conservation | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Could switching fonts save millions of dollars? share

The tl;dr version of this story is yes! The long version, though, is fascinating.

Fourteen-year-old Suvir Mirchandani's science project could save the U.S. federal government around $400 million in printing costs annually. The best part? Those savings represent using fewer resources. They wouldn't have to print less or cut back in any way. All they'd have to do is begin using Garamond - a font that's included for free on basically any computer.

The font is nothing fancy. What Garamond has going for it are its thinner lines, which means using less ink to create each letter. When you consider that the fed prints around 2500 documents per day, that's millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of ounces of precious printer ink.

Garamond: How switching fonts could save millions

Mirchandani's science project began at the school level. He did the math and discovered that his school could save $21,000 per year by using 24 percent less printer ink. Just by changing the fonts that teachers and administrators use in their handouts. His project was so impressive that it made it into Harvard's Journal of Emerging Inventors.

Want more? Check out the video report from CNN:

image via Gael Varoquaux

Posted: | Categories: conservation, efficiency, fonts, garamond, News+Opinion, switching fonts

Mar

Earth Hour is Tomorrow! Are you going to participate? share

Earth Hour takes a lot of flack for not going far enough, but one study actually measured the impact of Earth Hour, and it's pretty interesting!

What would happen if we all, just for one hour, actually shut off our idling gadgets and pulled our unused chargers out of the socket? Answering that question was the motivation for a new study conducted by leading mobile refurbishment website eCycle Best, leading up to Saturday’s worldwide Earth Hour.

The study surveyed 100 consumers in February 2014 and found that 70 percent of respondents owned at least one device in each of the three main categories:

a laptop computer
a tablet
a smartphone.

More than 40 percent of those confessed to ‘often’ leaving their unused chargers plugged in while only 30 percent say they regularly turn their devices off when not in use. Idle laptops, even without a screensaver, use more than 32 kWh a year. This results in a significant power drain known as “vampire energy use.”

Depending on the exact device type and charger technology, an idling gadget or an unused charger can use up to 0.1 to 0.5 watt per hour, resulting in a yearly power drain equivalent to more than $200 per device. David Kruchinin, CEO of eCycle Best said:

This is money directly out the window for American consumers, but also a welcome and easy opportunity to save the climate without a lot of effort. It is really eye-opening when you add up the number of chargers in an average American home.

So just how much are we wasting with idling gadgets and bad charging habits?

In one year, the energy wasted by US households is equivalent to the total output of three coal power plants, 56 wind turbines and a nuclear reactor. Adding a dollar amount is tricky due to varying energy prices, but an average household should be able to save more than $500 yearly just by introducing better charging and device using habits such as:

Turning off unused chargers around the house.
Turning off mobile devices when not in use, especially laptops
Investing in smartphones and other mobile gadgets with newer battery and charger technology.

Earth Hour is a great time to make a commitment to ending vampire energy consumption in your home or office, but that’s only the beginning. eCycle Best hopes that Americans will soon realize the huge financial and environmental impact of these bad habits, and be more mindful of their devices, when they’re in use and when it comes time to dispose of them. As David Kruchinin notes “these changes do not substantially alter our lifestyles, but they have a massive impact on several larger levels."

What do you think? Are you going to cut off your power for Earth Hour tomorrow night?

Image Credit: (Pakistan) 2013, Image © WWF-Pakistan

Posted: | Categories: conservation, earth hour, Living, vampire energy

Aug

How to Conserve: 5 DIY Reusables share

Earlier this week, we talked a bit about Earth Overshoot Day and how to conserve, so you can cut your own footprint. One of my favorite ways to reduce my impact is to use my crafty skills not only to repurpose materials that would be otherwise landfill-bound but to make things that replace disposables in my life.

I'm a big believer that even the smallest changes can add up. Every time you use a cloth napkin instead of a disposable one or bring your own reusable to-go cup, you're making a difference. Imagine if all of the billions of people on this planet just made a few small changes. The impact would be huge!

Sure, you can buy all kinds of reusables, but there's a satisfaction in making your own, isn't there? I'm much more likely to remember a cloth napkin at meal time when the drawer in the kitchen is packed with ones I made myself, you know? Check out how to conserve with some DIY reusables!

How to Conserve the DIY Way!

1. DIY Grocery Bags

This is kind of like green 101, right? But store-bought reusable bags have to be made in a factory and shipped all over the world. That uses a lot of resources. Shrink that footprint by raiding your closet for some tees that are past their prime, and making your own grocery bags instead!

2. Mason Jar To-Go Cup

Who needs an icky plastic cup and straw, when you can bring your own super hip to go cup? You can make this even greener by using your cup with a reusable glass straw instead of a disposable plastic one!

3. Make Your Own Cloth Pads

I know, reusable menstrual products come with a bit of an ick factor, but aren't those tons of bloody pads festering in landfills even more ick-worthy? How about the GMO cotton and petroleum products used in disposable pads? And that feeling that you're kinnnndd of wearing a crinkly diaper? Once you get the swing of reusable pads, you'll never go back. Promise.

4. Reusable Snack Bag

Be gone, wasteful plastic baggies! Check out this simple tute for making a machine-washable cloth snack bag instead!

5. Cleaning Wipes

Paper towels, schmaper schmowels, I say. Who needs to destroy virgin forests just to wipe up spills? Not you, my friend. Not you. You can whip up your own DIY cleaning wipes in a snap!

Do you have any DIY tips on how to conserve? Share your favorite homemade reusables in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: conservation, disposables, DIY, how to conserve, replacing disposables, reusables

Aug

Earth Overshoot Day: Living Beyond Our Means share

Last Wednesday - August 21st - was Earth Overshoot Day. What does that mean for the planet and the people who live here?

Earth Overshoot Day marks the day that we - as inhabitants of this planet - have used one year's worth of planetary resources. That's right. We went through a year's worth of the Earth's bounty by mid-August. That is not good, you guys. Not good at all.

Silvio Maracci at Ecopreneurist sums this up eloquently:

While it’s only a rough estimate of how fast humanity is drawing down our ecological bank accounts, Earth Overshoot day has arrived sooner than ever before. This stark reminder of the growing pressure humans are putting on our natural resources means we’re borrowing against future generations to cover today’s bills. (emphasis mine)

As a new mom, that last bit really strikes home for me. It means that beginning on August 22nd our cars, our electricity usage, and our water all represent resources that our children might not get to enjoy unless we start making some big changes. Right. Now.

Earth Overshoot Day falls earlier and earlier each year. In 1993, it was on October 21. In 2003? September 22. Ten years from now, will we even make it half the year before gobbling up all that the planet can offer us? Or will we start taking conservation and efficiency seriously? Wouldn't it be great to buck this very scary trend?

Earth Overshoot Day: What You Can Do

We have a lot of power as consumers and as citizens to make a difference. Here are some ways that you can get heard:

Spread the word! A lot of folks have never heard of Earth Overshoot Day. Talk about it!
Conserve, conserve, conserve. That means reusing what you have or opting for second hand goods instead of buying new, reducing your water usage, and cutting back on the amount of electricity that you use.
Get efficient. Choose home improvement projects that help improve your home's efficiency. For example, you can replace old windows or cover them with insulating film. Replacing windows is expensive, but you don't have to do them all at once. Go one room at a time, starting with the draftiest. Speaking of drafts! A simple draft dodger under your doors and windows can help reduce your energy usage!
Grow your own food (or shop local!). The agricultural industry is one of the most resource-intensive in the world. Between inputs like fertilizers and pesticides to the footprint from shipping food worldwide, our food industry is a beast. Even growing some of your own food can make a big difference. When you can't grow your own, shop farmers markets or join a local CSA to keep your foodprint as low as possible. Local Harvest is a great site to help you find local food no matter where you live.
Write your Congressperson. Did you know that when you take away the massive fossil fuel subsidies, many renewable energy resources cost the same as or less than fossil fuels? Tell your Congressperson that you don't want to subsidize dirty coal and oil with your tax dollars! You can look up your representatives here.

Had you heard of Earth Overshoot Day before? This was a totally new concept to me, and it really shook me up. Tell me what you're doing to use fewer resources!

Image via Global Footprint Network

Posted: | Categories: conservation, conserve, Earth Overshoot Day, how to conserve, Living, News+Opinion

Apr

Earth Day: The Never-Ending Fight To Save Our Planet share

Happy Earth Day greenUPGRADER readers!!

Can you believe this day of earth-friendly behavior and learning has been around for 43 years? It's hard to imagine there was a time, not so long ago, when people knew almost nothing about chemical pesticides and industrial plants were free to dump their waste directly into lakes and rivers.

Thanks to the hard work of Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, and millions who share his passion for a healthier planet, we've come a long way since then. Although we might not always like how well they're enforced, laws like the Clean Air and Water Acts ensure that we have at least some recourse against those who would treat our only planet like a landfill.

Sometimes, fighting to protect the natural world can feel like a losing battle. For those who believe we are meant to be stewards of this marvelous blue marble, it's important to remember how far we've come, how much has been achieved. Browse the infographic below for interesting facts and figures from the first Earth Day until now.

And then do your best to get outside today...enjoy the beauty of this amazing place we call home! Feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. Breathe some fresh air. It'll help remind you why we're fighting so hard to save it.

Earth Day graphic produced by the Kars4Kids car donation program

Top image via alicepopkorn/Flickr

Posted: | Categories: Activism, conservation, Earth Day, infographic, Kars4Kids, Living, Mother Earth, News+Opinion, Pollution

Apr

Green Tips: Being Gas-Smart With Your Vehicle share

Going green around your home isn't just an environmentally-responsible thing to do, but it can actually save you a lot of money. You've probably shopped around sites from your local area - from Atlanta to Houston, or wherever you live - to find the right electric company for your green energy, and hopefully made changes around your house to conserve energy. Now, it's time to turn to the one area where it's hardest to save gas: your transportation.

But back to the point at hand. Driving is something that's hard to avoid, but here are some things to help you be gas-smart with your car:

Brake Smart

It's amazing how much gas your car burns up when you push on the gas pedal, especially if you're in first gear. Instead of revving your engines to get a speedy start, why not slowly decelerate as you come up to a stop light or a line of traffic? Try and time it so that your car is still moving forward by the time the light turns green, so you won't have to push hard on the gas pedal to accelerate. Avoid hitting the brake and gas constantly when in traffic, but just let the car accelerate and roll forward at its own pace. It takes practice, but it can save a fortune in gas if you spend hours in traffic every day.

Use AC Wisely

Before you hit that AC switch, think about whether you really need it or not. The AC should be used only during the stifling American summer, and only when you're driving down the highway (driving with the windows down will increase drag, requiring more energy to move the car). If you are driving around town, try driving with the windows down and letting the breeze cool you off. Get yourself a little battery powered fan, or one that plugs into the battery of the car. Try and park in the shad whenever possible, and turn off your air con before you park to keep run time to a minimum.

Cut Weight

If you don't need to have the back of your vehicle loaded with people and stuff, empty it out. You may not want to take the time to unload your bikes after a weekend cycling trip, but that extra weight will force your engine to work harder. Reduce weight as much as possible, as a light car uses less fuel.

Fill the Tires

Everyone knows that filling your tires will help to conserve fuel, but they don't know why. The reason is that a partially filled tire has more weight on it, and it is harder for the car to turn the wheel and drive forward when there isn't enough air in the tire to keep the car off the ground. Fill up those tires, and take the pressure off your engine.

Turn it Off or Put it in Neutral

If you're going to be sitting in one place for a while, turn off your car rather than letting it sit idling. It will use some gas as it idles, so turning it off will ensure that you don't use excess gas. If you are waiting for your child to come out of school or sitting in line at a bank, put the car in neutral to disengage the engine and reduce your gasoline usage.

Keep each of these in mind next time you head out to the car!

Photo: Some rights reserved by wetwebwork via flickr

Posted: | Categories: cars, Cars+Tranportation, conservation, energy, gas, tips

Apr

5 Easy Ways to Start Conserving at Home share

You can help your state avoid an energy crisis like California experienced simply by implementing a few common sense changes in your home. Get your family involved and other energy efficient changes will follow naturally. You will be amazed how much your utility costs will come down.

Self-Watering Plants

Just because you like having houseplants doesn’t necessarily mean you are an avid green thumb. It just means you like plants and you know they help to purify the air in your home in addition to looking nice.

The trouble is, unless you are conscience of their needs, they easily die. To help avoid forgetting to water them there are a lot of self-watering options available including some you can make yourself. Not only will this save your plants and your sanity, it will also save you money. No water is lost due to spillage, leakage, or evaporation. In addition, you won’t have to be constantly replacing plants or switching to fake alternatives because you forgot to water them.

Water Saving Toilets and Faucets

Did you know that on average it takes 1 - 7 gallons of water every time you flush a toilet depending on the toilet you have? Items like water saving toilets can save your family of four up to 16,500 gallons of water annually. That’s a lot of water worth saving!

Equally, water saving faucets will help cut down on tens of thousands of wasted gallons when you wash dishes or run the disposal. Washing only full loads of dishes or laundry can save an additional 50 gallons every week. Saving water also saves electricity so you get two perks for the effort of one.

Lights

Replacing old incandescent bulbs with energy efficient bulbs makes a huge difference in energy usage. You will get the same amount of light, but only use one fourth of the amount of electricity to run them. An added bonus is they can last for many years there for leaving less waste for the landfills.

Doors and Windows

Many people are losing nearly half of the household energy they use right out their doors and windows. Check for leaks and drafts. This can be as easy as going window to window with a lightweight ribbon or thread and holding it up to see if any breeze makes it move. Seal the draft out with caulking or weather stripping. You can also use heavier curtains to help keep out excessive hot or cold air which will help with heating and cooling bills.

Energy Saving Appliances

Washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers take a lot of energy. The older they are, the more they use. Thanks to federal energy efficiency standards appliances now use considerably less energy than ever before. In fact, the most energy efficient models today use less than half the energy a model from twelve or more years ago.

There are so many benefits to conserving energy, especially in our homes. Saving energy helps you to do your part for the environment, it helps you raise environmentally conscience families, and it saves your household money you can spend it on other things your family can do together.

Photo: Some rights reserved by D.H. Parks via flickr