(NewsUSA) - Being environmentally responsible is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do. While helping preserve the environment, it is likely you will save money. Many U.S. corporations understand that being green is good for the environment and for their bottom line, which is why they have implemented original ways to reduce their environmental footprints. Companies and consumers who want to be greener, but don't know what to do beyond recycling, can look to some of these innovative companies for eco ideas. For example, Roche pharmaceuticals has been very successful in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the company achieved this goal two years ahead of schedule, which was set with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program (http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/). Roche's pharmacuetical division cut down waste and energy use in a variety of ways, such as: - Changing the packaging of its osteoporosis drug, Boniva (ibandronate), from a plastic material to a recyclable "blister wrap." - Converting its system for submitting paper documents to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to an electronic submission process, saving reams of paper and energy that would have been spent shipping the materials. - Offering its pharmaceutical sales force the option to choose a hybrid car to drive, saving more than 80,000 gallons of gas per year. - Roche also introduced co-generation, the ability to generate steam and electricity simultaneously as a source of energy, at its Nutley, New Jersey, headquarters. With co-generation, the costs and emissions were reduced, but generated enough electricity to meet 65 percent of the site's electricity needs.

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(NewsUSA) - If you're like most Americans, when you go through your mail at night, you first sort out the bills and put them aside until you have time to pay them. Next, you throw away the excess envelopes and waste paper that came with the mailings. Financial bills, statements and payments not only require a great amount of your time, they also use a vast amount of natural resources.

According to the Pay It Green Alliance, if 20 percent of U.S. households were to switch to electronic bills, statements and payments the collective impact would:

- Save 1.8 million trees.

- Avoid producing close to 2 million tons of greenhouse gases.

- Avoid creating 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater, enough wastewater to fill 2,180 Olympic-size swimming pools.

- Avoid filling 8.6 million household garbage bags with waste.

"It's easier than most people think to turn off the paper in their financial lives," said Richard Oliver, executive vice president and retail payments product manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. "In three simple steps, consumers can begin reducing the impact that their financial transactions have on the environment by saving the resources needed to print and transport paper bills, statements and payments."

Setting up a "Pay It Green" household is an easy, three-step process: assess, ask and act.

- Assess what bills, statements and payments you currently have that use paper. The average U.S. household receives approximately 19 bills and statements each month.

- Ask your employer, financial institution and the companies that send you bills how to manage your bills, accounts and statements electronically and receive and make payments electronically.

- Act on your decision by setting a specific deadline to turn off the paper and create a "Pay It Green" household.

Using electronic payments is not just simple, it's safe and smart, too. According to a Javelin Strategy and Research study, almost 85 percent of identity theft cases are due to "offline" transactions such as lost checkbooks and stolen bills, statements and check payments. With electronic payments, fewer people will view your personal and financial information, and there is less of an opportunity that a payment will be lost and no chance that it will be stolen.

Turning off the paper and managing your finances electronically may seem like a small action, but it can have a big environmental impact. Ask to receive your payments, bills and financial statements electronically.

For more information about the positive impact of greening up your financial life, visit www.payitgreen.org.

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(NewsUSA) - From heated discussions surrounding global warming to the debates on the rising cost of oil, a variety of environmental concerns have come to the forefront of many Americans' minds. This year's Earth Day will also bring to light another topic that is of "green" concern -; food sustainability.

What does it mean for a product to be sustainable? At its core, the concept of sustainability is raising or growing food in a way that is healthy for both the environment and consumers. While this philosophy can be applied to a variety of areas where food for human consumption is raised or grown, one of the greatest sustainable concerns is the fish we eat.

While many types of fish are sold in grocery stores and served at restaurants, several breeds of fish are not considered sustainable, due to factors including pollutants in water sources, overfishing and unhealthy antibiotics fed to fish. To help alleviate the many stresses affecting oceans worldwide, many experts are stressing the importance of buying and consuming fish that don't hinder the well-being of the animal, the environment or the consumer. One type of popular fish -; U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish -; is a top choice when it comes to sustainability.

"Unlike fish production facilities located in rivers, bays or on the coastline, enclosed U.S. catfish farms are not subjected to natural or man-made pollution from outside sources. U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is not only a great-tasting, healthy food -; it's one of the most sustainable products consumers can purchase today," said Roger Barlow, president of The Catfish Institute.

U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is listed by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program as a "best choice" due to its abundance and well-managed, environmentally friendly farming practices. All U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish are raised and processed with special attention to keeping pollutants away from breeding ponds and feeding fish high-protein food free of antibiotics, which ensures consumers receive a premium, high-quality product.

By becoming more mindful of how your food is raised and processed, you can help make a difference in the "green" fight. For more information on the safe and sustainable benefits of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, visit www.USCatfish.com.

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