Christmas Cards that cost less and better for the Environment

Last night, in preparation for Christmas, we sent our Christmas cards-- but not our usual way. We sent out digital Christmas cards (see above). This was a new experience for our family, but a very rewarding one with environmental benefits, cost savings, and lots of opportunities to be creative and personalize each card. I understand that Christmas cards are a labor of love for most people. And digital cards have all the benefits of traditional cards – plus more.

Environmental Benefits:

There are a lot of environmental benefits to creating digital cards.  First there is a smaller carbon footprint because you don’t need to go to a store nor do the cards require transportation by mail. You also conserve environmental resources by not purchasing a store bought holiday card including  paper, ink and packaging for the cards.

Bottom-line Cost Savings:

Christmas cards usually cost about $.75 a piece when you buy in bulk or packages and it costs 46 cents to mail each card.  So, depending on the amount of cards you send, this could add up to a lot of money..  This is just the cost of the materials, you also need to consider the cost of your time to sign, address, and personalize each card.  There are a lot of costs associated with sending a card that may or may not be read by the receiver.  This year I sent out over 100 cards to my friends and family. In the past I would have had to pick and choose who I could afford to these cards to. In the digital form you can attach the card into Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, or any other social media to send to your friends and family members.

Other Benefits:

I spent an hour sorting through old photos from this past year with my kids trying to decide which picture we should use for this year’s card.  This time was invaluable reminiscing and just laughing about the fun we had this past year.

Digital cards are also easy to create. It took me a total of 30 minutes to create the card above using a free photo software and Microsoft power point. I found similar tools to create these cards within Microsoft word, paint, and many other free and paid software programs.

Creating these cards is not only easy (there are many templates), but you can make it more personal by adding pictures of the people who will be receiving the cards or writing a personal message that is incorporated within the cards text.

There are some people on your Christmas card list who need a physical card because they do not have a computer or smart phone. Then you may print the digital card you created and send it to them in the mail. There is still a large cost savings to doing it this way.  You do not have buy a card or spend any time picking one out at the store.

Digital cards are a less expensive alternative to traditional Christmas cards (or birthday cards or any holiday cards for that matter). Creating digital cards can be more rewarding and more personal to keep in touch over the holidays with less time and money involved for the sender and just as much joy for the receiver. 

Digital cards are just one small average way to be a little more ‘green’ this (and all) holiday seasons.

Christmas Stocking Stuffers

Stocking Stuffers 

 Sometimes it’s the little things that count the most. LED light bulbs fit snugly in a stocking and can spare many a kilowatt hour this coming new year.
  Tire gauges are another great little gift. By keeping tires properly inflated, you can save fuel and cut pollution.
  For families with lots of electronics and toys, consider giving rechargeable batteries and chargers. It is a great way to save landfills and pocketbooks at the same time.
Another great one for family's is a gift certificate to a local mom and pop restaurant.

I am personally  giving away jars of local honey from a local university @gvsu along with hand made adult hot chocolate kits. Ask me how to make them on facebook  @averagejoegreen or on Twitter @avgjoegreen 

  Don’t forget to look locally for gift ideas. 

Where I live in Holland Mi:
The Outpost on Eighth Street has a nice selection of reusable water bottles and other little eco-friendly goodies and gadgets. Just down the road is The Bridge, a great fair-trade store, where you can find an assortment of socially- and environmentally-friendly products.
  While you’re in the area, don’t forget to stop by the Peanut Store, for popcorn balls and other consumable goodies.

Transportation around getting holiday gifts

Transportation around getting holiday gifts

 How you go about getting your gifts can have as big an impact on the environment as what you actually buy. Where you shop and how you get there could be one of your most important decisions. After all, where is the benefit in getting the most Eco shiek present, if you drive your SUV to Chicago to get it?

  It’s easy to reduce your gas consumption and take a socially responsible tack instead by shopping locally. Downtown America has a great selection of shops to find most everything you could ever want. Most importantly, you can feel good about supporting the local economy. 

If your family or friends live elsewhere look up what their downtown offers and buy a gift certificate to a local store. It only takes a little research and a phone call. 

 If you’re sending gifts by mail, choose small, light packages, which take up less space and fuel than large, heavy ones.

Thoughtful Gift Giving

Thoughtful Gift Giving

 Everywhere you look right now, you’ll find Eco-friendly gift products, but being green isn't just about buying post-consumer products or green gadgets. If you consider the distance the product has traveled and the potential waste that was generated to create the product you might want to reconsider.

Try your hand at a handmade gift… What could be more personal than something you've made? A holiday wreath decorated with birdseed, suet and fruit slices, is Eco-friendly,  and will sustain the little red cardinals and other birds throughout the  winter. Homemade cookies, breads and granola bars are a perfect gift for anyone. 

  Not a baker? Give the gift of time instead. Offer to someone with childcare, tasks around the house or get creative and lend your skills and talents to a project they’d love. It won’t cost a thing and may trump more expensive gifts you could ever think of to purchase.

Gifts with a purpose and meaning!

Gifts With a Purpose

 What could be better than to give the gift of giving? Nothing is more rewarding than helping those who really need it. Consider donating to a charity or local cause in the name of a friend or relative. It’s a green and sustainable gift that will have a lasting impression.
  Locally there are countless charities that need help.With the economy still coming back there are a lot of family's in need this winter. 
  Consider cleaning out your caned goods and donating them to the local food bank. A small check can go a long way in providing resources for others.
  If you prefer a green organization, there are several in the area that could benefit from a holiday gift. Consider a donation to the Land Conservancy, Ducks unlimited, or World Wildlife Foundation. All are working hard to make our lives a little greener.
There are plenty of other   great national giving organizations that work hard  like the Salvation Army or Toys for Tots to name a few. 
Here is a great link to charity organizations and one websites rankings of them http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html. (Charity Watch)
Here is an an only green website list (Earth Share)  http://www.earthshare.org/who-we-support.html

Do what is right and the rest will take of itself. 

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is the Greenest Hardware Store Around

Home improvement can be confusing, especially if you’re trying to do it the greenest way possible. I’m your average Joe. I love hardware stores, tools and the smell of cut wood — “arrr, arrr” (Tim Taylor voice. OK so I dated myself:-)). There are tons big-box stores out there. But recently, I found a store that has most of what I need that’s not only cheaper but very green, too. Welcome to the Habitat ReStore. I've been involved in many Habitat home builds in the past and I’d heard of the Habitat ReStore but I’d never been in one before. Then on a recent project I went to the store near my home, and wow what a store!

There’s almost anything for any project out there. As I walked around I found cabinets, molding, paint (even a great recycled paint), doors, windows, a water heater and even a couple of fireplace units. They have almost everything you need for almost any project — even tile and grout. I must admit, I was skeptical when I was first told about the store and the quality of its merchandise. But after a bunch of projects, I am now a believer. The main reason I’m so convinced is because this store basically sells recycled merchandise a lot of the material is in like-new condition. I went in the other day thinking they wouldn't have any paint brushes but, low and behold, they had a brand new one and it was of a very high quality brush. Their used materials are of surprisingly of good quality, too. It’s simply amazing to see the variety of supplies this store stocks.

Habitat gets the surplus materials donated from builders, retail stores and average Joes and Jane’s like you and me. Just think of all the projects where you've had leftover flooring, or a can of paint you meant to use but decided you didn’t like the color anymore ... The Habitat ReStore greatly benefits from these donations and is able to resell them for around 50 percent below retail price. Donors and buyers alike, can feel good about helping a great organization like Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Think about this: you have a project and need materials; I just finished a project and have unused materials; we both visit the Habitat ReStore and we both help out a great cause in a very green way. I don’t see any down side!

So the next time you’re putting up a mantle in your living room or working on any other sort of project, check out the Habitat ReStore. They have knowledgeable people/volunteers, and most have years’ experience in home building and construction materials.

I am redoing a bathroom in my basement with nothing but restore and donated materials. I plan to blog more about this project this winter. Stay tuned!

Check out were to find a store near you on the links below. 

http://www.habitat.org/restores

http://www.habitat.org/

The best sustainable (financial,social, and ecological) business model today and it a coffee shop!

We all work in different places. The places we work-- no matter if it is a small or large business --are always watching the bottom line. It occurred to me this morning  while  enjoying a cup of coffee this morning before heading into the office I am sitting in one of the most sustainable (financial, social, and ecological) business models today.

LemonJellos is a small coffee shop in downtown Holland, but it could be any coffee shop USA. The store is located in an old Sinclair gas station. Being recycled from an old gas station fits right into their business model and the vision of Matthew Scott (the owner). He decided a long time ago that he wanted to produce a great quality product at a great price. He took the stance that he and his business would always do the right thing.

 What he wanted was a sustainable shop with little waste, so he diligently researched different ways to handle the waste from his shop. He started with the typical waste haulers, but they were expensive and did not offer other services such as composting.  Then he implemented a multi-prong approach to his businesses waste.

Bottom line:

If this shop was charged $200 a month to empty a two yard dumpster. This coffee shop does not pay this for waste management.  With this savings that would be an annual savings of $2400 not including the energy savings.  This is a lot of extra coffee you can buy and sell. LemonJellos takes that money turns it into marketing or even into buying more coffee they increase their bottom line. My point is if you do the right things as individuals and businesses you will help not only the planet but our pocket books as well. As you read this blog, think about this way of thinking and how you can impact your place of employment. 

Recycling with a homeless shelter:  Mathew Scott Chose  a unique way to recycle. In the town of Holland there is a recycling center that is run and operated by a homeless shelter. Partnering with the New Life Recycling center ( http://www.hollandrescue.org/recycling/recycling ) offered Matt not only the means to recycle everything that  a large recycling center offered, but it also offered him a way to help the community..

Composting with a non-profit farm:

A coffee shop produces a major amount of compostable waste. LemonJellos is no different; in fact it produces more than the average because of its internal bakery. That's right; they produce their own baked good including gluten free baked goods. All the shop’s waste goes to a not for profit CSA farm called Eight Day Farm ( http://www.eighthdayfarm.com/ ). All that coffee and bakery waste is taken for free and used in the compost process to fertilize the farm.  The idea of using a local farm to compost waste is ingenuous. FYI ,this is a farm that also turned a parking lot into a farm at an old shopping center but that is for another blog. 

Using reusable /bio based materials:

Within the coffee shop you use re-usable cups, plates, and silverware. Mathew made the decision that Lemonjello’s would utilize reusable cups, plates, and silverware Almost everything else is compostable. Even the container my granola came in was a bio-plastic compostable container. When using the rest rooms even the waste bins say where to place the paper wash towels because they will be composted.  The towels are compost through a different process other than the farm but are still composted. 

 

Managing the waste as a marketing tool:

There are no waste bins anywhere within the coffee shop. All the dishes and waste go into the same container and are sorted by the employees. Near these containers there are signs stating “this is a zero waste shop” or “recycle or else” (I love this sign). Because the employees sort the material, there is very little contamination in the compost or recycling material.
Energy use:

Compact florescent and LED bulbs are used throughout the shop. One very cool energy saving device is a timer light switch in the restroom. This gives you plenty of time to do your business and then shuts the lights out after you leave. 

Issues:

This shop is not perfect; they their have issues as well. They have these waxy milk-like cartons that they cannot be composted or recycled, so they are forced to throw  these things away. The difference is they are constantly trying to find a new carton to receive this material and are pushing on their suppliers to help reduce this waste. Along with pushing the suppliers, they are constantly looking for new ways to recycle responsibly.

Lemonjellos cares about their customers, the planet, and their community and they show it through actions not just words. Maybe we can influence our places of work to think more this way. 

Do the right thing always and the rest will always take care of itself!

Average Joe Green on Facebook

Watch out Joe is Back with a new /old mission

New Blog starts Sunday after a 2-year hiatus! I had to see if there still was a need for this blog (and Average Joe Green) as a whole and I have found out that there definitely is more now than any other time.

This blog will still be predominately about average green/sustainable practices that will give individuals the tools to save money and be healthier at your home, school, place of worship, and work.

I will also showcase local (to my current locations) organizations, products, and individuals who living the sustainable lifestyle. I’ll show metrics if it is the right thing to do, and give you the “why” from the fiscal, health, and sustainable lenses.

Finally, I have an additional goal: to bring people together to discuss (in a civilized manner) and to chat about environmental and social issues (I believe they are tied together). I want to hear from all walks all life and religion and your views. I truly believe if we share and also LISTEN to each other we can transform this world. 

This is where you come in to help. I expect to be challenged. I you have an idea share it I want to have hard discussions. Please help me share these ideas with others.

Thanks for your help. 

AJG