What Can You Do Right Now?

Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.

 

Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)

 

Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)

 

Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.

 

Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.

 

Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

 

More Tips »

 

Act Now

Starbucks goes ceramic

01:38 PM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008

Francine Hardaway / Earth 911

As part of its re-organization at the helm of founder Howard Schultz, Starbucks has decided it will make ceramic cups the global standard in all stores again, at least for in-store orders.

The national coffee shop is also going to convert its stores to at least 50 percent renewable energy by 2010.

Other highlights from the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility report:

  • Starbucks will try to purchase 80 percent sustainable coffee by 2013 through Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices
  • The company is already involved with ecosystem services, where companies try to repay nature for the products they produce

If you’re getting a Starbucks to-go order, bring in your own reusable mug and you might get a discount on your coffee purchase. You can also ask for leftover coffee grounds to place in your compost bin.

A WVEC.com Site