You know what the month of April brings? Earth Day! The Resource Smart Business Program (RSBP) is pleased to provide your workplace with simple and easy to implement smart tips for this year's Earth Day on Monday, April 22nd. Use these quick and easy tips to wow your employees, customers, friends and family!
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Energy Efficiency
This Earth Day, Plant a Tree!
As we move into spring, we can anticipate hot temperatures this summer. According to the U.S. Forest Service, trees that are "properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and can save 20 to 50% in energy used for heating." If you can, plant one or more deciduous shade trees on the side of your home or office that gets the most sun (typically the south side). In winter, these trees will allow the sun's rays to warm the building. Coniferous trees planted on the northwest side can block winter winds to reduce heating costs. You could lower your energy consumption and bring more oxygen into your environment!
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Worksite Wellness
This Earth Day, Get Active and Social!
Make some new friends or get outside with those you already know and love to join Durango Nature Studies for their 4th annual Earth Day 5k and 1 mile Family Fun Run Event. Social interactions are just as important, so even if you do not r un, attend the outdoor event for some bluegrass music from the Flume Canyon Boys, beer from Wagonwheel and pizza from Homeslice. Did you know that,on average, people with strong social networks are 50% more likely to outlive those with fewer ties? Later in life, close connections may protect your brain in particular, as researchers believe the cognitive activity required to interact socially helps keep your mind sharp.
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Overall Sustainability
This Earth Day, Avoid Waste in the First Place!
By carefully analyzing usage trends and planning material ordering, small businesses can cut costs by simply creating less waste. If you do not have control over the products your business can purchase, make sure to control the products you purchase. One simple and easy step is to use a re-usable water bottle to remove those one-time use plastic water bottles. Also, make sure you bring your own re-usable bag to the grocery store. The estimated decomposition time for plastic bags ranges from 10 to 20 years when exposed to air and 500-1,000 years when buried in a landfill.
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Resource Smart Business Program
Durango, Colorado 81301
970-259-1916 ext. 119
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