Using Recycled Copy Paper--Have you made the switch?
by Kathy Gottberg (1/9/09)

         As a writer and small business owner I have been gradually working toward a paperless office for a number of years.  Still, I must confess that sometimes it is necessary to print out copies of my work or different information.  When I do, I make sure that the paper I use is 100% Recycled Paper.  And the good news is, it is as good, if not better than most copy paper on the market.

         When I first decided that I was going to start buying recycled paper a couple of years ago I was frustrated.  The paper I purchased at the time was rough and dull.  It actually wasn't a good alternative and every time I used it I wished that I could go back to using regular paper.

         Luckily, times have changed and we now have many choices when purchasing recycled paper.  However, I do offer a few tips so that you will be happy with your purchase. 

#1 Go to one of the big box suppliers if you want the best selection.  If you are used to picking up your copy paper at a store that carries a little bit of everything you won't have a good selection.   I regularly shop Staples because it is close to where I live and I like their selection.  There are certainly plenty of choices these days.

#2.  Be sure and read the label carefully.  The paper section in just about any office supply store takes up a large portion of one wall.  Not only are the recycle papers mixed in with others, not all recycled paper is created equal.  Some paper is only 30-40% recycled.

#3 Make sure that the recycled paper you are buying is FSC approved.  FSC stands for "The Forest Stewardship Council" which is a nonprofit that is helping to improve forest management worldwide.  100% paper is reported to save trees, energy, reduce greenhouse gases and use about half  as much water.

#4.  My most important recommendation when selecting recycled paper is to go for the highest number of brightness available in 100% recycled paper.   For example, the paper I normally buy is rated "95 Bright."  While many types of bright paper use chemicals to brighten the paper, the paper I purchase is processed without using chlorine or chlorine compounds.  If you want to be happy using recycled paper, I highly suggest you select a high brightest rating.

#5 While recycled paper does cost more than regular paper I think it is high time that we consider that the regular cost of paper does not take into account the drain on the environment.  Plus, if you consciously make an effort to not print as much as previously, you might actually save money by buying recycled copy paper!

        My goal is to become 95% paper free in my office in the very near future.  In the meantime, every time I do use a sheet I know that I am taking one small step in favor of Mother Earth.

LED Christmas Lights
by Kathy Gottberg

    This year Thom and I decided to invest in several boxes of LED Lights for our Christmas tree and outdoor decorations.  We needed new lights anyway and were anxious to see how the new bulbs would work.  Although three boxes of 50 lights were considerably more than what we pay for traditional mini-lights ($10/box vs. $2.50/box), we were willing to invest the money to see how they compared.
    The obvious advantage to using LED Christmas Lights is the energy savings promised by the packaging.  According to the box of lights we purchased (Sylvania LED Globe Lights) the energy savings is projected at 75-80% with total usage not to exceed $1 in any given holiday season.  Other benefits to the LED lights are a reported 50,000-hour average life (over 25 times the average of older-type lights), and their cool-to-the-touch and break-resistant bulbs.   Another advertised feature is that the lights are supposed to stay on even if one bulb is loose or burns out.  Won't that be great if it is actually true?
     I really like the look of the lights compared to the tiny cheap mini-lights that I have used in the not-too-distant past.  From the looks of my Christmas tree, the reds are very bight and festive and light up the room at night.   While I won't know if the other claims made by the manufacturer are true until after several years of usage, I think that just taking a step towards buying something more sustainable is always a good idea.