Breakell Challenge

The Story of Stuff is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside
of our production and consumption patterns.
http://www.thestoryofstuff.com

12,000 lbs of carbon dioxide are emitted from one car in the US each
year.
—www.environmentaldefense.org

Recommended
Action: Rate and compare your vehicle’s carbon emissions
at:
http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/

More than 100 MILLION TREES worth of bulk mail arrives in mail boxes each
year.
—www.dmachoice.org

Recommended Action: Visit the websites below to stop
junk mail and catalog delivery:
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm
https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/mps_consumer_description.php
http://www.catalogchoice.org/

On average, the construction, maintenance and use of buildings account
for 40% of all the energy used in the U.S.
—Roodman & Lenessen, 1996

Recommended Action: Prevent about
1,800 lbs of air-polluting CO2 per year by installing a programmable
thermostat in your home.
—Ideal Bite E-Newsletter

Nearly 60% of the population suffers from chemical sensitivity – bad
news for companies because off-gassing chemicals cause increased absenteeism
and health costs.
—Ideal Bite E-Newsletter

Recommended Action: Reduce health hazards and increase worker productivity
by purchasing furniture, carpeting, paint, and cleaning supplies that
contain few or no chemicals.

E-waste such as cell phones, printers, and fax machines can be recycled for significant profits while reducing waste delivered to landfills by up to 50%.
—"The new face of waste," Mark Okrant, TFM Forum, Sept 2006

Recommended action: eCycling – comprehensive directory of computer donation, recycling and trade-in programs.

On average, the construction, maintenance and use of buildings account for 40% of all the energy used in the U.S. The U.S. comprises only 5% of the world’s population, but uses 25% of the world’s energy resources and contributes more than 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, buildings consume over 10% of the world’s freshwater withdraws, 25% of its wood harvest and 40% of its material and energy flows.   
—Roodman & Lenessen, 1996

Recommended action: Chose sustainable building practices such as: U.S. Green Building Council LEED for New Construction.

If 10,000 people turned off the lights one night a month, they would save $46,849.32 on their electric bills.  
—Ideal Bite E-Newsletter                  

Recommended action: Turn off lights when not in use and switch to Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL bulbs) to save over 75% of energy compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs.

The average office employee goes through 10,000 sheets of paper annually.   

Every year Americans throw away enough office and writing paper to build a wall 12 ft high from New York to Los Angeles.

—Ideal Bite E-Newsletter

Recommended action: Look for paper
products with recycled content, use double-sided printing and file
documents electronically.