Emplicity is going green and we want you to join us!

We’ve been making small, simple changes around our offices and we’re already starting to see the benefits.

For example, our offices used less electricity in the whole month of February of 2009 than we did in just 2 weeks of February of 2008, saving us hundreds of dollars!

We wanted to share some of the everyday choices we’re making that have a positive impact on the environment - as well as our bottom line.

$ - Look for this symbol next to eco-friendly tips that also save you dough!

Make Friends With the Ghost of Products Past - Buy Recycled and Post-Consumer products for home and office. You’re buying the stuff anyways…you might as well make a more Earth friendly choice. Words to look for:
- Recycled materials, with emphasis on post-consumer content
- Energy-efficient
- Compostable or biodegradable
- Non-toxic
- Reusable
Green Up Your Commute - Take public transportation, carpool or drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. If you’re going to drive you can maximize your car’s efficiency by doing the following:
- Stop your engine – Sitting idle for just 10 seconds uses more gas and produces more CO2 emissions than simply turning the engine off and then on again. $
- Check your tire pressure – Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage enough to earn a free tank of gas every year! $
- Clean out your trunk – The lighter your car, the better gas mileage it’ll get. $
- Plan your shopping trips – Cars burn more CO2 when they’re not warmed up, so it pays to run all your errands at one time.
Reduce – Reuse – Re-Print? – Yes! You can buy recycled paper, but don’t overlook the paper you already have! By printing on both sides of the paper and decreasing your margin sizes you’re minimizing your footprint and maximizing your supplies. Also, consider using a projector rather than printing your presentations. $
Shut it down! - Turn off your computer and monitor every night. During lunch breaks and meetings, turn off your monitor. Turn off lights that aren’t in use and assess if you need all the lights that are typically on. $$$ See our example at the top for the major monetary payoffs of this tip!
Be Water-Wise – Save money and the planet by being mindful of the water you use: $
- Don’t let the tap run while soaping hands or brushing your teeth.
- Fill the dishwasher before running it.
- Shave a few minutes off your shower.
- Use a broom rather than hosing down your driveway and sweep leaves and trash away
Become A Local – Buy local food and produce. The less your fruit and veggies have to travel, the less CO2 that goes into the air. Plus, local produce is often fresher and better tasting -- and buying locally boosts the local economy.
Stop and Think – Take a second to think if something can be reduced, reused or recycled before you act. All it takes is a second to:
- Save an e-mail to a digital file instead of printing it
- Put your soda can in the recycle bin, instead of the regular trash
- Refill a water bottle instead of just tossing it
- Pack your lunch in Tupperware rather than multiple plastic and brown paper bags
Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Baggage - Take a reusable cloth bag(s) to the grocery store. Leave them in your car so you don’t forget. Try to purge plastic grocery bags from your life because they do not biodegrade – ever! Plus, most stores offer money back on each cloth bag you use! Don’t want to buy cloth bags? That’s okay; just reuse the plastic grocery store bags from previous shopping trips. $
Prevent Toxic Trash - Dispose of leftover solvents, pesticides, used transmission oil and other toxic chemicals through your county's hazardous waste collection program. When you throw them in your regular trash the toxins could seep into the ground and/or the rain washes them into ocean drains and sewers. See tip #10 for locations that will take your old chemicals.
Get Web Savvy - Go to www.earth911.com to find out where to recycle practically anything.