Remember back in college when all the Environmental Science eco-hippy kids tried to convince you that using staples was bad for the planet? (No? Hmm...maybe I was hanging out with the wrong crowd.) Well, they had a point.
According to Eco-Logic, if every office worker in the world used one less staple per day, we'd conserve more than 120,000 tons of steel per year. For comparison, the construction of the Staples Center in downtown LA used 2,500 tons.
Do your part with this handy-dandy staple-less stapler from Made By Humans. It "staples" 4-5 sheets of paper by punching wholes through the sheets and weaving them together. And it comes in five fashion colors: red, black, blue, green and chrome. Enjoy staple-free living, at least for your memos and short stacks. Lord it over your co-worker the next time he bugs you about forgetting to print double-sided.
This week's weekend reading isn't a book. It's a website - selfsufficientish.com - a self-described "urban guide to almost self-sufficiency." The site is the brainchild of twins Dave and Andy Hamilton of the UK, who were inspired by books and articles about self-sufficiency to write something for those of us who are interested in becoming self-sufficient but don't have the time, means or inclination to do it whole hog. They explain:
Although total self-sufficiency is appealing the thought of giving up the little luxuries in life may not be. I grow a lot of my own food eat wild foods and when I have the money buy organic fruit and vegetables but I still enjoy beer in a pub and like to go to the cinema or eat out occasionally.
Self Sufficientish-ism (w)as created for these reasons. It is for all those who have limited time, space or money but would like to have a go at growing their own food or brewing their own alcohol or want to know which wild foods are good to eat. We also aim to offer advice on a whole host of other subjects from a low-ecological impact perspective.
The site offers simple, easy to understand and easy to implement suggestions for lower-impact living, interspersed with self-effacing humor. I like their segment on creating a self-sufficient-ish office, a "short guide to not only create a greener office and help the environment, but also to cement all the other workers idea that you are certainly the office hippy." Rock on, guys.
Just because we're green doesn't mean we aren't Wired. The September issue of the techie magazine offers a sneak preview of the products that will appear at the Wired NextFest in NYC September 29-October 1. Wired calls NextFest an annual "World's Fair...(of) products, prototypes, and ideas from today's most innovative companies and researchers." And in a sign that green has gone mainstream, this year's NextFest features "Sustainable Living" as one of its design categories.
Among the products featured is this fab Leaf LED light from Herman Miller. Unlike a traditional LED, according to Wired, the LEAF's diodes flash intermittently and use 40 percent less electricity. The touch-sensitive lamp features an upper arm that functions as a "thermal sink", keeping the lamp cool to the touch. According to the Herman Miller website:
Leaf was developed according to Herman Miller's demanding Design for the Environment (DfE) protocol, emphasizing sustainable processes, materials, and recyclability. Leaf's environmental impact is perhaps most profound through its use. On average, Leaf's LEDs consume approximately eight to nine watts of power, carry a lifespan up to 100,000 hours, and cut energy use by 40 percent compared to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Leaf is manufactured with 37 percent recycled materials, and is 95 percent recyclable when you upgrade. And it looks like some kind of crazy high tech snake.
Staple-Free Stapler from Made By Humans
This week's weekend reading isn't a book. It's a website - 
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