NOTE: You are required to do 9 out of 14 of the items listed below in order to be an UP ON GREEN member.
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1. recycle all of the recyclable paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, electronics & batteries in our home.
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RECYCLING - The environmental benefits: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (April 2008) less than 35% of households and even fewer businesses recycle (glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, electronics, batteries, fluorescent bulbs). When the number of people recycling reaches 75%, it will be the equivalent of removing 33 million cars from the road in the United States. Recycling is within everyone's capabilities and it can be one of the most important actions we can do for the environment and our future. Ask businesses that you support if they recycle and if they don't encourage them to. When you are out and about and you have something to recycle, bring it home if you can't find a recycling bin.
RECYCLING - The financial benefits: Most cities and communities offer recycling programs and some even offer a discount in your garbage hauling bill if you choose to recycle.
Click on the logos below to learn more about recycling.
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2. use compact fluorescent light bulbs in at least 75% of our light fixtures.
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ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING - The environmental benefits: If each household changed one incandescent or halogen lightbulb to a CFL it would be the equivalent of removing 1 million cars off the road in the U.S. each year. If an incandescent were replaced with an LED, it would be the equivalent of removing 9 million cars off the road a year in the U.S.
ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING - The financial benefits: Installing Energy Star-rated lights (LEDs, Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) throughout your home can save 20% or more in energy costs.
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| Click their logo to view their website. |
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Click the UP logo to view ServiceLighting's Eco-Profile.
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ServiceLighting.com is the internet's first light bulb company. They offer the largest online selection of energy saving fluorescent bulbs and cutting-edge LED lighting products for homes and businesses. ServiceLighting also provides many supplementary products, such as light fixtures, flashlights, batteries.
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3. purchase organic, natural, sustainable & renewable products (at least 20% of our purchases fall under these categories). |
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4. purchase and/or use post-consumer recycled waste products, whenever possible. |
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POST CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER - The environmental benefits: On average it requires 60% less energy to produce paper from recycled stock than from virgin materials. Producing a ton of virgin paper requires 20 trees and 7,000 more gallons of water than a ton of 100% recycled paper.
POST CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER - The financial benefits: Work toward ‘paperless’ in your home to offset the sometimes higher costs of post consumer recycled paper and to also reduce the expense of toners, ink, equipment, repairs, and disposal. When possible, double-side the paper used in your printers, copy and fax machines and look for equipment that provides that feature automatically. And use cloth rags for cleaning when appropriate versus paper products.
Click on the logos below to learn more about post consumer recycled paper for your business.
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5. use a programmable thermostat & adjust the thermostat 2 degrees each season (68˚ maximum in the winter & 80˚ minimum in the summer). |
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ENERGY-STAR RATED TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT - The environmental benefits:
ENERGY-STAR RATED TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT - The financial benefits: Managing your heating and air conditioning with programmable Energy Star rated thermostats and setting your temperatures for greatest energy efficiency during peak and non-peak hours can save your home 15% or more in overall energy costs. Installing and properly maintaining high efficiency Energy Star rated furnaces, air conditioners and appliances can save your home hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.
Click the logo below to learn more about energy wise temperature management.
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6. use public transit, carpool, drive a hybrid and/or use non-motorized transportation. |
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INCENTIVES FOR LOW OR NO CO2 TRANSPORTATION - The environmental benefits: If each car in the US had improved mileage of 2.7 mpg we would eliminate our oil dependency from the Persian Gulf.
INCENTIVES FOR LOW OR NO CO2 TRANSPORTATION - The financial benefits: Biking or walking versus driving promotes a healthier lifestyle which results in less time off work, fewer medical expenses and it helps keep expenses related to wear and tear on the car and the cost of fuel down. Most cities and towns are becoming increasingly bike-friendly. Public transportation and car pooling can also significantly reduce your transportation costs.
Click on each logo to learn more about the benefits of using no or low CO2 transportation.
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7. set our computer monitor(s) to hibernate after 5 minutes and our hard drives to shut down after 30 minutes without use. |
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HIBERNATING OR SHUTTING COMPUTERS OFF - The environmental benefits: 500 computers set to hibernate after 5 min and shut down completely during non-working hours will prevent 72.5 tonnes of CO2 from emitting. (It takes 51,000 adult trees to offset 72.5 tonnes of CO2 ).
HIBERNATING OR SHUTTING COMPUTERS OFF - The financial benefits: The scenario stated above would save $24,000 electricity/yr ($.10/kwh) for the business.
Click on the logo below to learn more about hibernating & shutting down your computer(s).
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8. use alternate energy sources in the home such as, solar electricity, wind power and/or a geo-thermal temperature moderation system.
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9. remove our names from junk mail lists, cancel all unnecessary catalogs, and continue to ensure our name stays off the junk mail lists. |
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REDUCING OR ELIMINATING INCOMING UNWANTED MAIL - The environmental benefits: More than 100 million trees worth of bulk mail is received each year. That’s the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. (And most is never opened)
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING INCOMING UNWANTED MAIL - The financial benefits: The services that help your company remove its name from unwanted mailing lists can help save your company expense involved in time spent handling or opening the unwanted mail, expenses related to disposal or recycling the mailings (heavy catalogs especially).
Click on the logos below to learn more about eliminating junk mail coming into your office.
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10. have installed aerator faucets & maintain our plumbing fixtures to prevent leaks, drips & running water in toilets throughout the home. |
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MAINTAINING PLUMBING TO ELIMINATE WATER WASTE - The environmental benefits: One dripping faucet can waste 2,000 gallons a year. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that at least 36 of the 50 states will experience local, regional or statewide water shortage by 2013. Each day the average American spends 100 to 176 gallons of water every day. In many countries people survive on less than 5 gallons per day.
MAINTAINING PLUMBING TO ELIMINATE WATER WASTE - The financial benefits: Maintaining plumbing to prevent drips, leaks and running toilets can help a company save the expense of wasted water, increasingly problematic plumbing and related issues such as; damaged sheet rock, structural decay, tile, mold, health issues. Consider installing low flow/high pressure fixtures to conserve the water and your dollars even more. The rate of return is generally quick and worth the investment Don't forget to recycle old plumbing fixtures and hardware.
Click on the logo below to learn more about conserving water in your business.
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11. use recyclable water dispensers or filtered tap water versus individual bottled water. |
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OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC BOTTLED WATER - The environmental benefits: Plastic bottles are a petroleum product; they are difficult to recycle but worse to decompose. Last year > 30 billion bottles went into landfills. Hard-lined filtered water dispensers eliminate most production, packaging, distribution, disposal issues related to single serving and 5-gallon water bottles.
OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC BOTTLED WATER - The financial benefits: Hard-lined filtered water systems can save your company 20-70% vs. five-gallon jugs or individual bottles.
Click on the logo below to learn more about choosing bottleless drinking water for your business.
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12. buy locally and from businesses who are UP ON GREEN, whenever possible. |
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BUYING LOCALLY AND FROM BUSINESS THAT ARE UPonGREEN - The environmental benefits: In fact, most produce grown in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets sold. Trucking, shipping and flying in food from around the country and the globe takes a toll on the environment and on public health. Take grapes, for example. Every year, nearly 270 million pounds of grapes arrive in California, most of them shipped from Chile to the Port of Los Angeles, travelling 5,900 miles and causing 7,000 tons of air pollution. By choosing to eat lower on the food chain, and focusing on local and organic produce, we can dramatically reduce air pollution, avoid toxic pesticides, support local farmers and enjoy fresAsh, tasty food. Buying locally is one of the criteria for businesses that are UPonGREEN ... remember a shorter distance from production to consumption is better for us all. Encourage your favorite local businesses to get UPonGREEN and to have their Eco-Profile viewable on this consumer-awareness website.
BUYING LOCALLY AND FROM BUSINESS THAT ARE UPonGREEN - The financial benefits: By choosing to buy locally produced food and products your are elevating your local economy which provides a positive chain reaction throughout your community (jobs, financial health, reduced prices).
Click on the logo below to learn more about choosing bottleless drinking water for your business.
Encourage your favortie businesses to get UPonGREEN and be part of the solution. Send them an UP'Vite
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13. requested and received an energy audit within the past 12 months to help ensure maximum efficiency in energy usage throughout our home.
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ENERGY AUDIT - The environmental benefits: If each company received an audit and implemented minor changes, the US could reduce national CO2 emissions by 15% or more.
ENERGY AUDIT - The Financial benefits: Audits often detect many energy saving opportunities that haven’t been realized by the business and can often find energy savings in excess of 15-20% for each company.
Click on this logo to learn more about energy saving opportunities for your business.
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14. donate and/or volunteer for social and/or environmental betterment organizations.
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DONATING & VOLUNTEERING - The enviromental benefits: The influence of a businsses good efforts through monetary, goods or time donations generates a win for the benefactor and a win for the entire cause due to the exposure & awareness that company can generate for the cause ... above and beyond the gift(s) given.
DONATING & VOLUNTEERING - The financial benefits: Studies indicate that a company's social and eco-reputations positively influence their employee retention, market share, reputation in the community and consumer loyalty ... all of which directly related to reduced expenses, more dependable earnings and increase revenues.
Click on this logo to learn more about energy saving opportunities for your business.
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