paper-or-plasticHere at Avenue Z, I strive to be as green as possible. I use recycled paper — both sides of each sheet, reduce my plug load, work from home, recycle all I can and — unfortunately — frequently wear the same clothes a couple days in a row (saves on laundry? yeah, well).

But questions linger regarding environmental best practices. Here are a few things I discovered:

  1. At a light, should you idle or turn off the car?
    According to this article, turning off your car will save gas if you’re stopping for more than 6 seconds. Better alternative: use your bike.
  2. Paper or plastic?
    According to the National Resources Defense Council, the answer depends on where you live. “Plastic bags threaten wildlife along the coasts, so if that’s where you call home, [NRDC's Allen] Hershkowitz says the choice should be paper. In the heartland, he says it’s plastic.” Better alternative: bring your own bags.
  3. Should you flush tissue or toss?
    Most tissue doesn’t make it to a treatment center, says Lisa Boynton, senior communications advisor for Toronto Water. But the 5 percent that survives causes trouble. Better alternative: compost your toilet tissue and switch to hankies for sneezes.
  4. Handwash dishes or buy a dishwasher?
    Dishwashers use about the same amount of energy, but handwashing uses much more water. Best alternative: make  sure you have an energy-efficient dishwasher and use eco-friendly detergent.
  5. Drive to the bank to deposit a check or send it in the mail?
    Executive Chairman Mike Critilli on the Pitney Bowes blog says one 3.3 mile trip in a medium-sized car is the equivalent of receiving 40 letters. A trip to my bank is 6.4 miles, but I usually combine it with the trip to the post office box, which is pretty much across the street from my bank. Guess mine’s almost a wash, unless I ride my bike.