Use Technology to Go Green on Earth Day

It's Earth Day today! Today is a day to honor planet Earth. It's also a day to commit to eco awareness in our lives and in our businesses. There are many paths to take to integrate sustainability concepts into daily living. Some prefer a designated path via a personal sustainability plan while others prefer to sprinkle eco awareness throughout their sustainable lifestyle. Regardless of which path, both encompass utilizing resources already present in your life to lighten the load on our environment.

Most of us have access to technology, so why not use it to go green on Earth Day? Here are 28 eco friendly tips to do just that:

Telecommute one day a week or once a month.
Recycle cell phones that are no longer used.
Switch to paperless billing.
Have a virtual meeting. Use video conferencing instead of travel.
Use a smart thermostat to reduce energy costs.
Use a smart power strip for your computer or wireless phone charger.
Sensors in the strip turn off the power supply when the items are not in
use, saving electricity and money.
Use email for correspondence.
Create an e-brochure vs. a printed brochure and for sales calls and presentations.
On sales calls, use a USB memory stick and electronically leave your e-brochure and presentation with your client.
Move to a paperless office.
Replace your paper planner with an electronic one. PDA's: Blackberry and smart phones all have contact management capabilities. Take it a step further and close the reuse/recycle loop and purchase a used one from eBay or Craig’s list.
Get your daily dose of green and subscribe to blogs: BestGreenBlogs,
Idealbite, and Taiga Company.
For birthday cards and notifications, try sending an e-card or using an online party planning tool.
Share your photos online.
Commit to all online banking: statements, bill, and payments.
File your taxes electronically; if receiving a refund, elect to have it automatically deposited to your bank account.
Empty file cabinets: scan and store electronically, use the paper as scratch paper then recycle it.
Read your books online: subscribe to e-books.
Use Digital Post it notes
Online e-zines, blogs, and PDF versions of printed magazines are becoming more and more popular, both as a replacement for and a supplement to printed publications.
Utilize social media tools (Facebook, digg, StumbleUpon) to share information: favorite websites, cool video's, and even gift ideas.
Learn 50 new ways to use your iPod for more than music.
Continuing education: look into online education and online classrooms.
Stay in touch with friends and family via email, Facebook, or start your own blog.
Use the internet for resources for Eco Awareness and Action