If there's a sound bite that will define 2008, it would be "Go Green" ...and we're not just talking about Green Bay Packers fans! Everywhere you turn, you're being bombarded with tips and tricks on going green in your home.

But you can spend up to 40 hours a week at your desk at work, where you can potentially save all kinds of green, including some green-backs!

• All CMS Updates are available online via FTP Update
• Notifications of updates and events are emailed rather than mailed
• Reinstallation files are available online, so no need to mail out a CD
• All CMS Newsletters are now emailed rather than mailed

• You've been telling your kids for years, now it's your turn! Turn out the light in your office if you're going to be out of your office for 15 minutes or more.
• If you're lucky enough to have a nice big window in your office, try turning out the lights and utilizing that beautiful sun.
• Do you have nooks and crannies in the church that aren't often used? Install timers or motion sensors so the lights turn on when needed and shut off automatically when not needed.
• Still using one of those old incandescent lights? Swap it out for an Energy Star florescent light which can save you up to two thirds the energy of the old style.

• Consider emailing your weekly newsletter/bulletin to those church members with an email address. Not only will you save tons in postage, paper, and ink/toner, but you'll save tons of time!
• Make it a habit to print on both sides when printing documents. Check your printer and see if it has a duplex printing option that will automatically print on both sides of the page. Use the back side of old documents for faxes, scrap paper, or drafts.
• Avoid color printing when possible (most single/double tank color ink jets will use up one color before the others) and print in draft mode whenever feasible.
• Use recycled paper and be sure to have your paper recycling bin in a handy place for all to use! It also helps to clearly mark what can and cannot be recycled.
• Do you REALLY need to print, or can you simply read it online? Check out the new CMS Online Help to review the latest User's Guides, Troubleshooting Articles, and helpful downloads.
• Go to http://churchmanagementsolutions.com/kb and sign up today!
• Contact CMS and sign up for EFT (electronic funds transfer) for your Annual Support Contract and eliminate receiving a paper bill printing and mailing a check.
• Confirm your email address with CMS so you can receive newsletters and updates via email.

• Take a look around your office at each piece of equipment that you generally don't turn off. If it has a little green light, it's using electricity. If it has a digital display that reads "Ready" or "Stand By", it's using electricity.
• Plug those devices into a power strip and turn off the power strip before you go home.
• Remember to power down ink jet printers before you kill the power, as the ink tanks need to reseal when shutting down.
• Double check with your IT Department on which computers must stay on for networking or backup purposes and which can be safely turned off each night.
• Do you have a monitor that takes up half your desk and could double as a boat anchor? It's time to upgrade!
• Think about replacing your old desktop computer with a laptop and save 25% of the energy of a desktop model, they're cooler to run (saving money on your air conditioning bill) and will save tons of space on your desk!
• Set your computer to automatically power down after 15 minutes of non-use. Just like the lights, you'll save energy!
• Are you leaving your computer on overnight just for a backup?
• Consider backing up your CMS data to the CMS FTP Backup/Restore Site.
• This also eliminates the need for diskettes, CD's, jump/flash drives, etc.

• If you live close to work, and live in a fair weather area, consider walking or dusting off the kid's old bicycle and airing up the tires.
• If you can get to work without your car, don't forget to call your insurance company to see if they will reduce your auto insurance rates!
• Try carpooling. Just remember, the passenger is the one who brings the coffee (in a reusable cup) and donuts for the driver!
• Talk to your Pastor or Church Council about tele-commuting a few days a week.
• With CMS Remote Solutions, (and the upcoming Online Church Accounting) you can work on your data anywhere you have an internet connection!
• Talk to your local phone company about redirecting the incoming phone calls from the church to your home during working hours.
• This not only saves you gas and wear and tear on your car, it will save the church in light and heating bills for the days no one is in the office!

• 1 for Sales
• 2 for Support
• 3 for Billing