Happy Earth Day!  On the day that many people take a closer look at our impact on the Earth I thought I would post a blog about one way you can use the web to reduce our footprint on the environment. Now first of all let me just say I am not a tree hugger. I own a chain saw and I love using it. I also love the History Channel show: Ax Men.

It’s just that paper drives me crazy! It’s one of the reasons I used to work in the online division of newspapers and not the print side. Computers and web based applications make it easier than ever to reduce the use of paper in your personal and business life. We recently built a web application to help an organization that has multiple locations and multiple lists of volunteers, donors, sponsors and members. Anyone who has ever worked with spreadsheets knows the frustration that can arise from printing out multiple spreadsheets with missing data, duplicate data etc. What we did was build a one stop shop via a web based application where data could be entered in a consistent manner. The people who need this information can now go to one place to get the information they need and they know it is up to date. No need to wade through multiple spreadsheets spread out on a desk trying to decide which is the most recent, which is correct, this one has a phone number that one does not. The web will make your business more efficient and more profitable while also helping the environment. You just need to be willing to take the steps necessary to fully engage the web and the power it provides.