Well, now that we are officially heading towards times when cost-cutting and reduction of overheads will be the key to survival, I thought it was a good opportunity to initiate some steps in our small office as well. I checked up with a friend who owns a mid-sized firm and they are well on their way to making such changes a way of life at his workplace. The good thing is that each of these measures also has the potential to reduce greenhouse emissions. Heres a partial list of what they have started doing:

• Switching off computers when not in use. Atleast switching off monitors. Its a waste of energy if the system is on and not in use. And switching off computers when not in use, can pare energy usage by two-thirds.
  According to an estimate by the research firm Gartner, PCs account for some 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions coming from IT & Telcom.

• Reducing drastically on personal meetings with clients and vendors they have worked with in the past. And relying on phone and email for business communication instead.
• Installing power saving flat screen monitors in place of the old TFT monitors. And boy, do they look good!
• Switching off extra lights.
• Allowing natural light to come in through windows. Earlier, the blinds were always drawn.
• Turning off the coffee dispenser when not in use.
• Printing only when imperative.
• Making slip-pads out of one-side used paper.

What’s your office doing? Any other ideas?

Tags: Global Warming, green living, Save Earth, Stop Wasting

Do you find yourself being irresistibly drawn to a SALE? Do you find yourself picking up stuff you don’t really need now or will ever? All because it seems like a good deal? Do you often find your wardrobe full of stuff that you have never used, but bought at a good sale in the hope of finding a use for it someday? Don’t worry, you have plenty of company All of us are like that. Well, atleast have been like that at one point or another. And whether we like it or not, we end up adding to the global warming, by our impulsive shopping. I am filled with guilt when I imagine the power, fuel, resources used in manufacturing, transporting, warehousing and retailing that has gone into making that piece of scarf I bought at the last sale but have hardly worn. And I haven’t counted in the cost of packing it and the fuel I wasted driving to the store!

So this new year I have resolved to look the other way when I see a hoarding proclaiming sale. Unless I really need something, I won’t buy it. And I will de-clutter my home and give off the un-used stuff to those who can find better uses of these.

Tags: Global Warming, impulsive buying, Stop Wasting