Learning Eco-Friendly Printing

For many of us, printing, emailing, scanning, and commuting are a part of our daily work routine. We rely on computers, printers, faxes, telephones, and cars every day. Such technologies are useful in that they help us work more efficiently, however, they also use a lot of energy. Listed below are four simple ways to reduce energy usage in your office and become more environmentally-friendly!

Recycle and Reuse Printer Cartridges

Let's be honest: perhaps the largest office expense is printer cartridges. If your office does a lot of printing, these little cartridges can quickly add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars per year. Now, there's a better, cheaper way.

Remanufactured ink and toner cartridges are half the price of retail cartridges and last just as long. Used cartridges can be recycled, refurbished, and then refilled with new printer ink. This is the remanufacturing process. Using remanufactured ink and toner not only lowers your office expenses, but also reduces your carbon footprint!

Use Less Paper

Another simple way to go green in your office is to use less paper. This can be done by only printing files that you really need. Most files can be sufficiently read or reviewed on your computer. If you take a lot of notes during the day, consider taking notes or writing lists on your computer instead of on post-its. These easy steps will save paper, help the planet, and cut office costs.

If you must print a document, be sure to select an Energy Star qualified printer with a double-sided printing option. This will cut your paper usage in half. Also, use recycled paper in your office that is made with 100 percent post-consumer content.

Use an Alternate Means of Transportation

This is sometimes easier said than done, but using a different means of transportation to and from your office is a great way to become more eco-friendly. You can carpool, take the train, ride a scooter, or even suggest working from home. Not driving to work every day saves gas money and significantly reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.

Conserve Energy

If you don't already, shut down your computer when you go home for the day. If you have a three hour afternoon meeting, set your computer to idle mode to conserve energy. Many office printers also have a sleep mode.

In recent years, people have relied on printers more and more. This results in a rising number of used printer cartridges that ultimately end up in the garbage can.

Did you know that hundreds of millions of new printer cartridges are sold every year? However, only a small percentage of people refill their cartridges. Regrettably, Americans throw millions of printer cartridges in the trash every year, and these chemical-filled cartridges take 10 years to decompose. It is not surprising that the United States is responsible for over half of the world's printer cartridge disposal. Perhaps even worse, a vast majority of this waste ends up in the landfills of third world nations. Studies show that disposed cartridges not only negatively affect the environment, but also our health. Byproducts of used ink cartridges have been associated with skin redness, lung issues, and even cancer.

Now for even more astonishing facts. Recycling printer cartridges could conserve more than 12 million gallons of oil each year, and also reduce the presence of plastic and metal in landfills by over 42,000 tons. Amazing.

Facts like these prove why ink cartridge recycling is now synonymous with eco-friendly living. It's time to take responsibility for our own consumption and become more environmentally-friendly by recycling and reusing our printer cartridges.

There are 3 important things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to printer cartridges. First, recycle your existing empty printer cartridges. Also, be sure to educate others on how they can make a difference and help the environment through recycling. And finally, consider purchasing remanufactured printer cartridges online. Remanufactured cartridges are recycled printer cartridges that have been emptied, cleaned, and refilled. They produce the same quality printouts that you're used to; the only difference is that remanufactured cartridges cost much less than retail cartridges and they help the environment!

As manufacturers introduce more and more technologies for the workplace, the need for environmentally-friendly solutions becomes increasingly important. In order to lessen the effect of printer-use worldwide, consumers now use and trust remanufactured printer cartridges for their printing needs.

Remanufactured ink and toner cartridges are recycled; therefore, they reduce the amount of harmful toxins released by landfills worldwide. Not only do remanufactured printer cartridges benefit the environment, they also help save consumers money. Priced up to 60% less than store-bought cartridges, remanufactured ink and toner is a smart way to protect the Earth while also protecting your wallet.

Does Soy Printer Toner Live Up to the Hype?

The search for sustainable printing options continues. One interesting discovery involves vegetable-based toner that is compatible with most laser printers. "Soy ink" cartridges use a soy oil base rather than a petroleum base. And since soy contains extremely low levels of vapor pressure (or "Volatile Organic Compounds") and takes very little energy to grow, it is much more eco-friendly than traditional emissions-producing, petroleum-based printer ink.

What's more, studies show that paper printed with soy ink is significantly easier to recycle, because soy ink can be removed much more easily than traditional ink.

Most businesses use laser printers because they are inexpensive to maintain and produce high-quality printouts. Fortunately, many offices have jumped on the soy bandwagon and now use soy-based toner. This is an important step in the right direction, as a recent study showed that printer toner usage in the U.S. alone demanded more than 45,000 tons of petroleum per year. If all laser printer users relied on soy-based toner for their printing needs, it would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

The price of "soy ink" compares to major brand-name toner cartridges and can produce an equal number of printouts per cartridge. Developers have yet to produce a type of soy ink that is compatible with small, personal printers, however.

An Eco-Friendly Option for Inkjet or Small Printer Users

If you're looking for a sustainable printing option for your personal or inkjet printer, you're in luck. Remanufactured ink and toner is compatible with virtually all inkjet and laser printers. Remanufactured cartridges earned their title because they have been recycled, cleaned, repaired, filled with new printer ink, and then put through rigorous compatibility checks with brand name printers.

By ordering remanufactured ink or toner from a trusted supplier, you can save up to 60% on ink or toner costs while also helping the environment. And with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there's no risk involved.

"Go Green" in your home or business today by purchasing soy-based toner for your laser printer or remanufactured ink for your inkjet!

Australians have found a great way to reuse recycled printer cartridges: they've constructed a bicycle path made entirely of recycled Replas plastics. A majority of the reused plastic originated from recycled printer cartridges. The path stretches through West MacDonnell National Park and links Alice Springs with Simpsons Gap.

Recycled plastic is a robust, inexpensive, and eco-friendly construction material. The 10.5 mile path cost just over $300,000 to build - much less than the cost of a concrete or wooden path of the same length. The path even includes a bridge made entirely of recycled plastic.

The goal of the recycled bicycle path is to promote sustainable development, protect the environment, set an example for other worldwide construction projects, and provide a unique experience for the park's visitors.

Australia has a history of sustainable development endeavors. In 2008, a team used recycled plastic to complete the last 100 yards of a boardwalk along the continent's Great Barrier Reef.

Ways You Can Help

Perhaps you won't go so far as to construct a sidewalk or driveway for your home made out of recycled printer cartridges, but there are two simple ways you can help the environment when it comes to your printing habits.

First, always recycle your empty or used printer cartridges. In North America alone, over 350 million printer cartridges end up in landfills each year. This jaw-dropping statistic has actual negative side effects to Earth's land, water, and air. You can do your part to reduce harmful toxins from polluting our environment by recycling all empty printer cartridges.

Second, when you need to purchase a new printer cartridge to replace the empty one you just recycled, turn to remanufactured cartridges. Remanufactured printer cartridges have been recycled, cleaned, repaired, and refilled with new printer ink. They are carefully tested to ensure printer compatibility and 100% user satisfaction. Not only do remanufactured printer cartridges help the environment, they also cost up to 60% less than cartridges you'd buy from an office supply store. Save money and "go green" by purchasing remanufactured printer cartridges today!

There have been numerous advancements in printing technology in recent years, including ways to lessen the negative environmental effects of printer use. From remanufactured printer cartridges, latex printers, and eco-solvent ink, consumers can now print with less expense and less harm to the environment. Let's explore these popular eco-friendly printing options.

Remanufactured Printer Cartridges

Replacing store-bought ink cartridges with remanufactured ink cartridges is one of the best and most affordable ways for consumers to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment. Remanufactured cartridges have been recycled, cleaned, and refilled with new printer ink. They are then thoroughly tested for compatibility with brand-name printers to ensure top-quality printouts.

Remanufactured printer ink not only helps the environment but also helps consumers save money: these eco-friendly cartridges cost up to 60% less than retail cartridges. Rather than throw toxic cartridges into the trashcan once they're empty, recycle and replace them with eco-friendly remanufactured cartridges.

Latex Printers

Hewlett-Packard introduced the first wide-format, latex printer in the HP Designjet L25500. Latex printer ink is odorless and contains no hazardous materials and less Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than traditional ink. (VOCs contain a variety of harmful chemicals capable of polluting indoor air and causing such health issues as headaches, nose and throat irritation, and allergies.)

Water-based latex inks are durable and resistant to water, scratches and smudges. Unlike solvent ink, latex ink does not take 24 hours to fully dry; instead, this eco-friendly ink is fully dry and laminate-ready once printed -- a helpful feature for bustling businesses needing quick turnaround.

Eco-Solvent Ink

Eco-solvent ink is environmentally-friendly, mostly odor free, and water-resistant for up to three years outdoors. Eco-solvent inks do not contain harmful solvents or VOCs and are available in a wide range of colors. This special ink also requires no ventilation, which is beneficial for both the environment and for workers' safety. One popular eco-solvent printer is the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000, a wide-format, commercial outdoor printer.

When your ink or toner cartridges become empty, what is the best way to dispose of them? Instead of tossing them into the trashcan, do something positive for the environment and recycle them. Printer cartridges are made from plastic and metal, both of which can be recycled. The ink itself is made of toxic chemicals that contaminate the environment. Therefore, recycling printer cartridges will not only make further use of non-renewable materials, but also help keep our planet clean for future generations.

Why Recycling your Printer Cartridges Matters
It's hard to comprehend that, in America alone, over 370 million printer ink and toner cartridges end up in landfills each year. This results in a tremendous amount of pollution that, with very little effort, could be avoided. If everyone recycled their printer cartridges, it would conserve natural resources, help the environment, and save tax dollars that go towards waste management.

It's not sufficient, however, to recycle empty cartridges and then go to the store and buy replacements. Instead, continue your environmentally-friendly habits and buy remanufactured cartridges. Remanufactured printer cartridges have been recycled, cleaned, refurbished, and refilled with new printer ink or toner. They last just as long as cartridges you buy from a store, but are better for the environment and cost 60 percent less.

Where to Recycle your Cartridges
Recycling printer cartridges has never been easier. Here are a few tips on how to recycle ink or toner cartridges.

Contact the Company
If your used cartridges are originals that were purchased from an office supply store or legit online supplier, simply check the label for recycling instructions or contact and ask about their cartridge recycling program. Some companies will make it easy for you and send you a pre-paid envelope in which to return your empty cartridges. In 2008 alone, HP recycled more than 46 million pounds of printer cartridges.

Contact the Seller
Many office supply stores, including Staples, allow customers to return their old cartridges to be recycled. If you bought your cartridges online, just contact the online supplier to see if they have a recycling program.

Visit your Local Recycling Center
With printer cartridge recycling on the rise, many local recycling centers will accept empty printer cartridges. If they don't, they'll most likely know a place that does.

Sell Your Empty Cartridges
Believe it or not, there are companies that will buy your empty cartridges from you. Just make sure the company interested in buying your used cartridges plans to recycle or refurbish them.

Donate Them
Schools and other local organizations often hold fund drives to receive money for their cause. You can give empty printer cartridges to them, which they can then sell or refill for their own use.

If "going green" is a top priority in your home office or business, then you're probably looking for ways to reduce energy consumption and consumer waste. Fortunately for those of us with a "green" mindset, Epson offers several eco-friendly printers that will both lower a user's office expenses and reduce energy use. Let's take a closer look at two popular eco-friendly Epson models.

Epson Stylus Office TX510FN

The Epson Stylus Office TX510FN is a small but powerful multifunction color printer offering print, copy, scan, and fax capabilities. This eco-friendly machine consumes just 15W during printing (three times less than a typical laser printer). On standby mode, the printer consumes just 0.25W. What's more, almost 90% of the Epson Stylus Office TX510FN can be recycled. Epson claims that it is the most eco-friendly multifunction printer on the market, priced at just $180.

Epson TM-T88V Receipt Printer

If your company or business needs a receipt printer, the Epson TM-T88V is in a class of its own. The TM-T88V is currently the "greenest" POS (point-of-sale) thermal printer on the market; it is the first and only Energy Star-qualified receipt printer. Very few thermal printers are eco-friendly and, in this category, the TM-T88V goes above and beyond. The Epson TM-T88V uses 75% less energy than comparable thermal printers. It also reduces paper consumption up to 15% by automatically reducing line spacing and avoiding unnecessary margins. The Epson TM-T88V retails for $299.

Eco-Friendly Epson Ink

Buying an eco-friendly printer is definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to "going green" in your office, but if you continue to throw out used Epson ink cartridges, you're producing a whole lot of unnecessary, harmful waste.

Every year, millions of used ink cartridges end up in landfills across the world. This pollutes our air, water, and land. You can do your part to eliminate this toxic waste by recycling your old Epson printer cartridges and by purchasing remanufactured Epson ink cartridges when your old ones run out. Remanufactured Epson cartridges are carefully emptied, cleaned, refilled, and tested by trained professionals. Then they are sold to savvy consumers like you for half the price of store-bought cartridges. Your remanufactured ink cartridges will last just as long as retail cartridges and produce the same quality printouts. Satisfaction guaranteed!

The ever-expanding search for alternatives to costly printer ink continues. A new type of eco-friendly printer known as the "RITI" printer uses coffee or tea dregs instead of ink. Developed by Jeon Hwan Ju, the RITI printer is designed to eliminate waste, reduce office expenses, and provide a "green" printing alternative.

To utilize this eco-ink solution, users must simply place coffee or tea dregs into the "ink" case at the top of the RITI printer and then manually move the case left and right while pulling the paper through the printing slot. And wah-lah! The result is an electricity-free, ink-free alternative to printing!

Not only will the RITI printer lower your printing costs, it will also lower your electric bill. So before you toss your empty coffee or tea dregs into the garbage can, consider this ingenious eco-friendly printing option.

Don't Have Time? Here's Another Eco-Ink Solution

If you're in a rush and don't have time for the manual labor demands of the RITI printer, you can choose remanufactured printer cartridges as an eco-ink solution. Remanufactured ink and toner are compatible with nearly all brand-name printers. They're also environmentally friendly, in that they are recycled cartridges that have been emptied, cleaned, and refilled with new printer ink.

Before being offered to knowledgeable consumers like you, remanufactured cartridges are thoroughly inspected and tested to ensure user satisfaction. Then, they are sold for half the price of those expensive, toxin-producing store-bought cartridges.

With so many environmentally-friendly printing solutions available today, it is now widely frowned upon to purchase a store-bought printer cartridge, carelessly toss it into the trashcan when it's empty, and then repeat the process. Such wastefulness simply results in overflowed landfills, an increase in greenhouse gases, and other harmful pollutants.

It's never been easier to reduce your carbon footprint while also reducing your office expenses. Purchase the RITI printer or remanufactured printer cartridges today!

As businesses and offices across the globe experience an increase in printing demands each year, the need for "green" printing options becomes more and more imperative. For example, at-home printer users as well as bustling businesses now rely on inexpensive, eco-friendly remanufactured printer cartridges instead of expensive, emissions-producing store-bought cartridges. Remanufactured cartridges are not only environmentally-friendly but also cost 60% less than OEM cartridges.

To help businesses reduce their printing expenses and environmental impact even more, Xerox recently announced a new software package for its ColorQube 9200 multifunction printers called Xerox Print Advisor.

Print Advisor is an eco-friendly software solution designed to recommend "green printing" practices and encourage more cost-effective office printing. Before a user prints a document, for example, the Print Advisor might ask if they would like to print on both sides of the page. This alone would cut paper costs in half and save businesses hundreds of dollars a year.

Print Advisor Provides Detailed Reports of Print Activity

Xerox Print Advisor also gives administrators and IT staff an overview of the printing habits in their network. This helps managers keep tabs on who prints what, the number and types of pages printed, and from where the most expensive print activity originates. With Xerox Print Advisor, administrators and IT staff have a bird's eye view of all print jobs in their network, regardless of manufacturer. With this information, administrators can optimize office printing habits, decrease printing and paper expenses, and increase overall productivity and efficiency.

Xerox Print Advisor is included for free with all ColorQube 9200 series products. This easy-to-use, easy-to-install software helps users make cost-effective printing decisions and provides useful, in-depth printing reports to managers.

With Print Advisor, it's never been easier to save money, decrease waste, and reduce environmental impact in your office!

The effort to reduce California school budgets continues, and with Xerox's Enterprise Print Services (EPS), schools can both reduce printing and paper expenses while also increasing productivity and efficiency. Designed to manage the workflow and costs of school districts' copiers, printers, and software, Xerox's EPS is also an eco-friendly workplace solution that will have positive impacts on the environment both now and in the future.

While budget constraints are forcing schools and districts nationwide to lay off teachers, reduce pay, or cut invaluable programs such as Art, Music, and Physical Education, California's Rialto Unified School District is taking a smarter, eco-friendlier approach to their budget: they're increasing it by managing and reducing their printing habits and printing-related expenses with Xerox's Enterprise Print Services.

California's Rialto Unified School District will use EPS this coming school year to help organize and prioritize educational materials for its 27,000 students. District administrators expect EPS to reduce the district's budget by thousands of dollars. The additional funds will be put towards various student programs, teacher retention, and salaries.

Three main functions of Xerox's Enterprise Print Services include:

· enforcing budget and management guidelines for printer-usage across a network;

· automatic settings for cost- and time-efficient printing;

· changing hardcopy records to digital documents for easy and eco-friendly editing, storage, and sharing.

Meanwhile, other work is being done to reduce printing expenses and develop environmentally-friendly habits in schools and districts throughout the U.S. Online curriculum mapping and lesson planning software programs, for example, offer paper-saver page layouts designed to save paper and printer toner. Many schools also purchase remanufactured printer ink and toner cartridges to both save money and help the environment. Remanufactured cartridges cost half the price of store-bought cartridges and, since they've been recycled, help to reduce the amount of waste and carbon emissions that enter our atmosphere.

With our world's growing population and technology-driven society, conservation issues and environmental protection are quickly becoming hot-button topics. As pollution levels increase, natural resources disappear, and innocent species struggle to stay alive in their changing habitats, activists worldwide have embraced and encouraged "green" living, conservation, and environmental social awareness.

In 2008, Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, founded Blue Legacy. The program's purpose is to increase water conservation efforts and awareness in towns, cities, and communities throughout the world. This year, Blue Legacy shares their knowledge and expertise in their 2010 Expedition Blue Planet, a 138-day exploration of water resources and issues throughout North America that includes the Great Lakes, Colorado River, Gulf Coast, and the Tennessee Valley. The expedition began in July and continues through November.

Cousteau and other Blue Legacy team members chose Xerox as its document technology partner for Expedition Blue Planet. Throughout the 14,500 mile journey, Blue Legacy will use the Xerox Phaser 8860 multifunction printer on their travel bus and the Xerox ColorQube 9203 in its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Both printers are eco-friendly and use Xerox's solid ink technology - a new type of ink "cartridge" that does not have a plastic case and, therefore, produces significantly less waste and has less impact on the environment. Blue Legacy will use these eco-friendly Xerox printers to produce fliers, brochures, ads, and permits for and throughout their expedition.

The great thing about conservation and "green" living is that it's relatively simple to do on an everyday basis. Low-flow showerheads, for example, can reduce a home's water usage by 20% per year (that's thousands of gallons of water, on average), and also reduce a household's water bill by $75 a year. Remanufactured printer cartridges, including Xerox cartridges, not only cost 60% less than store-bought cartridges but, because they've been recycled, also help protect the environment from additional toxic waste. Eco-friendly appliances and electronics help maximize energy-efficiency in the home or office and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce electric bills.

If everyone worked towards water, resource, and energy conservation, just imagine what a great impact that would have on our environment and the lives of future generations.

Whether you're a business-owner working from a crowded office or a self-employed freelancer working solo from home, reducing office costs has most likely become an integral part of your budget planning. Read below to learn five simple ways to combat rising office costs and save hundreds (or even thousands for large business owners) a year. Plus, many of the following cash-saving strategies are energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly!

1. Shut down when you clock out

When it's time to call it a day and step away from the office, be sure to fully shut down all electronics, including your computer, printer, and fax machine. Doing so will not only lower your office's electric bill but also reduce your carbon footprint. Also remember to turn off all lights and fans when you leave the office. If you want a hint of light to remain overnight, you can buy energy-efficient LED nightlights that cost just pennies a year to run 24/7.

2. Save 60% on printer cartridges

Regardless of an office's size, printing expenses are typically one of the most draining costs of all. Fortunately, thanks to remanufactured printer ink, that is no longer the case. Remanufactured printer ink costs half the price of store-bought cartridges, while lasting just as long and producing quality printouts. And since remanufactured printer ink has been recycled, it's also eco-friendly.

Another eco- and budget-friendly printing suggestion is to print on both sides of the page. This automatically cuts your office's paper costs in half, and also saves countless trees. Most new printers come with an automatic duplexer, so you don't even have to flip the page yourself!

3. Adjust the thermostat

Did you know that turning your thermostat up a couple degrees in the summer and down a couple degrees in the winter can have drastic effects on your electric bill? It's true! You'll use up to 4% less electricity for every degree you adjust. You can also circulate air and stay cool during summer months with ceiling fans. Fans help make a room feel up to five degrees cooler - a much more cost-effective alternative than turning down the thermostat!

4. Spring for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Although they cost a bit more up-front, Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs use 70% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Depending on the size of your office, using CFL bulbs can reduce your electric bill anywhere from $25 to $200 per year. CFLs produce a bright yet natural light that will keep you and your employees alert during those long, drawn-out days.

Reduce your office expenses even more by raising your blinds (and your energy level) and take advantage of natural outdoor light! Also, check your local area for energy deregulation from energy suppliers to reduce you electric bill by up to 20%.

We've all heard about climate change: scientific studies suggesting that an increase in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases are trapping heat in our atmosphere. Many experts warn that the long-term effects of climate change will be disastrous: from melting icebergs, rising sea levels, animal extinctions, and an increase in severe weather systems (e.g. hurricanes, tornados, flash flooding, monsoons).

The good news is that it's not too late for humans to take control of the situation and make positive, eco-friendly changes that can stop and even reverse the effects of climate change. Continue reading to learn simple ways to reduce climate change in your everyday life.

At Home

Reducing your carbon footprint starts at home. There are numerous simple yet effective ways to maximize energy efficiency in your home, save electricity, help the environment, and even reduce your electric bill. For starters, ensure that your home is running as efficiently as possible. This means making sure that all windows, doors, and ducts are properly sealed, and that your home is properly insulated. In the average U.S. home, for every kilowatt-hour of electricity used, more than two kilowatts are lost or "wasted." Ensuring that your home is sealed, secure, and efficient can help reduce electrical loss and your carbon footprint.

You can also save electricity and money at home by setting your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees, washing clothes in cold water, and using compact fluorescent light bulbs. If every U.S. home used CFL bulbs, it would reduce our nation's carbon emissions from lighting by over 80 million tons a year, or 70%.

At Work

Most offices use a lot of electricity. From lighting, to heating and cooling, to electronics, there are plenty of ways to save.

First, conserve electricity by turning off computers when not in use. Doing so will cut a computer's lifetime CO2 emissions in half. You can save trees and help preserve our planet by limiting what you print - only print a hardcopy of something that you truly need. Most files or documents can be viewed, edited, and shared online. What you do print, be sure to recycle when it's no longer needed. And speaking of recycling, one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint at work is by recycling empty printer cartridges and replacing them with remanufactured ink. Remanufactured ink cartridges costs half the price of store-bought cartridges but, since they've been recycled, are much more environmentally-friendly.

In Transit

Most of us shudder to think what life would be like without a car. Luckily, there are several ways to significantly reduce your carbon footprint and still make use of your automobile. If everyone drove just 25 fewer miles per week, for example, it would reduce our nation's automobile carbon emissions by 10%. And if we improved our vehicles' gas mileage by just five miles per gallon, it would save nearly 250 million tons of carbon emissions each year.

As our nation's population continues to grow and technologies continue to evolve, it will be increasingly important to find simple but practical ways to reduce carbon emissions and, with it, the effects of climate change in your everyday life.

Climate change, greenhouse gases, global warming: we've all heard the staggering statistics associated with the rise in worldwide consumerism, waste, and pollution. In recent years, environmental issues have made headlines throughout the United States and the world. Fortunately, many Americans are taking notice and doing their part to make eco-friendly changes in their lives. From recycling cans, paper, and printer cartridges, to driving energy-efficient hybrid cars, U.S. citizens have taken positive steps to controlling pollution and greenhouse gas emissions at home, at work, and on the road.

In 2009, Americans recycled more than 55 billion aluminum cans, almost 2.4 billion cans more than in 2008. This 4% increase in aluminum can recycling is a great sign that Americans are adopting more environmentally-friendly habits. Although recycling an aluminum can might not seem like a big deal, doing so uses 95% less energy than creating a brand new can. This makes a big difference, especially when you consider that cans are often back in stores, on the shelf, in as little as 2 months after being recycled.

Americans have also gotten better at recycling paper, which saves trees and lessens waste. There's still work to be done, however. If everyone in the U.S. recycled their morning newspaper, for example, it would save a whopping 41,000 trees every day and reduce landfill waste by six million tons.

Another way in which Americans are embracing eco-friendly living is by recycling common office equipment, including printer ink cartridges. Each year, hundreds of millions of empty printer cartridges end up in landfills. These used cartridges contain toxic chemicals that pollute our air, water, and land. To protect the environment, consumers should not only recycle used printer cartridges but also purchase recycled cartridges, a.k.a. remanufactured cartridges. Remanufactured printer cartridges have been recycled, cleaned, repaired, and refilled with new printer ink. These cartridges not only help the environment but also cost half the price of retail cartridges. Plus, they last just as long as retail cartridges and produce top-quality printouts.

Energy-efficient hybrid cars are also gaining in popularity in the United States, which is very good news for the environment. Studies show that hybrid vehicles produce up to 50% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional automobiles. Sales of hybrids vehicles in the U.S. doubled from August 2008 to August 2009. Sales increased by 10% from June 2010 to July 2010 alone. These eco-friendly cars are expected to continue to increase in popularity in the coming years.

If everyone in America and throughout the world did their part to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize waste, our planet would be a healthier, safer, cleaner place for future generations.

It's that time of the year again: students of all ages are heading back to the classroom. Whether it's preschool, high school, or college, there are a number of "green," eco-friendly back-to-school tips.

Living green not only helps protect the environment and conserve natural resources, but also saves you, the consumer, money. A recent study showed that the average consumer is expected to spend over $600 on back-to-school needs this year. That's a lot of dough. In both our struggling economy and the changing environment, it's important to live green and adopt eco-friendly living and back-to-school habits that will both save money and help our planet. Read below to learn how you can make a difference.

1. Carpool or use public transportation. This one is a no-brainer. If your neighbor's children go to the same school as yours, simply collaborate with them and devise a carpool schedule that will save everyone time and money while also helping the environment. If your school or college offers public transportation (e.g. bus, train), do the eco-friendly thing and hop on board.

2. Reduce and reuse. If you take your lunch to school, be sure to package it in either recyclable or reusable containers. There's no need to buy a new bottle of water every day when you can simply refill an old one and reduce both your expenses and waste.

3. Share. Very early on in school, we learn the importance of sharing. Sharing is not only the courteous thing to do, it's also the green thing to do. If you've already read a book for your class or you have an old textbook that someone else could use, share it with them to reduce waste.

4. Go Energy-Star. If you're buying a new computer, printer, mini-fridge, or other appliance or electronic device for school, choose one that is Energy-Star%u2122 qualified. Energy-Star appliances and electronics reduce your carbon footprint and electric bill because they use up to 35% less energy. Also be sure to recycle any unwanted electronics rather than tossing them into the garbage.

5. Buy remanufactured ink. Another great back-to-school green tip is to purchase low-priced remanufactured printer ink instead of expensive store-bought ink. Remanufactured printer ink cartridges cost 60% less than those you'd buy at the store. These eco-friendly cartridges have also been recycled and then refurbished, making them more environmentally-friendly than brand new OEM cartridges. You can purchase low-priced remanufactured printer ink and toner online through a trusted supplier.

While most people strive to make a meaningful difference in the world, our "real life" obligations often prevent us from focusing outwards on larger issues. By implementing the following five life- and world-changing strategies, however, we can all make a difference and help create a better, safer, more unified society.

Educate Yourself and Others

One of the most effective ways to make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you is by learning and educating others. Raising awareness through word of mouth can help fight some of our society's most imminent issues, including climate change, poverty, human rights, education, and health and nutrition. Knowledge helps us to define problems, create solutions, and make a lasting difference in the world.

Recycle

Recycling is perhaps the #1 way to make a positive impact on the environment. Recycling glass, plastic, paper, aluminum, electronics, and printer ink cartridges reduces your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, creating a cleaner and safer world. Learn more about recycling in your city and also how to reduce waste in your office with low-priced remanufactured printer ink.

Give and Get Involved

Whether you donate clothes, money, consumables, or time, giving is one of the best ways to make a meaningful difference in the world. Getting involved in your community is a great way to meet new people and collaborate to truly make a difference. You can volunteer at a local homeless shelter or food kitchen, mentor a child through Big Brothers Big Sisters, build a home with Habitat for Humanity, or simply plant a tree to help the environment.

Set Achievable Goals

You can't change the world overnight, but you can set simple, achievable goals that not only make you feel productive but also combine to create positive and incremental change. Whether your aspirations involve your family, community, workplace, or the environment, set goals you know you can achieve and, in doing so, you'll be much more likely to complete them.

Do Unto Others....

The Golden Rule is "golden" because it withstands time. Two-thousand years ago, people attempted to live by this rule with the hopes of creating a peaceful, honorable society, and two-thousand years from now, people should do the same. Remember that, sometimes, simple gestures go a long way. Simply opening the door for someone with their hands full, helping an elderly neighbor cross the street, or listening to someone who needs a friend, can make a lasting and meaningful difference in the world.

In 2004, electronics giant Hewlett-Packard set what seemed to be a lofty goal: continue their 17-year-long recycling program and recycle one billion pounds of electronic products and printing supplies by the end of 2007. When the company reached their goal six months early in July 2007, HP kept the eco-friendly train rolling by aiming to recycle another one billion pounds by the end of 2010. Once again, HP is well on their way to accomplishing their goal, making the company a true world leader in mass commercial recycling. In fact, due to its ongoing "green" initiatives, Hewlett-Packard was recognized as one of Fortune Magazine's "Ten Green Giants" in 2007.

As part of their goal, HP hopes to reuse 450 million pounds of electronic products in a seven-year span, from 2003 to the end of 2010. The company aims to use the recycled plastic in its printing products and supplies. For example, over 80% of the plastic used to make the HP DeskJet D2545 printer is recycled. Users can also purchase recycled HP ink cartridges that have been refurbished and refilled with new printer ink. Not only do these remanufactured ink cartridges help the environment, they also cost 60% less than store-bought cartridges!

Helping the environment and reducing consumers' expenses are clearly top priorities for HP. The company set new manufacturing standards in 2009 to ensure that future computer models run more efficiently. This goal -- to save over one billion kilowatt-hours of electricity -- will help reduce greenhouse gases as well as HP users' electric bills. To improve health and safety standards, the company also strives to remove all mercury from HP laptop models by the end of the year.

If all electronics manufacturers set similar "green" goals and created mass recycling programs, it would positively impact our environment in a major way. For now, though, HP is doing their part in the fight to protect our environment by drastically reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and toxic waste. As consumers, we can do our part by using less electricity, recycling, and by purchasing remanufactured printer ink cartridges.

Our growing society has growing needs that, unfortunately, take a toll on our planet. Fortunately there are numerous ways for consumers to reduce their impact on the environment and lessen their carbon footprint -- from recycling, to conserving electricity, to using public transportation. Continue reading to discover seven eco-friendly products that are not only fun and useful, but are also environmentally-friendly.

1. Portable solar charger - A portable solar charger is an eco-friendly way to ensure that you're always in touch. An iPhone solar charger, for example, uses sunlight to charge your iPhone. With the help of this solar charger, you'll never again worry about your battery-life or about conserving your iPhone's power again!

2. Remanufactured printer ink - Remanufactured printer ink is becoming more and more popular for two reasons: 1) it is 60% cheaper than store-bought ink cartridges, and 2) it is environmentally-friendly and reduces the amount of harmful pollution produced by non-recycled ink cartridges. Cut your printing expenses in half today by purchasing remanufactured printer ink from a trusted online supplier.

3. Composter - Want to turn your everyday garbage into vital nutrients for your property's plants, trees, and grass? A composter breaks down your scraps and creates a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your soil - a cleaner, safer, and less expensive alternative to chemical fertilizers.

4. Recycled paper - Despite the rise of the Internet, paper is still the #1 base of communication in our world. In the U.S. alone, more than 100 million tons of paper are consumed every year. This growing need for paper has resulted in deforestation and biodiversity loss. If you must use paper as a means of communication, buy recycled paper. Otherwise, go paperless and save trees!

5. Eco-friendly soccer ball - Want to make your presence known both on and off the pitch? Score your next goal with a fair trade, eco-friendly soccer ball. This ball is fair-trade and eco-certified and, what's more, vegan. It has the feel and durability of a traditional soccer ball and adheres to international match standards.

6. Organic clothing - If you have yet to buy a t-shirt or other article of clothing made from organic cotton, you're missing out. Not only is organic clothing softer and often more comfortable than non-organic fabric, it is manufactured without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Organic clothing is better for your skin, and better for the environment!

7. "Green" flash drive - An eco-friendly flash drive is a handy tool that you can carry in your pocket to transfer information from place to place. Green flash drives contain no mercury, lead, cadmium, or other harmful toxins.

Some green-minded consumers are wondering if e-books and e-readers are as eco-friendly as manufacturers claim them to be. Sure, if everyone used an e-reader, it would conserve the trees and paper required to produce hardcopy books. However, not everyone owns an e-reader, and therefore hardcopy books are still being printed at a steady rate.

After numerous studies, the results remain up in the air. Some experts continue to claim that e-readers are more environmentally-friendly because they reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing, storing, and shipping hardcopy books. But what about the manufacturing, storing, and shipping effects of e-readers? Let's take a closer look.

One study showed that the manufacturing of a single e-reader used more fossil fuels than the manufacturing of 50 hardcopy books. One must also keep in mind that an e-reader uses electricity, whereas hardcopy books do not. Over its lifetime, it is expected that one e-reader will cause the same amount of negative environmental impact as 150 hardcopy books. Another concern is that e-readers are less likely to be recycled and/or reused than hardcopy books, meaning that e-readers will eventually find their way to landfills and release toxic chemicals into the environment. This is similar to the issue we're currently having with improperly-disposed printer ink and toner cartridges. Printer cartridges that are not recycled or remanufactured simply end up in landfills across the world and pollute Earth's air, water, and land.

And finally, any technological device can stop working or fail at any time. If this were to happen, e-reader users would lose their entire library of e-books. Hardcopy books, of course, cannot fail or be destroyed accidentally.

Hardcopy books do have a number of environmental downfalls, however. First, they require countless trees to be produced, which removes precious oxygen from the atmosphere. Hardcopy books also require a significant amount of electricity during printing operations. Thirdly, bookstores and retailers tend to order far more books than they can actually sell, and the books they don't sell are shipped back to the publisher. This back-and-forth is wasteful and produces unnecessary pollution.

So the verdict is still out: both e-books and hardcopy books negatively affect the environment, this we know. Hopefully as technology continues to advance, manufacturers will create e-readers that have less impact on the environment both during and after production. If this can happen, we may have conclusive evidence that e-books are eco-friendlier than hardcopy books.

When your printer says you're "Out of Ink," how can you be sure you're actually out of ink, or if it's just a ploy from the manufacturer to buy more? A study conducted by PCWorld.com showed that, in fact, an "empty" ink cartridge is not always empty after all.

Results of the study showed that three major printer brands - Epson, Canon, and Kodak - all had one thing in common: the printer stopped working due to an "out of ink" error when there was actually plenty of ink remaining in the cartridge. The Epson cartridge had nearly 10% of its ink remaining, Canon had nearly 25%, and the Kodak cartridge was still a whopping 40% full when the printer stopped working due to "insufficient ink." Now that's a lot of wasted ink!

Printer manufacturers defend their "empty" cartridge notifications by saying that running an ink cartridge completely dry can damage the printer. But are these "out of ink" alerts really meant to protect your printer, or is it simply a way to get consumers to shell out another $25 for a black cartridge? The latter seems more likely, because a cartridge that's still 40% full of ink is a far, far cry from a completely dry cartridge.

Also, don't these manufacturers understand how this wastefulness affects the environment? Billions of "empty" printer cartridges are improperly disposed of every year throughout the world. They pile up in landfills and emit toxic chemicals and pollutants into our air, water, and land. How can printer manufacturers defend their position on this issue when something even more important than profits - the environment - is at stake?

There are two ways to avoid the wastefulness of printer cartridge manufacturers; through either method, you can both save money and help the environment. Option one is to refill your empty cartridge with replacement ink. Option two is to recycle your empty cartridge and purchase remanufactured ink for half the price of store-bought cartridges. Remanufactured ink cartridges have been recycled, cleaned, refilled, and tested. They help reduce waste, save consumers money, and keep your printer running - things that major printer manufacturers often fail to do!

Most business owners continually search for ways to improve their business, satisfy their customers, save money, and increase their bottom line. By joining the "green revolution," business owners can do all of that%u2026 and more: they can reduce carbon emissions and help protect the environment. Read below to learn a few simple, practical, and effective ways to better your business by going green.

Cut Out Carbon: Carbon emissions play an increasingly large role in the degradation of the environment. And unfortunately, businesses are largely to blame. Companies can reduce their carbon emissions by investing in hybrid cars and delivery vehicles, increasing focus on online sales, and by selling local products. Doing so will not only help the environment but also save money.

Reduce Printing and Paper-Use: Another great way to save money, go green, and better your business is by rethinking printing habits. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars on fliers (which usually get thrown away, anyway), create a unique and eye-catching email campaign, or invest in Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising. And instead of spending thousands of dollars on brochures, simply beef-up your company's website and let it do the work for you. If you must print, be sure to do so with remanufactured ink or toner. Remanufactured printer cartridges are not only eco-friendly, they're also 60% cheaper than store-bought printer cartridges. Companies can reduce their printing expenses even more by printing on both sides of a page.

Choose "Green" Suppliers: Making a true and positive impact on the environment means setting a good example for others and working with companies that do the same. Before doing business with a potential supplier, determine how "green" they truly are. Find out if the company uses renewable energy sources, limits foreign imports, buys locally, recycles, and makes an effort to minimize carbon emissions.

Install Solar Panels: If you're thinking of doing it, now is the time. When you combine the 30 percent federal government tax credit and the immense savings you'll see in electricity expenses, installing solar panels for your business, warehouse, or commercial building makes a whole lot of sense and saves a whole lot of dough.

Looking for a way to spend less on printing? A great first step is to purchase low-cost remanufactured printer ink. As you may know, retail ink cartridges are quite expensive, costing up to $30 apiece. For printers requiring three or four cartridges, replacements can quickly add up to surpass even the cost of the printer itself. Remanufactured ink, however, is sold to consumers for half the price of retail ink cartridges. These cartridges last just as long as retail cartridges and produce professional-quality printouts. And having been recycled, remanufactured ink cartridges are not only budget-friendly but also eco-friendly.

Another great way to save money is to maximize the life of your printer ink. To spend less on printing, make your printer ink last longer by following these six simple suggestions.

1. Utilize the Draft and Preview functions: If most of your printouts are used or shared internally, choose the "Draft" print mode in your print preferences. This option uses less ink than "Normal" or "Best" printing modes. Also, always choose to "Print Preview" a document before actually printing it to ensure proper layout and scale.

2. Only print in color when necessary: Sometimes when you print an email or webpage, your printout displays unwanted color advertisements or sidebars that only serve to drain your printer's ink. To avoid these unwanted color ads, choose to print in grayscale or use editing software such as Adobe Photoshop to crop out the ads or sidebars prior to printing.

3. Choose a lighter font: One of the best ways to make your printer ink last longer is to select a lightweight font. Switching from a heavier (and often default) font such as Arial or Times New Roman to a lighter font like Century Gothic uses nearly one-third less ink when printing. That's an enormous savings, particularly for individuals or companies that print emails, documents, or presentations in bulk.

4. Print more: Although it may sound contradictory, printing more will actually make your printer ink last longer. That's because ink in unused cartridges can dry up and become unable to print. For seldom-used printers, experts recommend printing at least one test page every two weeks to keep the printer ink in good working order.

5. Ignore the "Low on Ink" warning message: Some printer manufacturers are known to display "Low on Ink" warning messages when the printer ink cartridge is actually quite full. Ignore these warning messages and only replace the cartridge (with remanufactured printer ink) when you experience a decline in your printed document's readability.

6. Only print what you truly need: This is a no-brainer, but it's a good thing to be reminded of every now and then. To save trees and save money, you should only print the documents and/or photos you truly need. If you're getting ready to print a 25-page document but really only need the first 5 pages, print only those pages. And if a printed photo isn't going to end up in a frame or photo album, just enjoy the digital copy and save ink and money.

Apple is currently the king of innovation. The iPod, iPhone, and iPad have changed the ways we interact as a society. Most recently, Apple executives have focused their attention on improving the way we print. With Apple's AirPrint, consumers can use any of the Apple devices mentioned above to print photos, emails, documents, or web pages wirelessly to an AirPrint-enabled printer. Apple's goal is to make printing easier and more accessible than ever before.

AirPrint is wireless and computerless printing at its best. There's no software or drivers to install, no wires to connect, and no computers involved. Simply locate the photo or document you wish to print on your Apple device, and, within seconds, the hardcopy can be in your hands. It's that simple.

Since AirPrint is a relatively new printing option, the trick is finding an "AirPrint-enabled printer." Fortunately, AirPrint works with more than 15 Hewlett-Packard models, including the HP Photosmart Premium C310a, the HP Photosmart eStation C510, the HP Laserjet Pro CM1415fn, the HP Officejet 6500A, and the HP Officejet Pro 8500A.

One concern regarding AirPrint, particularly among environmentalists, is that by making printing much more accessible, consumers might begin to take advantage of the opportunity and print photos or documents they don't truly need. Doing so would increase the amounts of printer paper and printer ink cartridges consumed and have a tremendous impact on the environment.

An increased demand for printer paper, for example, would result in more trees being cut down. Perhaps even more destructive, however, would be the increased demand for and use of printer cartridges, which, after being used to the max, typically end up in landfills. Printer cartridges contain toxic chemicals that, if not recycled, seep into our land, water, and air, causing health problems and environmental pollution.

Luckily there's a way for consumers to continue their printing habits via Apple AirPrint without negatively impacting the environment. First, you can print with recycled paper, and, when you have no more use for a particular document, recycle it rather than throw it away. To combat the issue of printer cartridge pollution, consumers can purchase remanufactured printer cartridges. These eco-friendly printer cartridges have been recycled, repaired, and refilled with new printer ink. They are then carefully tested by industry professionals and sold to consumers for half the price of retail cartridges. Remanufactured printer cartridges are a win-win for both consumers and the environment!

With the high price of printer ink, small and large business owners are looking for ways to conserve printer ink, and, in doing so, save money. After all, a single ink cartridge can cost up to $25, while toner cartridges can cost twice that price. If your business relies heavily on a printer (or printers), it is important to conserve printer ink where possible. It's also important to purchase quality, affordable ink. And that's why many budget-minded businesses forgo expensive retail cartridges and use remanufactured printer cartridges. Remanufactured cartridges are not only eco-friendly, they also cost 60% less than store-bought ink or toner. Plus, they produce top-quality printouts that meet your business's demands.

So once you've saved up to 60% on ink or toner expenses with remanufactured printer cartridges, now it's up to you and your employees to employ the following ink and toner conservation tips.

1. Use Draft and Grayscale Modes for Internal Documents - Why waste printer ink on documents that are only circulated throughout the office and not intended for external use? By simply changing the default settings on your office's computers, businesses can conserve up to 33% of their printer ink expenses. Draft mode, for example, is a print setting designed to use less ink, making it perfect for internal memos. You can also change your office computers' default settings to print in grayscale mode, which will conserve costly color ink. Of course, you'll still be able to print in color; you'll simply need to switch the setting to do so.

2. Choose a Reliable Ink Supplier - It is unfortunately true that many "brand new" printer cartridges are not filled to capacity and therefore run out of ink much quicker than they should. Another unfortunate reality is that some ink cartridges are designed to give a "low ink" or "out of ink" error message, when the cartridge is actually 30 to 40% full. And with refilled or remanufactured cartridges, some manufacturers do not take the special care necessary to clean, repair, and test each cartridge. Such issues can result in wasted ink and wasted money. Therefore, one of the best ways to conserve printer ink is to purchase your business's ink or toner from a trusted printer cartridge supplier.

3. Choose a "Green" Font - Fonts play a big role in the amount of ink used during printing. Heavy fonts such as Arial Black or Impact can use twice as much ink as lighter-weight fonts like Calibri and Century Gothic. Making this simple change can conserve printer ink and save businesses hundreds of dollars a year.