Earth Day 2014

Earth Day is no longer merely one day that we get out and clean up the neighborhood anymore. Well, it is still that, but it has migrated to many different parts of our lives and has changed the way we live from how we drive (smart cars, gasoline), how we consume things (food, products we buy), to how we see the future and how what we do now affects it. Companies are also doing their part and taking responsibility in how they do business and how it affects the world around them.

Many of the clients that ArcStone works with integrate greener ideals into their business model and some, like EnerChange and All Energy Solar, even make that their sole purpose.

EnerChange is funded through the Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) with contributions from Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce/Division of Energy Resources. Because of this financial support, EnerChange is able to offer its services at no charge to its clients. They have recently paired up with CenterPoint Energy to offer rebates for water heaters and boiler systems to people who live in multi-housing units. Find out if you qualify.

All Energy Solar installs solar panels to provide a clean, green, alternative energy solutions for their residential, commercial, agricultural, and government clients. They provide clean electricity at lower costs than traditional forms of electrical power like, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels.

Not to be outdone, Packaging Incorporated knows how much waste can be used when packing items, so they have come up with some green solutions in their products.

So what has ArcStone done to incorporate these green ideals into our office? We use cloth hand towels to cut down on paper towels, we are very aware of what is printed to cut paper waste, and recently have put some new ideas into place.

• We have paired up with Terracycle to break down recycling even more and sending back specific plastics. This, along with sending aluminum cans straight to the recycling center, eliminates one more step in the recycling process and ensures that this waste will go to the right place.
• Environmentally friendly cleaning products play a big part in going green. Imagine using harsh products to mop, and those chemicals gets poured down the drain when done. Some great products we have found include Seventh Generation Dish Soap and Mrs. Meyer's All Purpose Cleaner and both work wonders. The next step is finding environmentally friendly garbage bags that don't break the bank.
• We have many lights that we use in the office, and only last week had quite a few that burned out. Did you know you can't recycle incandescent light bulbs? Longer-lasting and eco-friendly bulbs are next on the shopping list. Turning out lights when you're not in a room is also something that is so easily done, but something we may forget. Writer David Sedaris puts it perfectly in this post he did for Harper's Bazaar.

Earth Day Network has put together a list of events happening this 2014. Let's help Mother Earth take a deep breath this Earth Day by doing all that we can to help her out.