Do you have 10 minutes of time to kill and want to save the planet? Here are some super easy things you can do that will have a big impact. Seriously, all you need is your laptop and credit card. We totally get how complex this climate change & personal impact thing is! But sometimes its just nice to have a few things that aren’t that hard. So here you go, enjoy the simplicity of making a positive impact with these 3 things!

1. Link your utility account with Arcadia Power to start using wind energy in your house!

   Arcadia is partnering with utility companies all over to switch from conventional energy sources to half or all wind power. You will still get the same energy service but your power company will be working with Arcadia to use more wind energy. You have to set up an account and they will switch your bill over to Arcadia. You are already paying for power, might as well make it a renewable energy source. More info and to confirm that Arcadia is offering this service in your area, click here!

2. Off set some of your carbon with Reformation Carbon Credits!!

   You can offset your latest flight abroad or that upcoming bachelorette party travel. Or perhaps your wedding last summer… Or you can wipe out your whole year’s worth all at one time with the click of a button and your credit card.

   A little bit about carbon- carbon emissions are let off into the atmosphere from human activities such as the burning of natural resources like coal, oil or gas such as when we drive a car or when flying in an airplane or when flowers are shipped from abroad to be a part of our wedding or the deforestation of land so that we can enjoy a different type of crop or livestock. Every human, organization, event, community, etc has its own carbon footprint depending on how many carbon emitting activities it participates in.

3. Discontinue all paper promotional mail to your house.

   Much like the Do not call list, you can add your name to a do not mail list to stop the deforestation of rainforests for the countless promo magazines that you aren’t reading anyway and may or may not be recyclable. You can opt out here! This is the Federal Trade Commissions Consumer Information hub and can direct you to opt out of all the things. Follow the Direct Marketing Associations consumer site to opt out of mail specifically! It will cost you $2 a name to opt out. The best $4 we ever spent! Not only are we saving trees but we aren’t annoyed with endless promotions!

   Please note that not all promotions will stop immediately. The site claims that it can take 3 months or more for all companies to get the updated list and even then some companies might still try to mail to you. To handle the last of the incoming but unwanted mail, I have tried everything from calling, to emailing them directly to be removed from the physical mail. And of course, I make every effort to sort the remainder into the proper recycling bin at our local recycling center. For us, they prefer white office paper such as envelopes to be separated from other paper/ paperboard. With a little extra effort you can help ensure that even unwanted mail gets a second life.

That was easy, wasn’t it! Sometimes it really is that simple and other times it involves a lot more effort. When it’s more complex, we are here for you. Let us know if you need an ear or a hand in the comments below! And we’d love to know what you accomplished from this simple to-do list.

Also, we would love to spread the word! Please feel free to send to friends and family who need a few easy things to check off the list so that they can feel better about their impact!