Declutter for the New Year!

As we start the year it is always good to look for new ways to Declutter our lives and our Inbox!

Here are some helpful sites to get you started!

Junk Mail Opt-Out Lists

• National Do Not Mail List
• Credit Card and Insurance Offer Opt-Out
• Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference 

Phone Book Opt-Out

• Yellow Pages
• Dex

4 Tips to Declutter Your Inbox

Despite the galactic rise in social media usage, email is likely still a big part of your every day life. Many of us have been using email for over a decade which has led to disorganized, cluttered, and productivity-killing mailboxes. The following tips focus on using features in Outlook to clean up your email clutter, but a lot of these tools can be found in other email platforms as well.

1. Set Up Rules
Outlook’s Rules feature offers a quick way to organize emails on a number of criteria, without having to manually move each and every message. Simply create a Rule, set your criteria and what action you want Outlook to take with any email that meets that criteria, and hit run. For example, you could have Outlook automatically move all emails from a specific sender to a specified folder. For Outlook 2010 instructions, click here. For Outlook 2007 instructions, click here.

2. View Emails as Conversations
Outlook 2010 offers a Conversation View so that multiple emails on the same topic are placed in one single conversation thread. This can really de-clutter your inbox in a hurry. Simply click the “View” tab and select “Show as Conversations” in the Conversations group.

3. Use Smart Contacts
Smart Contacts categorizes your contacts into three categories: Recent, Frequent, and Favorite. This makes it a lot quicker to find the person you’re trying to email when you have too many contacts. To download Smart Contacts, click here.

4. Set Up Junk Filters
97% of emails sent are junk. And even if your email host provides great spam protection, you still might see an occasional junk email find its way into your inbox. Outlook has a built-in junk filter that you can tweak to catch most junk emails. To learn how to adjust the Outlook’s Junk Filter, click here.

And if you’d like personal help cleaning up a cluttered, over-sized, or slow Outlook account, we’d be glad to help.
Contact Us >>

Source: Small Business Technology

Save Money While Saving Energy

So what do we all do before we leave our house or apartment?  Well, first we forget everything we are supposed to bring with us, rush back in, get the infamous supplies we forgot in the first place, and now we’re all set.  We feel good, even accomplished, and then what happens? We realize we forgot to turn the lights off…

Well, this may help ease your pain at running your energy bills sky high.  Recently, I was sent an article, featured in a financial magazine. I was pretty stoked when I realized not only could I understand what these financial geniuses were saying, but I could actually follow their advice!

Here are some steps to follow to decrease your energy bills, while at the same time being energy efficient and eco friendly!

First:  Get Audited!  It’s worth checking out why your bills are so high.

Costs about $250 to $800, but if you check with your energy provider you may be eligible for  a rebate! 

Second:  Caulking (one tube is $5) up leaky panes or purchasing an energy efficient window (only $5 to $10 dollars more than a regular replacement window) will save you about 20% on your heating and cooling bills.

Third:  Work on sealing your ducts with Aeroseal.  This seals up all cracks in your ducts, but  it does cost $1,500.  Fear not, take comfort in the fact that it cuts your annual utility bills in half! 

Fourth:  Try to save money while washing your clothes. Either purchase a front-loading machine ($500 more), or a more reasonable solution, wash with cold water. Why, because it costs more to heat the water.

Fifth:  Heating brings up costs but if you purchase an energy saving heater, like an Energy Star Heater, you could be shedding $200 off your bill per year.

Sixth:  Insufficient insulation in your attic and other key places could be a big cause for high energy bills. , So, look to see if you need better insulation and spend $1 per square foot to insulate with fiberglass. It will pay for itself in no time.

Seventh:  Water heating takes up about 15% of your bills. A good  soltion would be to turn the water heater’s  thermostat to 120 degrees and use an insulating blanket ($25) and insulation for the pipes to keep the heat contained.

Eighth:  Alert NO COST SOLUTIONS!  If you turn down your thermostat while you’re out or asleep you will be saving $200 annually off of your heating bills. FURTHERMORE! If you turn down your fridge to 35 degrees to 38 degrees cuts down costs as well.

See attached article to get more information, but seriously let us get on this!! 

Stars and Their Sustainability Drive

Stars and Their Sustainability Drive By: Caitlin Presberg, Eco Promotional Products, Inc., www.ecopromotionsonline.com We get our popcorn ready, we sit down in the comfy lounge seats and wait with baited breath until the crystal clear screen shows the faces of our most beloved stars. To some they are crushes, for others they are an inspiration for something magical. They light up the screen with their heroics, comedic banter, and inspiring displays of survival, but when the screen goes black, that is when the real stars emerge. Celebrities like Jessica Alba, Ian Somerhalder, Brad Pitt, and Livia Firth have inhaled their fame and have exhaled beauty into reality by creating eco-friendly businesses, foundations, and challenges that instill the belief that you don’t have to be a superhero to save the world. Jessica Alba, now a mother of two, has taken her role as a mother and has become a supermom. She started her business The Honest Company, an eco-friendly line of baby products, because she wanted her children, and the children of the world, to have the safest, cutest, and healthiest start. She produces eco-friendly products that allow parents to be confident about their children’s future. The journey to the future is happening and Brad Pitt has already been a pioneer on this voyage, as the creator of the Make it Right Foundation. This foundation started after Hurricane Katrina, in hopes of rebuilding the damaged land and homes. However, Brad went further than just rebuilding and began creating an energy efficient community recognized and praised by the U.S. Green Building Council. Not only is he rebuilding the fallen homes, he is building a foundation for the future, and setting a trend of heroism among the people of today. One actor, that has recently been honored for his green efforts, is Ian Somerhalder, known as "the dead guy on LOST now undead on The Vampire Diaries", has used his name to create the IS Foundation. This foundation focuses on saving the environment in every aspect by: raising awareness of global conservation, green energy development, and how to end deforestation. This foundation has targeted the youth as the portals to the future, for within the youth lies the key to change. The future never stops, and apparently neither does this earth warrior. Recently Ian Somerhalder has stated that he is trying to make his character Damon, on The Vampire Diaries, go green by trading in his gas guzzling Camaro for the same classy and sleek Fisker Surf, incidentally the same car that Leonardo Dicaprio drives. This earth warrior is on the move, from the red carpet to the green carpet of the earth. The Red carpet became an inspiration for some, like Livia Firth, Colin Firth’s wife. She has set the challenge to the Hollywood stars to create a Green Carpet Challenge, a challenge that started up about three years ago, and still thriving, and taken up by stars such as Meryl Streep, and Cameron Diaz, and even designer Giorgio Armani. Livia helps challenge and create original, one of a kind clothing, that is eco-friendly and fashionable. Livia explained her passion by stating, "Fashion is a brilliant communicator. The fashion we communicate through the GCC promotes social justice, environmental integrity and the very best in design". This challenge is certainly bringing truth and awareness to the most popular carpet around. The vibrant red is now appearing as the birth place of these beautiful gown creations, setting the stage for future stars to follow. All of these celebrities and many more have incorporated Green Living into their everyday life and mission. Their fame is the foundation on which their missions are built, and upon the earth their fame was born. It is clear, that Livia, along with other celerity pioneers and leaders have found a drive that completes them, and thanks to their efforts the road to the future is slowly clearing.

Top 5 Tips for Green Company Picnics

It’s that time of the year again; businesses are getting ready for their annual company get-togethers. Here are some must-have tips for keeping them green.
1. Buy Bulk. Reduce waste and expenses by eliminating individual cans, bottles, condiments and individually wrapped cutlery. Large coolers and bulk dispensing is the way to go.
2. Stay local. Don’t make people drive long distances to get to the picnic spot. You’ll save gas, time and minimize pollution. If you have to drive far, then carpool. Give incentives to those that ride their bike.
3. Recycle. Seems simple enough but most people don’t want to walk the extra 10 feet to put something in the recycling bin. If you are going to have a lot of aluminum cans and plastic bottles at your picnic make sure you have multiple, noticeable, recycling bins. Even better, set your goal to have a zero-waste event with everything reusable. Frisbees make a great plate and wonderful gift.
4. Use natural and organic food. Bring foods that are locally grown and feed money into your community. It is usually cheaper and better for the environment because no pesticides or additives were used.
5. Clean up. Clean up and make sure that nothing was left behind. Leave your picnic ground the way you found it.
By: Rachel Thomas, Eco Promotional Products, Inc.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/eco-friendly-picnics.html
http://humanityy.com/ecology/four-eco-friendly-tips-for-picnics-and-outings/
www.ecopromotionsonline.com

Earth Hour 2011

One day out of the year people around the world are asked to switch off phones and lights for one hour. Earth hour 2011 will take place on Saturday March 26 at 8:30 p.m. Since 2007 Earth Hour has grown from one city to 128 countries and continues to grow. Join Eco Promotional Products, Inc. and turn your lights and phones off for one hour; see how much one hour can do and find other ways to make an environmentally conscious difference every day.

High Lead Content in Grocery Totes

In an effort to go green many grocery stores are opting for reusable grocery totes rather than landfill bound plastic bags. The problem with this eco-friendly switch is that the lead content in some of these bags has been found to be high. The group Center for Consumer Freedom tested bags and found that 30 percent of those tested had lead content higher than the norm. “Consumers should not be scared,” the group said but the Federal government needs to extend standards on lead to products other than children’s toys and paint.
A test was done by TEI Analytical, Inc., a laboratory that does chemical testing; found that some bags made with Non-Woven Poly Propylene contained a large amount of lead. The study included bags from national chains such as Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Harris Teeter. CVS Pharmacy was found to be one of the retailers with the most amount lead in their bags. They had up to 500 parts per million (PPM) of toxic heavy materials in their bags, which is 5 times the allowed amount.
The lead on the bags does not easily come off but with the common wear and tear of everyday use, paint flakes can dislodge or threads can fray which then releases the lead. Eco Promotional Products, Inc. recognizes the harmful effects lead can have and only works with suppliers with products that have been test and checked. One of EPP’s suppliers has installed XRF Heavy Metal Detectors to scan,” ‘every batch and every color for lead and other heavy materials.’” The November, 2010 recall of reusable bags only allowed this supplier to market their bags, “they met a higher standard” than what already existed.
Another supplier EPP works closely with purchased the XLT Niton Analyzer Gun “to randomly check products before they get out our doors into your customers hands.” This device allows the supplier to make sure their products are compliant with hazardous substance standards. EPP is making more strides to ensure their products are safe. Lead products go through a third party to certify the lead content; there are also random lead spot-checks of products coming into the U.S. EPP also provides good alternatives to traditional grocery totes, ones made of cloth.
By: Rachel Thomas, Eco Promotional Products Inc.
Sources:
• http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/12/study-shows-reusable-bags-contain-high-levels-of-lead-content/
• http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/01/24/consumerwatch-study-finds-high-lead-levels-in-some-reusable-bags/
• http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/11/17/reusable-shopping-bag-ban-proposed-after-lead-discovery
• http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=354&Itemid=259
• www.counselormag.com

Greening Our Government

The first-ever GreenGov Supply Chain Summit, hosting 150 different companies from all over the county was held in Chicago on November 16, 2010. The summit was held to announce a voluntary collaboration between the Federal Government and vendors and suppliers to create a greener and cleaner supply chain. Michelle Sheldon, President of Eco Promotional Products, Inc. was invited and gladly attended the the sumit. Certainly, the opportunity to contribute towards a greener and cleaner supply chain has been a long standing goal of Sheldon’s company. And there is a clear opportunity to participate in sales to the Federal Government, a purchaser of some 500 billion in goods and services annually.


White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley participates in the GreenGov Supply Chain Summit


Section 13 of Executive Order 13514 Made by President Obama on October 8, 2007 requires the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, and others to provide the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy with recommendations on the possibilities of tracking and ultimately lessening greenhouse gas emissions from the Federal supply chain and improving sustainability of suppliers. Essentially the government is trying to control and ultimately lessen the greenhouse gases emitted from its supplier community. This is the government’s attempt at managing supplier and supply chain sustainability.

Some recommendations taken right out of the order are:1. Requiring vendors and contractors to register with a voluntary registry or organization for reporting greenhouse gas emissions
2. Requiring contractors, as part of a new revised registration under the Central Contractor Registration or other tracking system, to develop and make available its greenhouse gas inventory and description of efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
3. Using Federal Government purchasing preferences or other incentives for products manufactured using processes that minimize greenhouse gas emissions
4. Other options for encouraging sustainable practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

The government along with the GSA and other agencies are trying to stop greenhouse gases by tracking how much their suppliers are emitting. If businesses all did this and became aware of how much they were endangering the environment, improved eco friendly practices such as paperless companies would grow and become the norm.


http://image.exct.net/lib/fefd167774640c/m/1/Executive+Order+7.13.2010.pdf

http://www.wileyrein.com/resources/documents/GSA%20Recommendations.pdf

http://www.wileyrein.com/publications.cfm?sp=articles&id=6242
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/11/18/greening-supply-chain