.jpg "Study Says: Shop Online, Save the Planet")
It doesn’t take a research scientist to realize that online shopping (or, better yet, shopping locally and on foot is better for the planet than driving to the mall, but Santa’s little helpers over at Oak Ridge National Laboratory went ahead and did a study, anyway. Of course, they waited until four days before Christmas to publish their results, but the proof is still in the figgy pudding.
Environmental researcher Jesse Miller told the Associated Press:
Using several assumptions and data from several authoritative sources, we can reasonably estimate that nearly [500,000 metric tons] of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere by shopping online [during the holiday season].
If you haven’t done your holiday shopping by now, there’s still hope. Let the car collect snow while sitting cold in the driveway and turn on the computer (or, walk to the nearest five-and-dime). Forget last-minute shipping fees. There’s still time to print out a gift card, buy an online membership, bake a fruitcake, or fess up and tell the family that their special orders will arrive in time for New Year’s
Photos via flickr by bowbrick & Neils van Eck.
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