes and seals for leaks and conserving hot water. Going green is a group effort and it’s imperative that you educate your staff on various energy conserving methods.

SD > LA Woodwalk from The Paradigm Project on Vimeo.

On a quest to raise awareness for The Paradigm Project’s goal of placing five million clean burning stoves in developing countries by 2020, volunteers walked from San Diego to Los Angeles with sixty pound bundles of wood on their backs.

Clean burning stoves relieve the burden of wood collection, eliminate respiratory problems that come from cooking over a wood fire every day, free up time for family members to earn income for their families, and reduce problems associated with deforestation.

WOODWALK was just screened at Sundance.

Visit The Paradigm Project to learn more.