Read Then Print
For some it seems as if the need is to print the email attachment and then read it. The correct order is to read the document on the computer and then print as needed. Do not print the file or the email unless it is needed. Saving paper saves trees and saves energy. If you must print remember to …

Recycle
Recycle when you can. Make it easy to recycle by placing recycle bins around the office. Soon everyone will not only be recycling at the office but away from the office as well. Also consider using recycled and environment friendly office supplies. It works both ways.

Car Pool
Encourage employees to ride together. You could give those who have joined a car pool a reserved spot near the door. Unless there is an underlying reason, have people who would be attending the same meeting ride together and not take individual vehicles. Think about other ways to ‘car pool’ such as placing an order for office supplies once a week instead as needed to reduce the need for the delivery truck to come to your door with one item or scheduling meetings with clients in the same general area on the same day. This isn’t car pooling, but use technology. Conference calls, both voice and video or use the internet to conduct meetings with members of your team or with clients.

Reduce Energy Consumption
Use task lights instead of over abundant overhead lighting. Adjust heating and cooling thermostats a couple of degrees cooler or warmer depending on the season. Turn off lights in unused areas. Put computers, printers and copiers to sleep when not in use. Turn them off at night. Look around to see what may be drawing electric current when not in use. Anything that has an external transformer plug is probably using a small amount of energy at all times. Put them all on a power strip and turn them off when not in use. When was the last time the HVAC system checked? Is it working efficiently? Has a new filter been installed? A dirty filter reduces circulation and efficiency.

Replace
Many older electronic appliances use more energy than a new energy efficient model. That old refrigerator that was donated may be using more energy than the cost of use and purchase of a new one. A new LCD computer monitor uses less energy than a CRT model and laptop computers generally use less than a desktop. How old is the copier or laser printer? The saving of energy costs can pay for the replacement in a short period of time.

2. Choose ENERGY STAR® products when upgrading or adding new equipment. These products meet federal standard for energy efficiency, and are often available at the same low cost as less efficient models.

3. Reduce lighting where possible and take advantage of natural daylight. Turning lights off or dimming them during the day allows for lower energy costs and a more comfortable environment.

4. Install occupancy sensors, timers, or photocells to ensure that interior and exterior lights are turned off at the appropriate time. These inexpensive devices can reduce lighting costs by up to 40 percent by turning off lights in unoccupied areas.

5. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which can last up to ten times longer. CFLs provide the same amount of light as standard incandescent bulbs, but use up to 75 percent less energy. Replace incandescent lights in exit signs with LED fixtures, which can reduce costs of these signs by up to 95 percent.

6. Install programmable thermostats or time clocks to automatically control temperature settings on heating and air conditioning equipment. Adjust the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer and shut off when not in use. Even a few degrees can significantly reduce heating and air conditioning costs.

1) Keep filters on furnaces or air conditioners clean. Many systems are recommended to have the filters replaced or clean once a month.

2) Clear dirt and dust from the coils of refrigerators and freezers. Having them clean allows them to cool more efficiently.

3) Use fluorescent instead of incandescent lighting. Florescent uses less energy to supply the same amount of light, they last longer and burn cooler. Turn lights off when not being used.

4) Turn off computers at night, and use sleep mode as often as possible. Reminder, screen savers do not save energy. When not in use turn off televisions, radios and other entertainment equipment.

5) Unplug devices that use a transformer when not in use. Example; battery chargers. Whenever these devices are plugged in they consume minor amounts of energy. Many devices such as TV and DVD players still use energy when not in use. Unplug them when they won’t be used for a long period of time.

6) Wash only full loads of clothes. Consider using cold water instead of hot or warm. If using a dishwasher, wait until you have a full load and air dry instead of using the heating cycle.

Daylight Saving Time is not a modern idea. Benjamin Franklin first mentioned it in a letter to the Journal of Paris in 1784. He didn’t really say that the clocks should be changed, but that to take advantage of the extra daylight, one should arise from bed earlier.

It wasn’t put into practice until the German government put it in place in 1916 between April 30 and October 1. In the same year the United Kingdom adopted it from May 21 to October 1.

The U.S. Congress established it at the same time they formally adopted the Rail Road Time Zones in 1918, observing it for seven months in 1918 & 1919 It became so unpopular that the law for DST was repealed in 1919.

In 1942, during World War II, DST was reinstated in the U.S. although from the end of the war in 1945 until 1966, there wasn’t a Federal Law that addressed DST.

In 1966 DST was established and has been in place since, although the law gave states the capability to exempt themselves and a few, such as Arizona and Hawaii have. Many countries follow some sort of DST plan.

Is everything ready for winter? Has the furnace, heat pump, electric heat or wood stove been clean, check and pronounced ready to go? This includes checking the fuel level. The last thing you want is to run out of wood, propane or oil in the middle of a snow storm.

Have battery powered flashlights and radio. Change the batteries and make sure there is a stock available. Know where they are. It seems as if the electric fails after dark.

When leaving the house prepare for the worst. Even if it’s just a quick trip out to put food in the bird feeder. Wear proper clothing for the weather, a coat, gloves, hat and scarf. Take the cell phone or cordless phone with you, just in case of a fall or any other accident.

It’s a good idea to keep a week’s supply of food and water on hand. Have an old fashioned hand can opener available in case the electric goes out and that the food can be eaten without cooking.

For those using prescription medicine, if possible try to have them refilled a week ahead of time so that you can have a week worth of supply available in case of a major storm.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

1) Have a flashlight, battery powered radio and clock. Make sure you also have plenty of fresh batteries to support these devices for a couple of days.

2) Have a telephone that does not need electric to operate. Many people only have a cordless telephone and those do not work without electric.

3) Have at least a 3-day supply of fresh water and non-perishable food. Again if the electric power is out, have an old-fashioned hand operated can opener, since electric ones will not be operable. If your stove is an electric powered one, the food you need is the type that doesn’t need to be cooked.

4) If operating a generator, be sure to run it in well vented area, preferably outside. Even running it in the garage with the doors open could cause carbon dioxide to enter the house.

5) Have extra blankets or sleeping bags in case the electric power does fail.

6) Have important numbers handy, in case you need to make telephone notifications in the dark. Having the repair number for the power company is one such number.