What can you do?

How long do you spend in the shower, or run your air conditioner, each day?  How frequently do you recycle scrap paper at work?  How often do you turn off lights in unused conference rooms?  In each of these situations, our actions will either help or harm our environment. It is easy to do the right thing with only a little effort.   

Here some ideas*:
@ work

• Enable the “sleep mode” feature on your computer allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity.
• Turn out lights in un-used conference rooms.
• Print less. Only print a document if it is absolutely necessary.
• Reduce paper consumption. Enable double sided printing on your printer driver by default.
• Use Energy Star accredited computers, monitors and printers – Energy star appliances use 60-80% less energy than traditional models.

@ home

• Unplug seldom-used appliances (e.g. extra refrigerator)
• Unplug your chargers when you are not charging (e.g. phone, pda)
• Use power strips to switch off televisions, home theater equipment and stereos when you are not using them (even in standby mode they consume energy).
• Use your clothesline as much as you can. A clothesline is the most energy efficient clothes dryer.
• Reduce the temperature of your water heater by a few degrees (recommended 48°C –55°C). There is a ~3% energy saving for every 6°C decrease.
• Drive less – Reducing a few kilometers every week results in a fuel economy and less emissions.
• Inflate your car tires – under inflated tires increase your fuel consumption.

During the last edition of Avery Plus Express, we asked readers about the ways they’ve helped our environment, at home or at work.  Here are some of the best responses:

• Fix your fridge door and seals so that they close properly
• Take your own bag to the shops
• Use food scraps and garden waste to create a compost heap at your home
• Install a water efficient shower head
• Purchase products that are made from recycled materials
• Purchase products that can be recycled
• Turn off your computer monitors when not in use
• Recycle toner cartridges

We can make a conscious decision to help our environment, committing as an individual, a family, and an organisation, to protect our future. 

Let us know your ideas and any new practices you’ve implemented, at averyplus@ap.averydennison.com .

Find more about Avery’s complete line of product and software solutions at www.averyproducts.com.au or www.averyproducts.co.nz

*we collated the preceeding information with the best intentions. Avery cannot be made liable for any eventual mistakes or any actions taken by readers on our tips.