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The Planet Earth Thread

Bee

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Planet Earth, gentle and blue​










With all my heart, I love you.​










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What can one person do to change the way we care for Planet Earth? The answer is: a lot!
The MJJC Legacy Project is setting up this thread to make awareness about the condition of the earth, how we can heal it and how we can encourage others to follow our footsteps.

With some changes we can make sure to continue with what Michael always fought for; a gentle and blue planet. It is our one and only planet and we have to clean and care for it to make sure our next generations feel at home as well.

We want to encourage everyone to participate in this thread and start with themselves.
Let us know how exactly you are participating, what news you’ve heard, what projects need awareness, what you did lately, etc.
And most important; don’t hesitate to share your, with no doubt lovely, ideas!

There’s nothing that can’t be done, if we raise our voice as one.


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45 Ways To Heal The Earth
1. Insulate your home.
2. Buy energy-efficient appliances.
3. Buy products that will last.
4. Install storm windows.
5. Close off unused areas in your home from heat and air conditioning.
6. Wear warm clothing and turn down winter heat.
7. Switch to low-wattage or fluorescent light bulbs.
8. Turn off all lights that don't need to be on.
9. Use cold water instead of hot whenever possible.
10. Opt for small-oven or stove-top cooking when preparing small meals.
11. Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full.
12. Air-dry your laundry when possible.
13. Instead of ironing, hang clothes in the bathroom while showering.
14. Take quick showers instead of baths.
15. Install water-efficient showerheads.
16. Collect rainwater and graywater for gardening use.
17. Explore getting a solar water heater for your home.
18. Learn how to recycle all your household goods
19. Start separating out your newspaper, other paper, glass, aluminum, and food wastes.
20. Encourage your local recycling center or program to start accepting plastic.
21. Encourage friends, neighbors, businesses, local organizations to recycle and sponsor recycling efforts.
22. Use recycled products, especially paper.
23. Bring your own canvas bags to the grocery store.
24. Start a recycling program at your work.
25. Limit or eliminate your use of "disposable" items.
26. Join a car pool or use public transport to commute.
27. Walk or use a bicycle whenever possible.
28. Rent or borrow items that you don't use often.
29. Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and towels.
30. Avoid rainforest products, and inform the supplier or manufacturer of your concerns.
31. Buy locally produced foods; avoid buying foods that must be trucked in from great distances.
32. Read labels. Eat organic or less-processed foods.
33. Start a garden; plant a garden instead of a lawn
34. Talk to friends, relatives, and co-workers about preventing global climate change.
35. Educate children about sustainable living practices.
36. Get involved in local tree-planting programs.
37. Join an environmental organization. If they're not involved with climate change, get them involved.
38. Support work to alleviate poverty. Poverty causes deforestation and other environmental problems.
39. Donate money to environmental organizations.
40. Support electoral candidates who run on environmental platforms.
41. In place of TV and the stereo, spend time reading, writing, drawing, telling stories, making music.
42. Spend time seeing, hearing, and rejoicing in the beauty of the Earth. Feel your love for the Earth. Make serving the Earth your first priority.
43. Think often about the kind of Earth you would like to see for your grandchildren's grandchildren.
44. While doing small things, think big. Think about redesigning cities, restructuring the economy, reconceiving humanity's role on the Earth.
45. Pray, visualize, hope, meditate, dream.



 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

“I think about the generations
and they say they want to make it
a better place for our children and our children's children
so that they know it's a better world for them
and I think they can make it a better place”

One of the biggest threats this earth is facing is deforestation of the rainforests, without these natural, nutrient rich resources, our planet will soon face a much darker future than what we could ever imagine.

Currently all rainforests are rapidly being destroyed due to human activity. This could globally lead to an environmental disaster. One of the greatest threats to the rainforest is deforestation. Deforestation occurs for many reasons; some of these might be to create new land, build hydro-electricity plants or to sell lumber for profit. Deforestation may have positive effects on man but it has very severe consequences on nature and the world we live in. Deforestation tears apart and destroys animal habitats, the increased soil erosion leads to acres upon acres of Barren land - lacking vegetation and nutrients, landslides and flooding. The machinery used to deforest the rainforest, produces several hundreds if not thousands of Co2 every year.
Deforestation is rapidly reducing our earth’s biodiversity and risks losing many, many organisms that could be useful in the future. One of the greatest concerns of deforestation is the rate at which it occurs. Currently, over 29 Million acres of forest are being destroyed and cleared every single year. It is predicted that by the year 2050 that all tropical rainforests will have been lost, this cannot happen. Of course, isolated and protected areas such as Amazonia, Costa Rica and Nigeria are exceptions, however this does not mean that something that should be done. Every single minute, up to 20 football field’s worth of forest is being destroyed.
During the years 2000 and 2006, up to 150,000km2 of Brazilian forest was destroyed. Throughout our earth fragile ecosystem, each animal depends upon another to stay health. If one animal’s habitat is destroyed due to deforestation, this can have dramatic effects on another animal. If worms are no longer found in certain areas due to barren land then Birds will soon disappear or starve, having dramatic effects on that species population which could eventually lead to extinction.
Deforestation not only has detrimental effects on the environment, it also has dramatic effects on us, humans. Trees not only help the hydrological cycle by putting water back into the atmosphere, they also aid in our fight against Global Warming by taking the Carbon Dioxide and transforming it into oxygen. If we allow deforestation to continue, these vital tasks cannot be carried out. The result of this? Less rain, higher temperature and extreme weather across various parts of the globe. Areas in West Africa are suffering from the dramatic effects of deforestation; they face draughts and unbearably high temperatures, all at the hand of deforestation.

So what can we do?
There are many things we can do to prevent this. By just simply recycling, it will reduce the necessity for more Paper and Lumber and in turn slow down the process of Deforestation. Check where you’re materials and paper come from? Many companies are now only using certified renewable forests, all you need to do is check the labels and instead of just grabbing a pack of paper, check where it’s from, see if it’s from a renewable source.
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Together, we can Heal The Word
[youtube]MzfGcxQwVEs[/youtube]
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Great informative thread! I like it! :clapping:
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Thanks Mrs. Music!!! We really needed this thread!
Good job! That is a great list!!
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

First of all, Michael so beautiful in the vdo I MISS U Mike

Thank you for the thread. I use cloth bag when go to market :) not much time I go to market myself but every time I go I use cloth bag.. everyone in my family do the same thing. At the office when I buy food I say NO to plastic bag I put sandwich in my handbag. I become seriously say NO to plastic bag from last year ..it is almost 2 years till now.

I 'd like to share some tips I do.

- Use a piece of Cloth to clean table etc. instead of use tissue

- Don't print email ! move them to archive folder, print when it necessary

- Transform hair mask pot into an earring pot:) (you can stick Michael 's sticker around the pot) instead of buy new plastic ware to keep your earring and accessories
*I recommend Schwarzkopf hair repair pot its really good ..move their label sticker off and put MJ sticker on.

- Air dry hair instead of blow dry /save power

- Braid hair in the night instead of using curling iron /save power

Something I saw from Loy Kra tong festival in my hometown that I've never seen before is straw made from bamboo because of plastic was not allowed to use during 2 days of festival. Along the river there were old picture exhibition and Thai food. I bought herb drink served with bamboo straw. I didn't take a photo of it so i search in google and found some sample picture like this

4006879-Welcome-drink-0.jpg


instead of use new plastic straw every time ..this is just an idea. You may found something like this at spa. I love it
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Some nice tips there, mjjnj. Thanks for sharing them :)
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

In the news I just heard about an alarming report from WWF and Allianz (a big German insurance company). It is worth reading.
Michael was so right to be concerned about the future of our planet ... :mello:



Unchecked Climate change will put world at 'tipping point', WWF and Allianz report says


Berlin, 23rd November 2009 – The world's diverse regions and ecosystems are close to reaching temperature thresholds – or "tipping points" – that can unleash devastating environmental, social and economic changes, according to a new report by WWF and Allianz.

Often global warming is seen as a process similar to a steady flow of water in our bathrooms and kitchens, where temperature goes up gradually, controlled by a turn of the tap.

But the report 'Major Tipping Points in the Earth's Climate System and Consequences for the Insurance Sector' documents that changes related to global warming are likely to be much more abrupt and unpredictable – and they could create huge social and environmental problems and cost the world hundreds of billions of dollars.

Without immediate climate action, sea level rise on the East Coast of the USA, the shift to an arid climate in California, disturbances of the Indian Summer Monsoon in India and Nepal or the dieback of the Amazon rainforest due to increasing drought, are likely to affect hundreds millions of people and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

The study explores impacts of these "tipping points," including their economic consequences and implications for the insurance sector. It also shows how close the world is to reaching "tipping points” in many regions of the world, or how close we are to tipping the scales toward disaster.

"If we don't take immediate action against climate change, we are in grave danger of disruptive and devastating changes," said Kim Carstensen, the Head of WWF Global Climate Initiative. "Reaching a tipping point means losing something forever. This must be a strong argument for world leaders to agree a strong and binding climate deal in Copenhagen in December.

According to the report, carried out by the Tyndall Centre, the impacts of passing "Tipping Points" on the livelihood of people and economic assets have been underestimated so far. The report focuses on regions and phenomena where such events might be expected to cause significant impacts within the first half of the century.

"As an insurer and investor, we must prepare our clients for these scenarios as long as we still have leeway for action," says Clemens von Weichs, CEO of Allianz Reinsurance. "Setting premiums risk-appropriately and sustainably is of vital interest to everyone involved, because this is the only way to ensure that coverage solutions will continue to exist."

Allianz intends to address climate change by entering into dialogue with its clients at an early date. This will allow it to point out countermeasures in a timely way, and work together to develop specific coverage concepts, whether for existing assets or for future climate-compatible projects like alternative energy and water supply concepts, dyke construction, or protection against failed harvests.

Global temperatures have already risen by at least 0.7 degrees Celsius. Global warming above 2-3 degrees in the second half of the century is likely unless strong extremely radical and determined efforts towards deep cuts in emissions are put in place before 2015.

The melting of the Greenland (GIS) and the West Antarctic Ice Shield (WAIS) could lead to a Tipping Point scenario, possibly a sea level rise of up to 0.5 meters by 2050. This is estimated to increase the value of assets at threat in all 136 global port mega-cities by around 25.000 billion USD.

On the North-eastern coast of the USA and due to a localized anomaly, the sea level could rise up to 0.65 meters, increasing the asset exposure from 1.350 to about 7.400 billion USD

The South Western Part of the USA, namely California, is likely to be affected by droughts and levels of aridity similar to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The annual damages caused by wildfires could be tenfold compared to today's costs and could reach up to 2.5 billion USD per year by 2050 increasing to up to 14 billion by 2085.

70 percent of working population may be put at risk by droughts in India. The future costs of droughts are expected to rise to approx. 40 billion USD per decade until the middle of the century.

In a tipping point scenario, dieback of the Amazon Rainforest could reach 70% by the end of the century as a consequence of a significant increase in the frequency of droughts in the Amazon basin. The impacts include loss of biodiversity and massive carbon release. Costs could reach up to 9.000 billion USD for a surface of around 4 million square kilometers.

"The Tipping Points report shows how quickly we are approaching dangerous and irreversible levels of global warming," Carstensen said. "Economic consequences of passing the climate tipping points are absolutely overwhelming."

"There is still a chance to avoid the worst and this report shows how urgent it is to act immediately. A strong climate agreement in Copenhagen in December is the best, if not the only chance to prevent the worst impacts of devastating climate change."

Today's insurance industry has learned lessons from its experiences after major losses caused by hurricanes like Andrew (1992), Ivan (2004) and Katrina (2005). Better models will help people understand the frequency and strength of natural disasters. "But good models will not be enough to protect the climate," explains Michael Bruch, of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, the Allianz Group's industrial insurer. "The human component is playing an ever-increasing role in reducing the risk from natural disasters, in terms of both risk management and combating the human causes of climate change.
Click to expand...


Emphasis (boldface) mine.

Source: http://www.panda.org/?181342/Unchecked-Climate-change-will-put-world-at-tipping-point-WWF-and-Allianz-report-says
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

FAO MRS MUSIC,

I see you have mentioned recycling. But how about litterpicking?. We can help mother
earth, by actually getting involved in cleaning up grott spots, in our local
areas. Cleaning up grott spot areas will also benefit wildlife as well.
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

I switched my energy supplier and chose one who is offering full eco-power, this one is using 100% hydropower (certified). It costs even less than the former one (whom I chose a while ago because there was no nuclear energy in the mixes). :yes:
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Samtkaninchen said:
I switched my energy supplier and chose one who is offering full eco-power, this one is using 100% hydropower (certified). It costs even less than the former one (whom I chose a while ago because there was no nuclear energy in the mixes). :yes:
Click to expand...

I have done the same. :)

-Check out MJstarlight's wonderful Video (& More scroll down) For Plant A Tree In Michael's Honour here: MJ Discussion Sticky

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82083

MJJC Legacy Project
2009
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Samtkaninchen said:
In the news I just heard about an alarming report from WWF and Allianz (a big German insurance company). It is worth reading.
Michael was so right to be concerned about the future of our planet ... :mello:


Please let's all be careful not to waste our time and money on Organisations that actually don't do very much to solve the REAL problems of Mother Earth. We might want to stick with some of Michael's charities if they can provide proof of what they actually do with the donors money. The first two links will explain a lot about why there's such a battle about Global Warming.

I think Michael's predominant message for saving the planet is to stop deforestation of all kind and stop the wars.

NOT change your light bulbs, throw the old ones away (creating more trash) and enrich GE (Illuminati owned and war profiteers).

http://www.oneworldscam.com/global_warming.htm

http://www.oneworldscam.com/news_te...ll&id=1258959137&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&

Check this previous thread thru out as many people fall for the Illuminati fear mongering.
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81718

At the end of this video you'll see what the WWF and allianz is all about.
http://www.sprword.com/videos/ringofpower2/

I did not mean to damper your enthousiasm. It's great that MJ fans want to keep his legacy alive but one should do a lot of research before giving your hard earned money away.

I know. I was giving money to Heal the world and it turns out Michael's Estate is suing them for misrepresentation. :-(

That's why I'm doing so much research now.
Click to expand...
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

I think this is a great thread with great suggestions. We can be the example for change and every little we do does make a difference, even if it just karma

I agree with you Riviera, and I've cared about the planet earth way before this global warming thing was an agenda, the people behind it do not really care about our planet otherwise they would stop the destruction of the rainforest, and stop global companies poisoning the earth with toxic waste, they could also make solar energy more easily available, but they do not because there is no money to be made from this.

If we live in harmony with our earth, the earth's problem will take care of themselves, as the earth is a self regulating eco system


Solar energy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy

http://www.solarenergy.com/

Soap nuts for washing clothes

http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/20...soap-nuts.html

Here is some info on converting cars to veg oil

http://www.veggiepower.co.uk/

Inika natural earth mineral cosmetics

http://www.inikacosmetics.co.uk/Scripts/default.asp

soaps free of palm oil

http://www.akamuti.co.uk/category/african-black-soap/

http://www.drbronner.com/
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Thanks for all the good tips so far, guys! :clapping:

I hope there's gonna be more response for this. There IS something we can do about this world.
If only we put all our effort together....Micheal is behind us - I'm sure!


Causes.com
 Causes is an application on Facebook where you can do many things.
The goal of all this is what we call "equal opportunity activism." We're trying to level the playing field by empowering individuals to change the world. Existing nonprofits must raise hundreds of millions of dollars and leverage massive direct marketing campaigns to attract members. We're democratizing activism by empowering activists with an arsenal of tools for users of Facebook who want to leverage their network on Facebook to effect positive change.
You can:
- join causes
- invite your friends to become recruiters
- donate money to these causes
- share notes about things you've heard
- follow your own impact
There are a lot of well-known causes that are already a part of Causes. But you can also create a cause yourself!
Your cause is not a bumper sticker; it is an incredibly powerful tool to change your world and make a difference.

afbeelding1aa.png


Check it out here:
www.causes.com
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

WATCH:Antarctic Ice Sheet Melting Faster

WATCH:Linking Droughts to Global Warming


What Companies Can Do: Government Action and Energy Efficiency


Some companies say that with the right moves, the United States could cut its output of greenhouse gases 60 to 80 percent by the middle of the century. They say there are steps that can be taken now, and they need not be painful. They may even be profitable.
GE is one of 10 large companies that joined with environmental groups to make "a call for swift action on global climate change."
Among other steps, they broke with other companies to push the U.S. government to pass aggressive plans that would curb production of carbon dioxide and other gases, such as methane, that scientists say trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet.

They added proposals that they said would make such curbs less expensive to the American economy. Among other things, they suggested a "cap-and-trade" system, so that if one business is struggling to meet the greenhouse goals it can team with other companies that are ahead of schedule.
An electric company that burns a lot of coal, for instance, could buy "emission credits" from another that relies on so-called renewable energy. All that matters in the end under this plan would be that the total output of greenhouse gases goes down.
All sorts of other ideas are out there. Engineers are looking at ways to capture the carbon dioxide that comes out of a smokestack or a car's engine. Executives said companies that find a way could become very rich.


"We firmly believe that climate change can be addressed in ways that create more economic opportunity than economic risk," said Peter Darby, the head of Pacific Gas & Electric, the largest utility in Northern California.
In the meantime, many firms are turning to energy efficiency. The new headquarters of the Hearst Corp. in New York, for instance, gets much of its indoor lighting from sunlight. Construction of so-called "green" buildings is going up 20 percent a year.
"If you can save money and do something good for the planet, then why wouldn't you want to do it?" says Paul Westbrook of Texas Instruments, one firm that has invested in energy efficiency.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/GlobalWarm...3017344&page=1
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Ten Basic Tips To Help Stop Climate Change


Don’t have a lot of time, but want to take action? Here are ten, simple, everyday things each of us can do to help stop climate change. Pick one, some, or all. Every little effort helps and adds up to a whole lot of good.

Change a light.
Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent one saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Drive less.
Walk, bike, carpool, take mass transit, and/or trip chain. All of these things can help reduce gas consumption and one pound of carbon dioxide for each mile you do not drive.

Recycle more and buy recycled.
Save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide each year just by recycling half of your household waste. By recycling and buying products with recycled content you also save energy, resources and landfill space!

Check your tires.
Properly inflated tires mean good gas mileage. For each gallon of gas saved, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide are also never produced.

Use less hot water.
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the amount used means big savings in not only your energy bills, but also in carbon dioxide emissions. Using cold water for your wash saves 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, and using a low flow showerhead reduces 350 pounds of carbon dioxide. Make the most of your hot water by insulating your tank and keeping the temperature at or below 120.

Avoid products with a lot of packaging.
Preventing waste from being created in the first place means that there is less energy wasted and fewer resources consumed. When you purchase products with the least amount of packaging, not only do you save money, but you also help the environment! Reducing your garbage by 10% reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1,200 pounds.

Adjust your thermostat.
Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer not only helps with your energy bills, but it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well. No matter where you set your dial, two degrees cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer can mean a reduction of 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Plant a tree.
A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Turn off electronic devices when not in use.
Simply turning off your TV, VCR, computer and other electronic devices can save each household thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Stay informed.
Use the Earth 911 Web site to help stay informed about environmental issues, and share your knowledge with others. Together, we can and do Make Every Day Earth Day!

http://earth911.com



8 Ways to Green Your Office

1. Check Out Soy-Based Ink


Ink made from soybeans is not only better for the environment but better for your company’s bottom line, as well. Soy-based ink benefits:
  1. Lower levels of volatile organic compounds than ink made from petroleum meaning less harmful toxins emitted
  2. Produces brighter and sharper colors because of the innate clearness of the soybean oil
  3. Makes paper easier to recycle because it’s easier to remove in the de-inking process
  4. Prices are comparable to those for petroleum-based ink, but less soy-based ink is needed per print job and it reduces paper waste, so you are actually saving money
  5. Soy-based ink supports American crops
Soy-based ink is currently only available for commercial printers, not your office printers or ballpoint pens.

Quick Stats
  • Soybeans only use about 0.5 percent of the total energy that is needed to create the ink.
  • About 90 percent of the country’s daily newspapers with circulations of more than 1500 use soy ink.
  • About one quarter of commercial printers in the United States operate using soy ink.
  • When soy ink reaches its full potential, it will consume 457 million pounds of soybean oil a year.
2. Eliminate Vending Machine Waste

Coffee-making vending machines may save you from caffeine-withdrawal headaches in the morning, but they don’t help out the environment. If your office vending machine dispenses its own cups, make sure they are recyclable or see if the machine allows you to use your own reusable mug instead of dispensing a plastic cup each time it makes a beverage.


Other options:
  1. Provide machines that allow employees to make their own beverages.
  2. Ask the machine provider to de-lamp the machine.
  3. Add an occupancy sensor on the machine that reduces the vending machine’s power requirements during periods of inactivity.
Quick Stats
  • A typical refrigerated vending machine consumes 400 Watts—at a rate of 6.39 cents per kWh, that’s an annual operating cost of $225.
  • De-lamping vending machines can save $100 every year.
3. Cut Down on Office Transportation


Carpools and public transportation benefit both the environment and your employees. Here’s some ideas:
  1. Offer carpool-matching services that allow employees to find co-workers that live near them.
  2. Encourage biking and walking to work by providing bike racks outside of the office.
  3. Provide parking incentives such as closer/shaded parking spots for carpoolers.
  4. Consider telecommuting to allow employees to work from home one day a week work.
  5. What about a workweek with four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days?
Quick Stats
  • Driving 10 percent less, by walking, cycling, carpooling, or taking public transit, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.2 to 0.8 tonnes per year, depending on the vehicle.
  • According to AAA, the cost for owning and operating an average size car is 52.2 cents per mile, when driven 15,000 miles per year.
  • Carbon dioxide is the number one contributor to the greenhouse effect, and cars produce about 30 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions.
4. Monitoring Lighting Usage


We obviously can’t work without lighting, but we can do our best to cut down on unnecessary use of lighting. Lighting reduction options:
  1. Light exit signs with lower energy bulbs like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), neon lighting or electroluminescent lighting technology.
  2. Replace old fluorescent lighting fixtures using T-12 lamps with T-8 fluorescent lamps for better color, less flickering and 20 percent less energy use.
  3. Check out occupancy sensors for areas of the office that aren’t used as much, such as the break or conference room.
Quick Stats
  • Replacing tungsten bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps typically makes an immediate cost savings of between 50-80 percent, and CFLs last up to 10 times longer. When they do burn out, make sure you recycle CFLs using Earth 911.
  • Over its life span, a fluorescent tube will save 640 kWh of electricity compared with the equivalent 100-watt standard bulb. This reduces the production of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, by half a ton and sulphur dioxide, which causes acid rain, by 3 kg.
  • According to a US Department of Energy (DOE) end use study from 1995, lighting accounts for about 29 percent of the energy use in a typical office.
5. Make the Most of Office Equipment

According to the Department of Energy, office equipment accounts for 16 percent of an office’s energy use. The use of computers, printers, copiers and fax machines adds up, but simply turning your computer’s sleep mode on when you’re not using it can save energy (screen savers are energy wasters, not savers).



In addition to putting your computer to sleep when you are away:
  1. Turn the machine off when you leave the office for the night
  2. Activate sleep mode for printers, copiers and fax machines so they’ll sense inactive periods
  3. Consider consolidating these machines by purchasing a machine that performs multiple office functions.
If you’re looking to purchase new office equipment, look for ENERGY STAR qualified products to cut down energy use and pollution.

Quick Stats
  • A Lawrence Berkeley Lab study from 1999 estimated that one workstation (computer and monitor) left on after business hours is responsible for power plants emitting nearly one ton of CO2 per year.
  • If every U.S. computer and monitor were turned off at night, the nation could shut down eight large power stations and avoid emitting 7 million tons of CO2 every year.
  • IBM estimates it saved $17.8 million worldwide in 1991 alone by encouraging employees to turn off equipment and lights when not needed.
6. Monitor Paper Usage

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each employee in a typical business office generates 1.5 pounds of waste paper per day. There are several ways to cut down on how much paper you use, including:
  1. Make hard copies only when necessary.
  2. View documents on your computer instead of printing them out.
  3. Use a stick-on label on the first page of a fax instead of a full cover sheet.
  4. Reuse paper that only has printed material on one side.
  5. Make sure all printers and copiers are set up to print on both sides of paper.
When buying paper:
  1. Buy recycled paper made from a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.
  2. Look for paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF) instead of totally chlorine-free (TCF) because its produced without elemental chlorine or chlorine derivatives.
  3. Use unbleached and uncolored paper. If you need to use colored paper, use pastel colors.
  4. Buy products in bulk to minimize packaging.
Make sure employees have bins to recycle paper at their desk.


Quick Stats
  • A single-sided 10-page letter costs $0.55 to mail; that same letter, copied onto both sides of the paper, uses only five sheets and $0.34 in postage.
  • A ton of 100 percent recycled paper saves the equivalent of 4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air emissions, and three cubic yards of landfill space.
  • In the U.S., over 40 percent of municipal solid waste is paper—about 71.8 million tons each year.
7. Keep Your Cool . . . and Warmth


According to a TIME magazine article, heating, cooling and powering office space are responsible for almost 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and eat more than 70 percent of total electricity usage. You can save about 10 percent on your electricity bill by just adjusting that thermostat by one or two degrees. Other ideas:
  1. Use automatic setback thermostats to adjust the temperature for weekends and evenings.
  2. Consider outside air economizers that use outside air to cool down buildings when the air outside is cooler than the air inside.
  3. Think about solar shading to reduce the amount of heat from the sun that penetrates your office building.
  4. Keep the blinds closed to conserve heat in winter and keep it out during summer.
Quick Stats
  • Heating, cooling and ventilation accounts for 39 percent of the energy use in a typical office.
  • An adjustment of only a degree or two can cut heating or cooling bills by two to three percent. Extending that to three or four degrees can produce savings of 10 percent or more.
8. Put Someone in Charge

Hire an energy manager or transportation coordinator. It may be beneficial to have someone in the office whose sole job is to set up carpooling or keep track of office recycling and energy use. The money spent on paying somebody to hold this position will be well worth it when you get your utility bill and help save our planet.
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Going Green Made Easy



1. Buy Only What You Need
  • Plain and simple—don’t over purchase.
  • However, when buying items that you use daily or in large quantities, consider buying in bulk. You will save money and packaging. Consider splitting bulk purchases with neighbors or friends to get that savings but not the full quantity of the purchase. Sometimes we can’t always use 50 rolls of toilet paper!
2. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!
  • Earth911 offers recycling, reuse and proper disposal options for more than 250 different materials, everything from plastic bags to construction materials.
  • Remodeling? Don’t forget to look for recycling and reuse programs for your household items—windows, doors, tile, etc. New technology has enabled some companies to recycle old porcelain toilets and tubs into beautiful counter tops and tile.
  • Don’t forget the last step in the recycling loop—buy recycled! In order for recycling to be sustainable, we need to purchase recycled-content materials! Look for and purchase post-consumer recycled content packaging and products whenever possible.
3. Change a Light, Change the World
  • When your incandescent light bulbs stop working, replace them with the new, energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CFLs use 2/3 less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and last 10 times longer. Making this switch will save you money and energy.
  • Some incandescent light bulbs may contain mercury, so remember to dispose of both properly at your local household hazardous waste facility.
  • Take the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR pledge to save energy and help reduce the risks of global climate change by replacing at least one light in your home with an ENERGY STAR qualified one.
4. Bag It Up the Green Way
  • Plastic bags are getting the “thumbs down” in several communities around the country because of litter problems. When going to the store, consider bagging your own groceries in cloth, reusable bags. Many stores sell reusable bags and charge to provide plastic grocery bags.
  • When walking your dog and cleaning up after then, use a biodegradable bag rather than a plastic bag.
  • If you decide to use plastic bags, remember to recycle them. Thousands of locations are available across the country.
5. Green Your Gadgets



Electronics become “outdated” so much more quickly than 10 or 20 years ago. To insure you are responsible with your gadgets, consider doing the following:
  • Resist the urge to upgrade every time a “newer” or “cooler” gadget comes out. Reduce at the source—you save money and the time (and frustration) to learn how to operate and program the new gadget.
  • Donate working electronics to charities or school programs resell or refurbish them.
  • Completely broken? Recycle! Electronics are the new “hot” item being recycled across the country.
  • Refill or recycle your inkjet or toner cartridges.
  • Close the recycling loop and buy recycled, post-consumer content paper for your printer. Most local office supply stores, such as Staples, offer a growing selection of environmentally friendly papers.
  • Keep in mind even computer game equipment and iPods now have reuse and recycling programs available.
6. Make Every Drop Count



Even though 70 percent of the world is covered by water, we should conserve all that we can. Here are some quick tips to save that last drop:
  • Turn off the water faucet when brushing your teeth.
  • Use your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. Try to avoid small, partial loads.
  • Compost food scraps instead of using your garbage disposal. You’ll save gallons of water every time and have a great soil amendment for your garden.
  • Clean your driveway or sidewalk with a broom instead of hosing it down with water. You’ll save at least 80 gallons of water every time.
  • Don’t use running water to thaw food.
7. Turn Up the Savings
  • A few degrees can make all the difference in your energy savings and your wallet. In the summer raise your thermostat two degrees. In the winter lower your thermostat two degrees. You probably won’t notice the difference, at least until your utility bill arrives!
  • Use a ceiling fan to cool off a room or house. It consumes as little energy as a 60-watt bulb, which is about 98 percent less energy than most central air conditioners.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to better regulate the temperature in your house through the day and night. Remember to recycle your old, mercury containing thermostats.
  • When replacing an appliance, be sure to look for one that is more energy efficient. Always look for the ENERGY STAR symbol and compare water and energy usage to ensure you get the best product and environmental savings to suit your needs.
8. Clear the Air
  • Carpool, ride the bus, use public transportation or bike to work
  • Telecommute. Employee productivity will increase.
  • Trip chain! Save fuel and time by planning ahead and consolidating trips into one trip. Also, vow to only go to certain, far away stores less frequently.
  • Keep your tires inflated to the appropriate air pressure level. This will extend the life of your tires and give you better gas mileage.
  • Drive the speed limit.
  • Service your car on a regular basis per the manufacturer guidelines.
  • In the market for a new car? Consider one of the new hybrid or fuel efficient vehicles.
9. Save A Tree
  • Save paper, time and postage, and pay your bills online.
  • As the price of paper cards and postage increases, consider e-mailing e-cards.
  • When printing documents, print on both sides of paper. You can cut your paper consumption almost in half.
  • E-mail documents and information instead of printing and mailing them.
  • Save documents on your computer or on a disk instead of in a print copy in your filing cabinet. You’ll free up lots of space.
10. Home Sweet Home
  • Clotheslines are making a comeback. Dry your clothes on the line instead of in the dryer. They will smell better, and you will save money.
  • Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. They can be used over and over again and thrown in with your weekly load of towels.
  • Make your own less toxic cleaning alternatives using baking soda, soap and vinegar.
  • When repainting a room, be sure to look for paint that is low VOC (volatile organic compounds). Several manufacturers now offer VOC paints and they don’t leave that paint fume smell.
  • Open the doors and windows to let the fresh air in! Indoor air quality is often times worse than the air outside. Open doors and windows daily to circulate fresh air in and germs and smells out.

8 Ways to Reduce Your Impact Today

Many of us are feeling strapped for cash right now. Add to this the fact that our usual daily responsibilities don’t go away just because the economy has taken a nose dive, and you have a real recipe for stress. With a full-time job, an active social life and perhaps a kid or a pup to raise, it’s tough to always fit in a commitment to the environment, especially if it seems to require added cost or responsibility.
Take heart, though, because there are many ways to save money and reduce your impact on the planet. Once you are done with the usual suspects like changing your incandescent light bulbs to low-energy CFLs and shopping with reusable bags, check out these equally easy ways to simplify your high-wattage life:


1. Say ‘No’ to To-Go

Even if you are constantly on the run, it is possible to reduce the amount of waste you generate by packing your own mugs, water bottles and reusable food containers. The majority of to-go containers are made from plastics that do not recycle easily, and a plethora of reusable options are now available. Each paper cup and plastic fork costs money, and you can be sure this cost is passed onto consumers. As an added monetary bonus, many retailers offer rebates for those who bring their own mugs and bags.


2. Water Well

Water is a precious resource, which is often a fact overlooked in developed countries where all one needs to do for clean, safe water is turn on the tap. However, millions suffer from lack of clean water, and the available supply of potable water on the planet is dwindling. You can decrease your H2O consumption by following a few simple steps:
  • Flush and run sparingly – The average toilet uses between 1.6 and 5.5 gallons of water per flush. If you are already “letting it mellow,” save even more water by only turning on the tap when absolutely necessary – no need for the water to run when brushing your teeth or doing the dishes, for example.
  • Make sure it’s really dirty before washing – Clothing, dishes and your body should only undergo the wash and rinse cycle when necessary. Use the same water glass all day, and wear those jeans more than once.
3. Hang It Out To Dry

After the fridge, the clothes dryer is the second largest consumer of home power. Most of us are not willing to give up cold milk and crisp veggies, but we can easily use the dryer less often, which can add up to a significant savings of energy and money.
As an added bonus, letting your clothes air dry extends their usable lives (it is much less taxing on the stitching and fabric), it is a good excuse to get outside and the end product smells better too! If you live in a place where drying clothes outside right now would mean wearing duds that are cold and wet, consider using indoor drying racks to accomplish the same energy-free job.


4. Lights, Camera, Out!


Many electronic devices like chargers for phones and cameras, televisions and computers continue to draw energy even when in the “off” position. To avoid this phantom power use, unplug such devices, or plug everything into a power strip which you can turn off when not in use. Encourage these same practices at your workplace, and no matter where you are, always turn off unnecessary lights.

5. Be a Wise Post-Consumer


In the digital age, we still rely on a steady stream of paper in our offices, kitchens and bathrooms. Here are some easy suggestions for keeping more trees outside:
  • Print sparingly – When you do need to hold a document in your hand, be sure it has been printed and/or copied on both sides, and of course, be sure to recycle when done.
  • Buy the highest level of post-consumer, recycled paper – From toilet paper to notebooks, there is rarely a reason to use virgin paper. Look for the percentage on the packaging (such as products made with 100 percent recycled and/or 50 percent post-consumer materials), and also look for paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF).
  • Class it up with cloth – Reusable napkins are not just for fancy dinner parties. They can be washed and reused indefinitely. The same goes for old T-shirts or towels, which can be repurposed as rags and used instead of their paper counterparts.
6. Resist the Urge to Splurge

A lack of excess cash can also serve as a great excuse to consume a bit less. Here are a few suggestions for ways to help you consume less:
  • Take a consumption vacation – Consider taking the day or week off from making any new purchases, with the exception of necessities such as health products and food. Remember that you are not only saving money, but you are also reducing the waste created throughout the life cycle of each new product, the packaging used and the transportation and emissions necessary to get products from original resource to manufacturer to consumer.
  • Buy nice or buy twice – For these necessities, make sure that you are buying the highest quality, most energy efficient, eco-friendly model available within your budget. From appliances (Energy Star) to food (Local Harvest), there are low-impact alternatives for almost everything on the market.
7. Bid Your Car Adieu


We are a society that loves our cars, but there are many alternatives to a day spent solo in your gas-guzzling ride. Backing out of your car rut can also provide new opportunities to socialize and get some exercise:
  • Get on the bus – Many cities and towns have excellent public transportation systems that include buses, subways and trains. You’ll be surprised at the new friends you make or the added reading time you find when not behind the wheel.
  • Carpool with friends or co-workers – There are several rideshare services available now that will help you make a match.
  • Get on a bike or walk – While it might take a little longer to reach your destination, the fresh air, lack of carbon emitted and exercise more than make up for the extra minutes.
  • Phone it in – Explore telecommuting or teleconferencing options with your employer to significantly reduce your daily commute.
8. Ban Planned Obsolescence

The more we view potential waste as building blocks for new products, the lower our overall impact will be. Granted, some products (”gum” comes to mind) are decidedly single-use items, but with a little creativity, many others can easily be creatively repurposed.


Green Cleaning Tips for your Home
http://www.ewg.org/files/2009/10/school-cleaners/home-tip-sheet.pdf

Healthy Home Tips
http://www.ewg.org/files/EWGguide_goinggreen.pdf

United Nations Environment Programme environment for development
http://www.unep.org
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Great, great thread!!
The one tip I would emphasize is to get moving again. If we start to use other means of transportation, its not only a benefit to the environment- its also good for our health.
Another thing is when we plan our vacation: why not take a different type of vacation? One that requires that we discover the pleasures that are found nearby? Spending time with friends, inviting people over, making use of our time differently? Traveling by airplanes are one of the things we do that definately have a huge impact.
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

:clapping:
 
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Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

heal the word, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race! :)
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Lets not forget the importance of litter picking.

£342 million a year is spent on litter clearing and street cleaning in England it is paramount that we educate our children on the importance of reducing litter and waste from an early age. Children can also teach their parents about this importance as well.

We need to understand the damage litter can do to wildlife and the environment, for instance, rubbish thrown into rivers and streams can kill swans and ducks and pollute the water for fish and other animals.

We can all become involved in litter picking projects in our local areas. Many environmental and wildlife groups are positively crying out for weekend volunteers to help clear beauty spots and open spaces of litter and rubbish.

Educate and encourage. The simplest thing we can do all do to reduce litter is to reduce waste and make sure whatever waste we do produce is disposed of responsibly in a dustbin or re-cycling provision.
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

Isn´t it countries where you get punished if you throw litter on the ground?

I´ve used low energy light bulbs for many years now.
There are different quality but I´ve had some of them for years without having to change them.I also have low energy fridge,freezer.
It doesn´t only help the environment to save energy, it save my money too when the energy bills come.
 
Re: MJJC Legacy Project - Planet Earth

small changes we make NOW can make a huge impact and difference!! Make the change!!
Mike cared so much for our planet..........and urged us to do something about it!
''It starts with us''
 
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