Find A Local Printer

Online printing services that allow you to upload your project directly from your computer and have it delivered to the front door of your Toronto townhome are undeniably convenient. However, if you're more interested in living green than living convenient, you may find yourself wishing for an alternative to all the fossil fuels it takes to deliver your batch. The answer, of course, is to take a step backward in time and utilize your local printer like you would have had to do before the advent of online printing.

Using your local printer is greener because when you use a centrally located online printing service your order has to be packaged up and driven cross-country to your location - which leaves quite the carbon footprint if you live in St. John's and your printer is located in Toronto. By contrast, the quick drive (or even better, walk) from your Mississauga real estate down to your local printer uses much less gasoline. If you're worried about losing the convenience, most printers these days will allow you to upload projects online and pick them up later.

If you're worried about how you can possibly transport several boxes of business cards if you're walking or riding a bicycle, there are a number of options. You can use a wagon or wheelbarrow to transport your Poughkeepsie, NY homes brochures home if there's too many to fit in a backpack, or you can attach a basket to your bike. Another green transport alternative is to use public transit. If you can't manage all your printing at one time, consider asking a friend to help. A slightly less green alternative (but still better than driving your car) is to arrange for the printer to deliver, but only if you'll be just one stop on a larger route.

Utilizing the services of your local printer rather than a national corporation isn't just good for the environment, it's also good for the economic health of the city. Keeping things local keeps money in the community, where it in turn can be used to further invest in the city, perhaps by building a new home. Ontario's wealth is already being greedily sucked into Toronto's maw at a phenomenal pace, so many people who care about their communities will go out of their way to slow down this process.

To find a local printer, consult the yellow pages of the phone book or ask around at the office. A company like Commercial Properties Ontario is bound to need some printing done now and then. When choosing a printer out of a list of several, avoid any that are chains if you want to support the local economy. This includes Staples and Office Depot.