Stop Junk Mail

Follow this link to a very informative Salon article about how to stop junk mail with links to junk-mail-busting websites, including free ones. Why am I blogging this on an environmental site? According to Salon, junk mail is a significant source of pollution:

In fact, the annual greenhouse-gas emissions from the production of junk mail are equal to those of 3.5 million cars. (That figure doesn't include emissions from transporting and disposing of the stuff.) Beyond that, each year junk mail production in the U.S. consumes more than 96.7 billion gallons of water and more than 100 million trees, ForestEthics estimates. Most of those, says Chester Vance, come from carbon-dioxide-sequestering, biologically diverse old-growth forests, rather than from sustainably managed tree farms. And according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only about a third of all junk mail is recycled. "All that for a response rate of less than 3 percent," Chester Vance notes, referring to the fact that fewer than 3 percent of people -- often even fewer -- respond to the solicitations.

Interfaith Power and Light is a religious response to global warming with chapters in 25 states and Greater Washington, D.C. Find a link to your local chapter at http://www.theregenerationproject.org/State.Find discounts on energy saving products at http://www.shopipl.org/

Junk the Junk Mail

Save a Tree (and some carbon dioxide). Pledge to get off of junkmail lists as part of this month's Carbon Conscious Consumer Challenge.

Why you should take this pledge:
Everything we consume has a climate impact, but paper more so than most commodities. According to the Department of Energy, the forest products industry is the third largest industrial consumer of energy, behind only petroleum and chemicals, and the pulp and paper industry uses the vast majority of that energy. The production and disposal of direct mail alone consumes more energy than 3 million cars! So if junk mail adds clutter and annoyance to your life AND exacerbates climate change, why not take action to lighten your load?

Interfaith Power and Light is a religious response to global warming with chapters in 22 (Including Maine) and Greater Washington, D.C. Find a link to your local chapter at http://www.theregenerationproject.org/State.htm

Are you a Carbon-Conscious Consumer?

Are you a Carbon Conscious Consumer? The Center for a New American Dream wants to make it easy for you to become one. Follow this link to learn more and take the pledge. Don't be intimidated--this month's pledge involves buying one pound of local food per week. In a season of farmer's markets, that's easy. As an added incentive, each month prizes will be awarded.

Interfaith Power and Light is a religious response to global warming with chapters in 22 states and Greater Washington, D.C. Find a link to your local chapter at http://www.theregenerationproject.org/State.htm

Have an Eco-Friendly, Alternative Holiday

Alternatives to traditional holiday gifts and celebrations at the Center for a New American Dream's holiday survival page.