Concerned about the environment but feeling overwhelmed by all the issues out there? Feeling discouraged about how you as an individual can really make a difference? Not to worry. Here, we’ve compiled a short list of easy and practical ways that you can help the environment.
The great thing about these tips is that in most cases you really won’t have to change your lifestyle radically to have an impact on the environment. One thing we do encourage is more reliance on human power in your daily life. We hope that some of these tips will help us move one person at a time towards a society that is more responsible and less reliant on convenience.
For example, things like walking to the grocery store and using a reel mower will reduce air pollution and energy use, while also reducing the time you spend at the gym! Additionally, if you get your kids to follow your example by using human power more, you can do your part to help reduce child obesity and diabetes!
Please note that this is by no means a comprehensive list. In fact, we’re looking for help in expanding these tips with things that have worked for you that don’t appear on the list!
Have you made a simple change in your life that you feel has helped the environment? Do you know of other ways that an average person can move towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle? What are your favorite ways to help the earth? Have you used cool, eco-friendly products you’d like to recommend? Let us know! See the bottom of the page for the comment option. No spammy links please, they will be removed!
In this list are things you can implement both indoors and outdoors to help save the environment. And don’t forget, you can add to the list! Just submit a comment at the end of this page! It’s that easy to share your environmental tips with the rest of the world. Try it out!
1. Prevent energy leaks at home.
Check this out: Did you know that heating and cooling can make up to 50 percent of your energy bill each month? If you heat and cool your home more efficiently by fixing leaks, you’ll save money and reduce your impact on the environment.
Plugging up those energy leaks is simple. Insulating your home will keep your house warmer in the winter and help to cool things off in the summer. Sealing all your ducts can help as well. This Energy Star website will help with simple techniques for sealing your ducts.
Weatherizing your home is also critical. Want to learn how to weatherize to prevent energy leaks? Read more at this U.S. Department of Energy website!
2. Lower your home thermostats!
That’s right, thermostats, plural! Most people have their heater, hot water heater, and refrigerator thermostats set at unnecessary temperatures.
Try this out for a few months: Set your heater at 68 degrees F or lower in the winter and 78 degrees F or higher in the summer. Programmable home thermostats are an even better way to heat and cool your home responsibly.
Next, adjust the temperature on your hot water heater to 140-degrees F or lower if possible. Most people keep the temperature on the hot water heater much higher than they really need. Try it out!
And finally, make sure to use the energy-saving settings on your refrigerator. Better yet, try switching to a more modern, energy saving frig. Look for new refrigerators with the Energy Star label.
What’s with all this Energy Star Business? Check out the U.S. government’s Energy Star program homepage to find out more about how you could be saving money on energy costs and help the environment at the same time. It’s win-win, baby!
3. Switch as many bulbs as possible in your home to compact fluorescent bulbs, or LED bulbs.
Good news! Compact fluorescent bulbs are really going mainstream nowadays, which means they’re cheaper and easier to find than ever. That’s great, because the California Energy Commission reports that lighting can make up to 25 percent of the average home’s electricity consumption. When you switch your incandescent light bulbs to ultra efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, you’ll be making a big difference in your energy use.
A while ago, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration stated that when the average cost of a fluorescent bulb was around $11.00, your energy savings would be around $20.00 for each bulb over a three year period. Now that Walmart and other stores are selling these bulbs at about 2 bucks each, think of the savings you’ll have from switching! Additionally, compact fluorescent bulbs generally last up to seven years each. LED bulbs last even longer, use even less energy, and are finally starting to hit the brightness levels and price points where you can use them throughout the house.
4. Use a low-flow shower head.
You may associate a low-flow showerhead with one that reduces your shower to a frustrating trickle. Thankfully, technologies have improved so that you can enjoy a high pressure shower while saving water at the same time!
Another benefit is that with a low-flow showerhead, you will not only save water, you’ll also save energy! Why? The California Efficiency Partnership says that about 73 percent of the water you use in your shower is hot water, and you use a lot of energy to heat that water for you shower. They go on to say that the use of low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce your water heating costs by around to 50 percent! This website has great information about low-flow showerheads and other ways to save water in the bathroom.
5. Compost!
Return your organic waste where it belongs: the soil! Rather than sending banana peels, grass clipping, etc. to the municipal dump, start a compost pile instead. The Environmental Defense Fund says that around 18 percent of the waste an average family in the U.S. produces comes from the yard and garden. If you recycle your yard and garden waste, you’ll reduce the amount of energy used to send this waste to the dump. Add your organic kitchen scraps to your yard waste and you’re significantly decreasing your waste.
Compost also makes your plants stronger and healthier, reducing the need for fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Don’t forget that many cities have municipal composting programs for your yard waste. Need more info about the benefits of compost, how to compost, and what to compost? Check out our guide to garden compost for lots of tips, or get a composter.
6. Use drip irrigation systems in your garden.
Drip irrigation systems, also known as micro-irrigation systems, are designed to deliver water directly to your plants, with minimal waste. According to Colorado State University, drip irrigation systems are around 90 percent efficient, whereas traditional sprinkle systems are only around 50-70 percent efficient. The Colorado State University Extension Service has a great website on the benefits of setting up a drip irrigation system in your garden.
7. Plant trees in your yard and community.
Everyone knows that planting trees can help the environment. Trees sequester (trap) CO2 emissions, minimizing the effects of global warming. They also have many other beneficial effects. Trees cool your home, reducing the energy used for cooling. Trees improve mental health. Trees increase property values. Trees reduce urban runoff and capture dust particles from the air. Trees reduce noise pollution. The list goes on and on!
Need more reasons to plant trees? The U.S. Forest Service has a great page about the benefits of trees. The trees to plant are those native to your area. Why plant native trees? Because native trees use less water, support native wildlife, and are better adapted to your area. You can plant native trees in your yard or if you don’t have a yard, contribute to community tree planting efforts.
8. Go “mostly organic” in your lawn and garden.
Using organic gardening products and techniques is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. You don’t necessarily have to go 100 percent organic either. Try out a few organic pesticides or fertilizers and see what works for you! By going mostly organic in your garden, you’ll help to stimulate beneficial soil organisms, reduce harmful wastewater runoff, and create a healthier place for your pets and children to play.
9. Use a reel or electric lawn mower.
If you have a small yard, consider using a manual push reel mower. Why? Here’s a testimonial from Lars Hundley, one of the writers for this blog:
“People who use gas mowers put up with ear-splitting noise, headache- and nausea-inducing fumes and mechanical problems,” says Mr. Hundley, Chief Gardening Evangelist at Clean Air Gardening. He prefers the serenity and simplicity of old-fashioned reel mowers. “There is a real element of pleasure to using a manual mower,” he says.
Today’s reel mowers are a far cry from the one your grandfather used. “Reel mowers are light, quiet, and virtually maintenance-free,” notes Hundley. The mowers are environmentally friendly, and also better for your grass. “Rotary mowers tear the grass — reel mowers cut grass like scissors, leaving a fine spray of clippings as mulch for your yard,” he explains. They do take some effort, but they aren’t any harder to push than an 80-pound gas mower that isn’t self-propelled.
Reel mowers aren’t necessarily practical for really big lawns, so think about switching that gas mower to a clean, non-polluting electric mower.
Want more information about reel mowers? Here’s is a fun article by the Christian Science Monitor all about the benefits of reel mowers.
10. Replace your single-paned windows with double-pane windows.
This can be an expensive home renovation, but it will make all the difference in the world in terms of saving you energy during the cold winter months. The American Council for Energy Efficiency has a website on selecting the best energy efficient windows for your home. In addition to double panes, energy efficient features to look for on windows include tinted glass coatings, low-emissivity (low-e) coatings, and multiple layers of glazing.
11. Turn off lights and electronic devices when you’re not using them.
We all know it’s important to turn off the lights when you leave a room to save energy. How about turning off your T.V., radio, computer, etc.? We’re not talking about simply turning the off switch. Many electrical appliances continue to use a small amount of energy when turned “off.” This energy will add up over time.
So, we recommend connecting several appliances to one of those surge suppressing power outlet strips that has an on/off switch. When you leave for work in the morning, flip the switch and your devices will be completely turned off. Try that for a few months and see how much energy you save!
12. Fix water leaks in the bathroom, kitchen, landscaping, etc.
You know those tiny leaks you’ve been meaning to fix inside your house and in your landscaping? Guess what? That water loss adds up over time and can cost you big money. Not to mention all that wasted water! Protect our freshwater resources and save money by fixing those leaks! It’s another of many great ways to help the earth.
13. Consider switching to a low-flow toilet.
According to the U.S. Government’s Environmental Protection Agency, about 41% of our indoor water use in the home goes toward flushing the toilet and 33% goes to bathing! Modern low-flush toilets are designed to use water efficiently. Here’s a website that has lots of information on reducing water use with a low-flush toilet and other simples changes in the home.
Want to get extra fancy? Well, the EPA has a new WaterSense label for toilets that use even less water than a standard low-flow toilet. These models are based on extensive studies of fluid dynamics over the last several years, so they work, and they work well.
If you don’t switch to a low-flush toilet, you can also use low-tech methods like putting a brick or a small milk jug in the tank to reduce water use. You can also take this sage advice, “If you pee, leave it be, if you strain, pull the chain!”
14. Use ceiling fans to cool off in the summer.
If you use ceiling fans during hot summer days, you can create a cooling effect similar to “wind chill.” A few ceiling or regular fans strategically placed in your home can reduce the amount of time you spend with the air conditioning on. There are even Energy Star certified ceiling fans out there that use even less energy than typical ceiling fans!
15. Use solar energy to dry your clothes!
Here’s something you can do that is easy, practical, and won’t cost a penny to implement. In fact, it will save you money! No matter where you live, the sun has to come out eventually. When it does, hang your clothes out to dry. If you live where I do, in the Desert Southwest, the sun is almost always shining. Except at night. Ha ha.
So, take advantage of this natural energy to dry your clothes! It may take you 10 extra minutes out of your day to hang up your clothes, but that’s a small price to pay in the long run.
Of course, there are days where drying outdoors on the line is not practical. That’s fine. Use your drier! Don’t feel guilty! However, you should read some of the suggestions on the Energy Star website about washing and drying clothes to make more efficient use out of your drier.
16. Invest in solar energy.
There are many ways to invest in solar energy. Unfortunately, some solar energy products for the home can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and have a payback period of a decade or longer.
However, there are lots of inexpensive solar gadgets out there you can try out. For example, solar-powered landscaping lights can help you reduce how much energy you get from the grid. How about solar cell phone chargers?
If you can afford it and you’re going to be living in the same spot for many years to get the payback, outfit your home with a few solar panels. Additionally, there are many forms of passive solar energy out there as well that can help you take advantage of the sun. See this U.S. Department of Energy website for more information about solar energy, and for rebate information on your particular state.
17. Rethink transportation.
This tip encompasses several different ideas. It involves a lot of thinking, some basic planning, and finally putting your plans into action. Yes, hybrids are great. Yes, biofuels are cool. Yes, using public transportation is important. Yes, you should get out and walk and use your bicycle more often. A bike that fits is much easier to ride.
However, don’t feel bad that you don’t make enough money to buy a fancy hybrid. Don’t feel bad that public transportation sucks in your city (as it does it mine!). Don’t feel bad that you had to take a job with an hour commute to make ends meet!
Just sit and think about a few practical and environmentally friendly ways you can get from one place to another. Can you car pool to work? Can you take a bus when you go to the movie theater? Can you walk or bike to the corner store? Brainstorm and put at least a few of these ideas into action. Even if you don’t buy a hybrid car, walking instead of driving to the grocery store is a great way to help the environment!
18. Use small, efficient devices to cook food.
You love to cook and you’ve got a big fat oven that you use to cook everything. Cool. But consider that toaster ovens, pressure cookers, crock pots, microwaves, and electric grills are efficient and won’t heat up your kitchen in the summer. Less heat, less energy to cool your home. On that note, bake lots of cookies and casseroles in your big fat oven in the winter!
19. Use some Xeriscaping principles in the garden.
You may have heard about Xeriscaping from your friends who live in arid regions of the U.S. However, Xeriscaping is not just for those who live among cactus and sage brush. Xeriscaping simply means that you use water wisely in your garden and landscaping. Some concepts of Xeriscaping are: using efficient irrigation systems, using low-water use plants, reducing turfgrass, and creating thoughtful water-wise garden designs. Texas A&M has a great site about basic Xeriscaping principles.
20. Use some native plants in the garden.
Why grow native plants in your garden and landscaping? First off, native plants are better adapted to your area. This means that they require less maintenance and less water. They are also more resistant to pests and diseases. That translates to water savings and reduced use of pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, native plants attract native wildlife and native beneficial insects. You don’t have to plant 100 percent natives to make a difference, consider just planting a few.
When you grow native plants, you help blend your landscaping with the native landscapes you find outside of your town or city.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has an excellent program that encourages the use of native plants for home landscaping called Greenacres.
21. Get involved locally!
Sometimes I just have to turn off the T.V. and forget about all the bad news concerning the Earth’s environment I see on a daily basis. It can be too much for one person to handle. When I’m feeling overwhelmed by issues like dying coral reefs, species extinction, etc., I try and look towards what’s happening in my community.
For example, I recently started volunteering at a local organic farm. This is a small operation run by some very devoted people. Agricultural land in my city is unfortunately being quickly eaten up by housing developments. There are all kinds of issues at stake here: losing aquifer recharge zones, additional urban runoff from new developments, gentrification, etc.
So, by helping this group of farmers a few hours a week, I feel like I’m making a difference in my little corner of the world. And I also get a big bag of organic veggies for my efforts! Look for small ways to help the environment in your community!
So, there’s your list of easy and practical ways that you can help the environment.
But wait. There are obviously more than 21 ways to make a difference, right? Of course there are. That’s where you come in!
We want your ideas, your creativity, and your ingenuity. Share with us what you’re doing to help create a more sustainable future!
One more thing I’d add is that you should use cold water to wash your clothes. You’ll save energy in heating hot water. Most detergents these days work just as well with cold water and they do with hot water. If you’re not convinced, I think Tide or some other big brand is now marketing a “cold water” detergent you can try out.
Also, I put all my appliances on a power strip – especially the computer, the television, and any chargers. That way, when I go to bed at night and when I leave every morning I shut off the power to these appliances so there’s no resting energy loss. Leaving the toaster unplugged is a good idea too.
If you hate junk mail and think it is wasteful, you can actually do something to stop it. Unfortunately it is not easy, but hopefully this will help.
Go to this Federal Trade Commission website and follow the instructions.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt063.htm
There are separate link to opt out of
1. Pre-approved credit card offers
2. Direct mail marketing from many national companies for five years
You can also sign up to get on the national do no call list and reduce unsolicited emails as well through this link.
Thanks to the free, bi-weekly, and 100% recyclable New Mexico based publication Local iQ for this tip.
http://www.local-iq.com/
We talk about shower heads that reduce the use of water and energy but fail to take responsibility for a major cultural failing: thinking that we have to take a shower or bath every day to be clean and friendly.
While social advocacy for daily showering was important when the majority of us were farm workers or involved in other types of hot and sweaty manual trades, today, a large number of us sit in offices all day, walk for exercise or practice “cool” (not hot) yoga, and use high-functioning cleansers and deodorants. While we might enjoy the feel of hot water running over our bodies for five, ten or fifteen minutes, the need for and benefit of using precious resources to rise our torsos and extremities – that aren’t dirty and don’t smell bad in the first place – is a nasty little habit that we need to do something about. Not only is this habit contributing to the unwise use of resources, it’s making our skin dry, itchy and contributing to consumerism for and wasteful production of the latest showering products, many of which contain ingredients that are not especially good for the environment (but that’s another story.)
So am I advocating for “going natural” or for social tolerance of unsanitary conditions? Absolutely not. I’m a respected, healthy, and well groomed professional with family and friends and a daily habit of exercising and taking care of myself. What I’m suggesting is that by not taking one or more showers or baths a week and/or using a sponge bath when necessary, we revolutionary souls (and bodies) can provide a major contribution to our sustainability. If anyone has done research regarding the specific cost savings here, if would be great to hear about it. I’d also be interested how others feel about this notion. It’s not one being discussed it seems.
Re: tobecleanandwise’s comment.
That’s an interesting idea. I think as long as people do something to reduce water use, that’s great. I personally lived for about 4 years in a part of the world where daily bathing, not to mention hot water, was a luxury.
That kind of deprivation made me appreciate hot showers immensely. So, I’d choose a low-flow shower head and a low-flow toilet over reducing the amount of times I shower each week. After a long time of bucket baths and cold showers, I love my hot showers!
Hi! My name is Allison and I’m posting this on behalf of the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) which represents the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), a program that makes homes “greener†and more energy efficient for those who have the highest energy burden—our low income families.
Since its inception back in 1976, over 5.7 million homes have been weatherized through our program. The average low-income household will save $358 in reduced first year energy costs and weatherization measures reduce national energy demand by the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil per year!
To make sure this program thrives for years to come, we’ve built a blog to keep our members, and the greater environmental community aware of the latest developments concerning the Weatherization Assistance Program which has faced significant cuts in the Administration’s budget. If this sounds like an issue that resonates with you, please visit http://wxprogram.blogspot.com . You can also learn more about us at http://www.waptac.org.
We must do all we can to spread the word about this excellent energy conservation program and the families it serves. If you have any questions, and/or know someone who might benefit from this program, please email me aspector@nascsp.org.
re: electric lawn mowers
I’ve always wondered why electric mowers are considered ‘clean’ or ‘non-polluting’ in an era where most electricity is generated in decidedly environmentally UN-friendly ways – coal, gas, nuclear, etc.
Just because an electric mower doesn’t produce pollution in your own backyard, doesn’t mean it doesn’t contribute to the overall pollution problem. Admittedly, I don’t know what the numbers are on the amount of pollution produced by plugging in an electric mower – and it would vary by location and source of power, obviously – but I don’t think they could be declared unequivocally ‘clean’.
Am I missing something, or have the mower marketers successfully misled us into believing that their products are clean?
In reply to Colin Carmichael post:
“I’ve always wondered why electric mowers are considered “clean” or “non-polluting” in an era where most electricity is generated in decidedly environmentally UN-friendly ways – coal, gas, nuclear, etc.”
Yes, that would be true UNLESS you charge your cordless (battery powered) mower with a solar collector. These mowers are direct current (dc) powered and the batteries are easily recharged with solar power electricity.
Here’s the deal with electric mowers and why they are cleaner than gas mowers.
A gasoline mower uses a small internal combustion engine with no catalytic converter that puts out a massive amount of emissions compared to the small amount of gasoline that it uses.
A Wall Street Journal article from March 30, 2006 said, “Currently, there are 52 million residential and commercial mowers (both the ones you push and the ones you ride) and other large lawn equipment that the EPA estimates are in use nationwide. Such lawn equipment is operated about three billion hours a year, the agency says, and a typical push mower emits as much hourly pollution as 11 cars, with a riding mower emitting as much as 34 cars.”
Electric lawnmowers use hardly any electricity at all — so little that you won’t see a difference at all on your electric bill.
The amount of pollution and emissions created by a power plant to generate the small amount of electricity that an electric lawnmower uses is almost not even measurable.
That is why using an electric mower instead of a gas powered mower makes a GIANT difference, and is indeed an environmentally friendly choice.
Sure, a manual reel mower or a goat or not using grass at all is probably your best environmental choice. But electric is also a very good choice when you look at the difference between electric and gasoline.
Thanks for the clarification on mowers… Part of the problem, I think, is the dual emphasis on a) reducing air pollution and b) reducing energy consumption. This seems to be one of those situation where you’re damned if you do (gas) and damned if you don’t (electric). But if the power consumption of electric mowers is really as low as to be imperceptible, then I guess the choice is obvious.
Thanks.
Here’s the stats on electric mowers:
http://www.co-mo.coop/default.php?page=files/Electricity%20Use%20of%20Appliances.htm
Lawnmower cordless
(charge only) 7¢/day (if you keep it plugged in constantly)
Lawnmower – electric 4¢/hr
Jerry’s Solution to Polution
Pump the ‘smokestack’ discharge through the Executive air conditioning
Pipe the liquid from the factory through the management swimming pools
Pile the solid waist on the exclusive golf corse.
Now maybe this is not practical . . . but
the concept of ‘bringing home’ the polution problem may be exactly what is needed to truly address the the issues we face.
Jerry
I just wanted to say that I am really encouraged to see so many people who are concerned about the environment. I live in a community where not many are concerned, and I am glad to know there are others out there like me.
Hi Keirsten. Thanks for your note! I think there are probably more people out there than you think. I believe that most people actually do care, but they’re just a little bit lazy.
But the good news is that a lot of steps you can take don’t take much work, so everyone can do them with very minimal effort.
A lot of things that are environmentally friendly are also just more energy efficient in general, so you can save money when you do them. Even if someone doesn’t care about “the environment,” they still probably care about saving money! So you can convince them that way.
Some of the little things that I found extremely practical in my daily life and I am sure you will too:
1- I carry a bag (like envirosax) with me everywhere I go, so I don’t ever need to use a paper or plastic bag. I even gifted my friends one!
2- I carry a coffee mug with me so I don’t have to throw away paper/plastic cups.
3- Green gifts- give someone a gift voucher for a concert or massage or for more ideas visit:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/green_gift_guid_1.php#feelgood
4- I buy body care products that are organic or natural. There are tons of stores and products available.
Harshita (Hershie)
GET PAPER NOT PLASTIC!!!!!
This is what I’ve done:
-compost with worms in the kitchen
-grow food in Earthboxes (www.earthbox.com)
-shower weekly (and I am just as fresh as you)
-carry an extra light bag or 2 incase I go shopping
-ride my bike
-use all compact flourescent lights
-don’t watch TV!
-buy organic
-but used instead of new
-no heat or AC (jackets indoors in winter, lots of hydration in summer)
-sleep with an electric blanket instead of heating the whole house in the dead of winter
-line-dry my clothes
-only green laundry & cleaning stuff
-give away, not throw away reusable “trash”
-cook with a sun oven! (www.solarovens.net)
Yay Earth! Thank you for hosting us!
Oh yeah, and I keep a re-usable spoon (all spoons are) in my bag for my daily lunch and keep a mug for re-use at work or bring one when I’m going to buy a latte!
I am always trying to think of new ways to help Mother Earth. So far this is what I do:
1. Cloth shopping bags.
2. Re-usable coffee filters (also use only free trade coffee)
3. No paper towels!!! I have a very large rag bag with the rags mostly made out of old clothes.
4. I recycle everything possible. I even peel labels off of cans and jars so they can be recycled with paper.
5. We have replaced all our lights with low energy florescent bulbs.
6. We use cloth napkins.
7. We use toilet wipes. For those of you that do not know, toilet wipe are a alternative to toilet paper. You can buy them online or you can do like I did and just make them yourself. Ours are just a 6×8 inch piece of white flannel. I had a friend sew around the edges to keep them from raveling. We are only 2 people and we have 100 pieces and it last a week between washing. I know some people who only use them for “wet” but we use them for both. Read up on the web. Not nearly as much bother as you might think.
8. We use hankies.
9. I use a Diva Cup instead of tampons. It is a safer, healthier alternative to tampons. They can be used over and over again for up to 10 years so as you can see they are Eco and wallet friendly! There is also another cup out there called The Keeper but I have never personally tried it. This “Cup” system has been around since the 1930’s and does not cause TSS like tampons. I have gotten 11 of my women friends to switch but it took a long time to convince them to give it a try. I will say that once they made the switch they all loved it. I must say it works like a dream. You empty it 2 to 4 time a day and I have never had an “accident” while using the Diva Cup. I urge all you women (and men who have women in your lives that you care about) to read up!!! My only regret about the Diva Cup is that I did not hear about it sooner!!!
10. I use cloth maxi pads. I made mine myself but you can also buy them online. I know what you are thinking ” I thought she said the Diva Cup does not leak???” Normally it does not but at night or on heavy day I like to have a “back up”. I am sure many women can relate to that feeling.
11. I use a salt rock deodorant. Mine last me about two and a half years and cost around $6. Better for your health the Earth and your budget.
12. I use an Earth friendly kitty litter called Yesterdays News that is made out of recycled newspaper.
I know there are a few more things that I cannot think of right now. My next 4 projects are:
1. Switch to homemade and\or Earth friendly cleaning products.
2. Compost with and without worms.
3. Buy more organic and free trade products.
4. Use more Eco friendly/organic and free trade cloth and clothes.
I hope some of you will think about some of these ideas and maybe give one or two a try if you are not already doing them. Also if anyone can help me with setting up my worm composting I would really like some input. Thanks and God bless you all.
Marie B.
We are doing an assignment for science in grade 8, we found this site, and it was very helpful. thank you. goodbye.
You all left out one huge factor. BEEF. Cow production and gas from their flatuence is responsible for 18 percent of global warming.
Leave the car at home if possible. Ride a bike or walk to your destinations. Reducing your dependence on fossil fuels also reduces air pollutants that are increasing the problem of global warming
i think that this information was very helpful, except with the part about planting a tree…not all trees are good for the environment so you should say the trees that don’t help the environment.
I’d also like to add that if you recycle you save millions of trees. Great against global warming and it helps the enviornment. Get your friends to recycle too. Over 65% of americans DO NOT recycle so we need to work harder on recycling as the rewards are too high to ignore.
recycleing does not neccesarily save trees. Recycling roducts made from wood grown on comercial farms actually can reduce the number of trees.
If there is not enough demand for the pulp or lumber then the land is cleared and used as pasture…or some other comercial use.
I’m not saying it’s bad to recycle, there are other reasons to do so; but it usually does not save trees.
Try and walk to and from the shops or school to reduce pollution
Use low electricity light bulbs and turn off non used lights WHY- It uses less electricity which means less coal being burned which means less pollution. HOW- Try and turn off all lights when you leave the house and not using them
try to use your bike to get to school. if you save today you will have many greener tomorrows !! thanks x
I think this site is fantastic, and I am happy to see that there are others out there who want to help save the planet.
I would like to add, in terms of emissions – ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures, it may save 3% of the fuel you are using and ensure that your cars are always serviced!
Every little bit helps!
#1-When using the oven don’t open it to often, it wastes energy.
#2-Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every use.
#3-Copy and print on both sides of paper and reuse recycled paper.
#4-Use emails instead of writing letters.
#5-Fix any leaks around the house.
#6-Don’t idle your car.
#7-But items in bulk to reduce the amount of pakaging.
#8-Never dump anything down a storm drain.
#9-Use cloth bags for shopping and carrying things.
#10-Use containers instead of wrap.
#11-Buy rechargable batteries.
#12-Reuse packaging matterials.
#13-Buy used furniture.
#14-Spread the word and write letters to companies.
Sarah,
All great ideas thanks for the info. Every time I think I have done all I can, someone gives me some more food for thought. I must say I am guilty of peeking in the oven a little too much but hearing it from someone else makes you think twice! I would also like to add that in the winter after you have finished baking and have turned the oven off, it is a good idea to leave the oven door open. That way you can heat the house while cooling off the oven.
I would also ask that all you women out the put some thought into switching to a more Earth friendly way of dealing with your “monthly visitor” as my mother would say. I have been using a Diva cup for over 2 years now and have also gotten 17 of my friends and family members to make the switch. All of them are very happy with the Diva cup. These cup systems have been around since the 1930’s and are very very safe and clean and good for the wallet too as most are good for up to 10 years! Please please please do some research ladies and give it a try. Diva cup gives you up to a year to try it out and if you are not happy with it they give your money back. I talk about the Diva cup because that is the only one I have tried but I know there are other cups out there—-The Keeper—The Moon Cup and I think one of 2 more. If a cup is not “your cup of tea” consider re-usable washable pads. You can make them yourself or buy them ready made. On average a woman will put 250 to 300 lbs of used pads and tampons in our landfills in her lifetime. On top of that there is also the burden that manufacturing and transporting places on Mother Earth. Please look into it for yourself—-for your health, the health of the planet and the health of your bank account.
Thanks ,
Marie B.
If anyone makes the switch to a cup system or if you have any comments or questions please leave a post, I check this website almost every day.
Thanks ,
Marie B.
Hey, every time you get done reading a book; plant a tree for it or if you only read some of it and that is all you’re going to read, you still need to plant a tree for it! So plant a tree for every book you read!:)
God made this beautiful environment for all of his creations, soooo we should take care of it while we are still on Earth! I care about the environment! Think about the poor animals; some of them lose their homes and even get killed, which is sad! I want the animals to move on to Heaven, but I would like for them to be able to finish their lives, too!!!!!:)
recycle and reuse dont treat your trash like garbage!!!
I think that instead of using the dryer u can hang out our clothes on the clothes line
RECYCLE recyclebles
REUSE reuseables
REDUCE reduceables
RETHINK everything
Yo, all you people who want to help the enviorment!
Whoever had the idea to plant a tree every time you read a book, that was brilliant! I have chickens, so instead of dumping stuff I feed organics and grains to them. I think it’s a pretty good idea, but you can decide for yourself.
I hope you are all re-using re-ducing and all that stuff
Ann.
P.S. go to STORY OF STUFF.COM!!!!!!!!!!
1) Take showers instead of baths.
2) recycle pop cans and other bottles.
3) use less paper.
4) clean your lint filter on your dryer after every use.
Thanks
recycle 101
1) If you have chickens, they can have most compost.
help the environment by picking up garbage in your schools field.and get compost bins to help too. =)
i think every store should sell reuseable cloth bags insted of plastic bags.At Huband park we have started a new compost bin system to help reduce our amount of garbage at our school. We also have a paper recycling bin and one for juice boxes, water bottles.
At school we started all this cool stuff about recycel then a gril in my class showed me this web sight and now i know all this stuff about garbage ect. Tanks everyone. 😀 🙂
recycle 24/7
I think U can use containers instead of using plastic bags. I think every body should have a compost bin at home and at school because if U have a orange peel or a apple core U can just plot it in the compost bin. I think that if U are going to recycle use both sides before U recycle.