Working from home is an eco-friendly practice since you can cut down on unnecessary resources like transportation, but you can make it even more eco-friendly by buying an green office chair. Did you know that many traditional desk chairs are upholstered with fabrics that have been treated with stain-resistant waterproof finishes and fire retardants? It’s true, and those finishes can off-gas formaldehyde and other nasty volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Suddenly finding it hard to concentrate on your work?

Look for eco-friendly furniture options like the Steelcase Leap chair, which is made from up to 30% recycled materials. The manufacturing process uses powder-coated paints, water-based adhesives and it’s VOC-free. In fact, the chair is certified for indoor air quality by SCS Indoor Advantage. The cushioning is made from 50% post-consumer PET or recycled plastic soda and water bottles. When shipped, the chair doesn’t come in a box, it’s blanket wrapped instead to cut down on waste. The chair also has Silver Cradle to Cradle product certification from MBDC.

And about that concentration? Click here to read more

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At a time when companies are struggling to cut costs, the 2009 PC Energy Report falls as a shock. It was produced by 1E, an energy-management software company with a solid social, environmental and ethical (SEE) policy, and the non-profit Alliance to Save Energy. The report revealed businesses are wasting $2.8 billion a year because nearly half of U.S. employees do not shut their computer PC when leaving the office. An energy cost which could be avoided not only for environmental purposes, but also because it is quite inappropriate during an economic meltdown.

The polling company Harris Interactive was commissioned to conduct two surveys in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. It showed how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint as well as cutting their energy costs. The report explains how simply shutting down 10,000 PCs at night can save the company $260,000 a year and 1,871 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Conscientious eco-responsible consumers should therefore turn their computers off overnight and at weekends. Sumir Karayi – chief executive of PC power management software specialist at 1E – observed: “70% of workers leave their machines on. We estimate that on any given night around 40% of machines are left on.” The corporate energy bills rise and the environment is polluted. If you don’t care about your company’s bill at least try to avoid worsening global warming.

Although idle, a computer requires unnecessary electricity which is therefore wasted CO2 and dollars. In the United States, 5% of electricity usage is due to Click here to read more

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Daily Greenz #82

Eco-friendly giant Danny Seo has been making a big
splash with his Simply Green books, which cover everything from creating a
greener home to throwing festive parties that are sensitive to the environment and your wallet. His focus is, as his titles indicate,
simplicity, and his new 2008 “Do Just One Thing” calendar runs along the same
theme of simple actions you can take on a daily basis to make your life a
little greener this year. His 366 eco-tips
(leap year!) are clever and inexpensive, such as recycling the black tape from
your old videotapes as gift-wrapping ribbon or unplugging your cell phone
charger when it’s not in use. His last
tip even tells you how to recycle the whole calendar, so following all his tips
will ensure that the calendar pays for itself. Prop his calendar on your desk for $19.99 at www.amazon.com and recycle his tips by
sharing them with your coworkers.

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Daily Greenz #72
If you’d rather not revamp your lifestyle all at once, maybe you’d prefer to  make just one small change a day. This calendar lets you do that, and shows what a difference it can make.
The Living Green calendar offers tips like exchanging energy-sucking air purifiers for air-filtering houseplants, drinking organic beer (it’s better for you and the planet) and conserving water while brushing your teeth.
Pick one up for $11.95 from calendars.com .

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Daily Greenz #48

Even elephants are now getting in on the green scene. These mammoth creatures play a central role in the sustainable cycle of creating all natural paper. And when I say all natural, I mean that literally. The Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company has hit upon the ingenious idea of taking elephant dung (replete with fibrous material) and employing local artisans to handcraft it into paper prod
ucts, such as stationary, journals, notebooks, and cards. Because they use an old, local technique of drying and washing the dung before processing it, the paper is completely scent-free. Best of all, a percentage of the profits goes right into the elephants welfare and conservation programs, ensuring that they are well-fed and healthy. And that is nothing to pooh-pooh about. Load up on some great holiday gifts for $10.99 and up at poopoopaper.com.

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