Kicking Off Your “Green” Resolution Online

by Sean Donahue, Washington, DC, USA / Jan 3

With the new year upon us, what better way to kick off your resolution to go “green” than embracing the Web’s best tools and calculators designed to measure and improve your environmental impact. From saving energy and eliminating waste, to recycling and reducing your carbon output, there’s never been a better way to calculate the difference you can make.

Here are some worth checking out:

PaperCalculator.org - Compare and contrast the environmental impacts of different types of paper, courtesy of Environmental Defense. You can even download a customized report quantifying your paper use.

Carbonfund.org Calculators - Calculate the carbon impact of your household, air travel and car travel. If you’re planning a wedding, Carbonfund.org provides a way to calculate and offset the carbon impact of the big day.

EarthLab - Ready to get going with an Earth conservation plan? After answering a few simple questions on your everyday habits, you’ll be given a personal score that goes up or down based on lifestyle changes. EarthLab even helps you create a plan that you can track and update as you go.

6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge - Test your knowledge of energy efficiency an interactive quiz hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy. When complete, you’ll be asked to make a pledge to reduce energy in your home and office.

Dell Energy Calculator - Before buying that next computer, server or workstation, Dell customers can measure and assess potential impact to their power bills and carbon footprint.

Clearly, the Web is making it easier to identify ways to reduce your impact on the environment. We’ll continue to post the latest tools and calculators designed to give you a head start. In the meantime, drop us a line with your favorites and we’ll be sure to include them on our growing list.

Also, in the spirit of planning for the future, don’t miss this piece from Bob Keefe at Cox News on corporate America’s progress in 2007.