Reuse or Recycle Packing Peanuts

Don’t throw your packing peanuts away. Save them for personal reuse or recycle. I had collected a large bag full that was taking space in my basement. I brought it over to my local UPS Store, and they took it without any trouble. I was in and out in about 10 seconds. Find your closest UPS Store and call to make sure they accept recycled peanuts (most do).

You can also visit The Peanut Hotline (or call 800-828-2214), the national reuse program for plastic packing peanuts. They coordinate more than 1,500 collection sites in the U.S. Enter your address to find sites near you.

Minnesota Energy Challenge

News outlets, websites and documentaries are spreading the word about carbon footprints and saving energy. It’s pretty easy these days to get advice on how to live a little greener. This is great, but I already have the warm and fuzzies from helping mother earth. I want to see the bottom line too. Exactly how many pounds of carbon will I reduce and how much moola will I save if I do X or not do Y?

Minnesota residents can get the facts by taking the Minnesota Energy Challenge. I like this program for a number of reasons.

• It adds accountability by asking you to commit to concrete actions.
• It builds community by grouping the results of your efforts with a city, neighborhood, church, school, business or other organizations of your choice.
• It shows the benefits of your current actions.

My current annual household co2 emissions are 28,168 pounds at an energy cost of $2,193. Based on my new commitments, I will save $191 and reduce my co2 output by 1770 pounds annually.

I invite my fellow Minnesotans to join the challenge. What are your results?

Additional Resources:

• EPA’s Personal Emissions Calculator – includes home energy, transportation and waste
• Offset Your Emissions – learn how to offset the emissions that you do produce

Volkswagen Hybrids Coming

Treehugger yesterday posted that Volkswagen is hybridizing their entire fleet. I drive a 2000 Honda Insight with nearly 100,000 miles. Although it will probably be 3-5 years before I replace it, I’m so excited that I may actually have something else to choose besides the default Prius. Don’t get me wrong. I think Toyota’s hybrid is great. But I like to have options and have always had a secret crush on the VW Beetle.

Besides, it’s nice to imagine a line of hybrids that actually get exceptional gas mileage — not ones that use the hybrid label as faux green without actually making much of a difference.