But perhaps now is the time to turn our attention to our home on the web — the Jorg & Olif blog.

One way of cutting energy usage is by installing a simple bit of HTML code, like Online Leaf, which scales down the page features if the page remains untouched for a chosen amount of time.

Think of it as a sort of screensaver for your website. But without the irritating bouncing graphics.

You can find the code over on Blogger Tips and Tricks.

How to cut your online carbon footprint

While you’re at your desk, there are a few other thinks you can do to cut your energy use.

–  Sounds obvious, but turn off all the stuff you’re not currently using. Do you really need your printer on all the time?

– Consider using a laptop over a desktop computer. It’s less of an energy-guzzler and gives you more room to organise your stuff.

– Look out for ENERGY STAR products, which automatically use less energy.

– If you’ve got a decent lit window, consider looking at some solar powered products.  The Solar Centre has some great solar gadgets.

– Switch to a green web host. Make sure you check out green web host reviews on a site like Eco Host Reviews to compare service levels and avoid greenwashing.

– Offset your website. Companies such as CoC02 will offset the energy used to produce and run your site. The Environment and Greener Living government site is full of useful information about carbon offsetting and includes a carbon calculator so you can work out your carbon footprint.

Get more great tips on Mashable’s Green Your Website article.

How energy-efficient is your blog and working area?

Image: [SOCIALisBETTER]

They’re working on a technology that automatically adjusts the lighting in a room based on how much light you need. So, when you’re getting plenty of natural light, the lights will dim or shut off altogether.

Shed some light on the matter

In offices, the LED lighting system is designed to give everyone the right amount of light wherever they sit. A business card-sized gadget sits on your desk measuring the light around you. You can alter the intensity and colour balance to suit, and the system will respond to any changes in ambient light so you always have the right amount.

It’s estimated that this new technology could save 65-90% of energy use for lighting. In the US, 22% of all electricity used can be attributed to lighting. So a reduction of up to 90% would have a huge impact on the total energy used.

The technology is still very much in development, and there are a fair few quirks that need ironing out, but we’ll hopefully see this form of technology in the next few years. Whether the energy companies welcome this form of energy saving light technology is another discussion altogether.

Recommended reading:

Does London shine too brightly? Is it time for Londoners to start switching off the lights when they leave work every day?

Energy saving bedside lamps So many energy-saving objects are ugly. Here are some beautiful bedside lamps that go easy on the environment.

Image: Orange Steeler

In every culture, there is a historical proverb to reflect the importance of movement and doing rather than mere intention:

Arabia: A promise is a cloud; fulfillment is rain.
China: Talk doesn’t cook rice.
France: The first step binds one to the second.
Africa: When deeds speak, words are nothing.

This shows that action – however small it may be – is positive.

It’s not saying that one shouldn’t deliberate – we all know that a dose of procrastination is healthy to ensure we are confident in our approach. A beautiful Kiswahili phrase poetically describes this: “Haraka haraka haina baraka” (translation: Hurry hurry has no blessing). But what we think, know and feel about something is quite often the opposite of what we do. In modern society, rather than the pure, unadulterated pleasure of just doing the activity, there is a lot of “should do” and the overwhelming responsibility that accompanies it.

A friend recently described how she doesn’t enjoy the process of dating because of the unavoidable small talk – she just wanted to experience the moment with someone for what it was rather than talk about the weather, hear about the details of their date’s next career steps or be expected to list her favourite foods. I’m sure that she’s not the only one who has felt this way.

Speaking could be viewed as an antithesis to Slow Life. If we breathe in the moment, pause to mindfully listen and experience it for what it really is, we can shape our own actions and become inspired. There is no need for “I should donate to charity”, “I should make my own bread” or “I should say the right thing, even though I’m not entirely convinced”. If we are in the moment, the action comes naturally and the “should” quietly fades away.

It’s a substantial challenge to hit the brakes when we’ve been speeding along. All that kinetic energy has to go somewhere and if we try to speed up the slowing down process we can end up in the mud.  But if we leisurely wind down we will find that we are doing more and being truer to ourselves and our beliefs. And that’s what authentic is.

Bodhidharma, a Buddhist zen monk who lived in the 5^th century stated, “All know the way; few actually walk it.”

What do you think? Have you had a moment when you have found that actions do not speak louder than words? How do you slow down? What activities inspire you and expose your authentic self?  jorg&olif would love to hear from you.

Photos: MousyBoyWithGlasses