powertop is great for figuring out what is bringing the CPU out of idle states too. One tip is to close your web browser as it's probably going to be one of the most wasteful things to leave running.
We as a society need to train an army of material engineers that can design new packaging solutions to minimize impact on the planet. Recyclability (and maybe reusability), lifetime CO2 footprint, biodegradibility etc should be carefully considered and new solutions researched where they will provide the most benefit.
We should also look for low resistance ways to work in container/packaging reusability into the product supply cycle. Are there cases where collection could be done at the store with minimal effort and spare truck space could be used to transport reusable containers back through the supply chain to the originating factories? Are there ways this could be made to work for mainstream products (premium milk products sold in glass are the only case where this is being done where I live)? In Canada they return beer bottles to the store, maybe we should do this in the US if a cost/benefit analysis shows it would worth it.
I must not be the only one that thinks of this sort of thing regularly when taking a product off the shelf.