21 Practical Ways to Help the Environment

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!

216 thoughts on “21 Practical Ways to Help the Environment”

  1. Hola my ways to save the earth is I bike from the north island college to my school and back! And at school we just put in 2 composters they are awesome! the older classes help the litte buddies with the compost.

  2. I’m going to plant trees in my yard and in my town.

    Have you ever wondered how much we damage our world? Well then go to storyofstuff.com

    It’s really interesting.

  3. buy biodegradable plastics and buy things with no styrofoam and reuse those plastic sandwich/snack bags

  4. 1. shower instead of taking baths
    2. recycle your old pop cans and plastics
    3. ride your bike more instead of using your car
    4. use both sides your paper and then if you don’t need it any more RECYCLE it.
    5. when you leave a room turn off the lights to save electricity.
    6. compost all your vegetables and fruit.
    7. use less paper
    8. email instead of writing letters to save paper
    9. tell stores near you to stop putting flyers in the news paper and to hang the specials in the store on a bulletin board.
    10. clean your dryer filter after every time you use it
    11. don’t idle your car turn it off
    12. don’t dump things down the storm drain
    13. in the winter after using the oven keep the door open to help heat the house
    14. use cloth shopping bags
    15. buy used instead of new
    16. use old clothes instead of paper towel

  5. BECOME VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN !!
    all the waste pigs & cows make is HUGE pollution to th earth

    if you think its hard, its not: i’m a 14-year-old vegetarian since more than a year and my parents are NOT veggies.. its really easy you just cut the meat..

  6. Marie B,
    A question concerning the ‘DivaCup’, what exactly do they do? I would like further detail on the DivaCup to convince me to switch, any websites with extra information on would also help.
    Thanks
    Hayleeh

  7. Hi Hayleeh,
    DivaCup is an alternative to tampons. Where tampons absorb menstrual flow (along with all other vaginal fluids) the DivaCup and other cup systems collect the flow. Because the cup is not absorbent you do not experience that painful uncomfortable feeling that women sometimes get when removing a tampon that is still somewhat dry. DivaCup is made from medical grade silicon. It is clear in colour and very soft and flexible. It looks like a shot glass except it is tapered and rather cone shaped with a small tab at the bottom that is used for removal. It works something like this: You would fold the cup twice into a kind of a “S” shape and insert like a tampon. Next, you would turn the cup counterclockwise to make it open up and form a seal. When you want to empty it you simple pull on the tab or pinch the bottom of the cup and empty contents into the toilet. If you are at home you can rinse it in the sink or if you are in a public washroom simply wipe it out with a little toilet paper. At the end of your cycle you clean the cup (it can even be boiled to sterilize if you want) and store in the little cloth bag that comes with the cup. Please, DO NOT store in a zip lock bag!
    I can not say enough good things about the DiveCup! I have been using mine since March of 2006 without any problems what so ever and would never ever consider going back to tampons. So far I have gotten 18 of my female friends and family members to make the switch with many more giving it some serious thought. I will say that most women are worried that it will be messy or uncomfortable or that it will require putting their fingers “up there!” Let me reassure you, it is no more difficult or messy that tampons and by far, much more comfortable and clean.
    Health Wise:
    I have read that tampons are made with something called “gin trash”. The state of California determined that gin trash was too toxic to use as cattle feed so instead it is used to make tampons, cotton balls and cotton swabs. It makes me a little sick to think of something too toxic for cattle feed to be so near my delicate female tissues.
    Money Wise:
    DivaCup cost between $30 and $40 but last for up to 10 years. You do the math.
    Earth Wise:
    Each woman disposes of between 250 to 300lbs of feminine products in her lifetime. That does not count the cost that manufacturing and transporting these products has on Mother Earth.
    I am sure I missed a lot believe it or not! If you want to know more just Google DivaCup.com I would also suggest you check out this web site called CrunchyChicken. Mrs. Crunchy runs an eco challenges for her reads and is curently running a DivaCup challenge.
    Sorry for the book! As you can see I am very passionate about this subject.

    Best of Luck,
    Marie B.

    P.S. DivaCup has a 1 year money back guaranty.

  8. helping the environment will heip save the earth and make it a better place to live. so help us please! thank you for giving up your time to read this and thank you for helping us save the earth.

  10. Some pepole think that all this stuff about Globle Warming is rubish and it’s never going to happen but I’ve seen this film called “The Day After Tomorw about where Globle Warming happened and lodes of pepole died which really freaked me out ‘cos all this could happen, if we’re not carefull.

  11. im 13 and i’m worried about the enviorment. Most people dont care if they leave all there lights on in the middle of the day when they’re not even home. I try to turn off every lite i can in my house, and other people’s houses when im petsitting or at a friends house. But i also wanna tell others to do the same, but i think they’ll think im crazy if i tell them to save energy. I guess ill just have to tell em anyway.

  12. hey, Im going to be thirteen and wanted to do something to help the environment for a project, if u have any suggestions let me know thx.

  13. um an easy but helpful thing to do is to just change light bulbs to florecent and turn off lights when you can. And tell your parents not to use too much gas when they dont need to.

  15. Hi there Josh and Matt,
    So nice to see people your age so concerned about the health of our planet. Gives me hope! I will give you just a little food for thought: recycling is good but re-using is even better. As an example, say you live in an area that recycles plastic grocery bags. If you recycle your plastic grocery bags that would be a good thing or if you want, re-use them but you can also choose not to use them at all. You can buy cloth bags for your shopping or one step better make your own out of old clothes. A worn out pair of jeans (or any worn piece of clothes) still has a lot of good fabric left that can use. The first thing I do with an old piece of clothes is to remove and keep all reusable parts—buttons,zippers, decorative pieces etc…and either store them for my next sewing project or sometimes I yard sale them. Next I decide what the fabric could best be used for. Some things work very well as rags( I can not remember the last time I used paper towels) other can be used to make summer wear: i.e. long pants into shorts or long sleeved shirts into short sleeved shirts. Other items still have enough usable fabric that baby clothes or home projects can be made. In the days of our Grandmothers and Great-Grandmothers they would not have even dared to throw out a single piece of cloth without first considering would other use it may have had. Everything was either cut into blocks to make quilts or into strips to braid into rag rugs. My Mother tells me how she and her sisters would lay on their beds and point to all the different squares and try to remember from where that piece came….one of their dresses or one of their brothers shirts. Granted people will say they do not have time for these kinds of things but I say most people have more time then they think. After all, how many hours a day do we spend in front of the “Boob Tube” complaining about 150 channels of nothing to watch?

    Thanks and God Bless,
    Marie B.

  18. It’s sad that people dont care about where we live. We all just care about ourselves we need to step up and take a stand, we use WAY too much energy/gas

  21. i hate litter!!! usally whenever i see litter in the streets(if i can)i pick it up!i looked up some pics about litter and it surprised me what came up!more than i thought it would be! so i asked my dad if he could me and a couple of friends off at some place where there’s a lot of litter,so we can clean it up!!!!my neighbor across the street just walks outside, and drops litter down the gutter!!! and she just does it right in front of me!!!so i told my aunt,and she reported her!!so now she has to pay a 300 or350 dollar ticket!!!haha!!!

    i also hate,global warming!!!!!!!!!!!!
    it bugs me that some people just drive around town for no reason!first off thats a waste of their money! and second,its killing everybody by the second!!cause gas prices are horable!!!!its 3.61 in mansfeild and arlington!!my grandpa said that when im around his age, everyone is gonna have to wear masks to live!!!!!!!!!!so now im kinda scared!!so if i ever need to go to the store.instead of driving, and killing the earth, i just walk!!

    so ,yeah, my family calls me a tree hugger,but for me thats a compliment!!! I LOVE EARTH!!!

    P.S- i hate people that cut down trees!! just to let you know!

  23. I’m going to my school tomorrow, and am going to ask if I can make a help save the environment club. I’m only a 6th grader, but I’m going to try to make a big difference in my community.

  24. I’ve seen a number of references to compact florescent
    light bulbs, (CFL) in these postings. I’ve tried a few, and still have two or three installed. They don’t last as long as advertised, are not ,”instant on,” and sometimes buzz and flicker. I can live with these negatives, since they use considerably less power when compared to incandescent bulbs, however they also contain mercury, which can lead to serious disposal problems, something that most people are not aware of. A possible replacement for both incandescent bulbs and CFLs are led lights. We are all familiar with led lights on electronic equipment as on-off signals, etc. Now, how often have you had to replace one of these? Probably never, so the first advantage is long lasting. Then, led lights generate very little heat, so won’t burn if accidentally touched, or generate excess heat, which is a big disadvantage during the summer, if you live in the south, where air conditioning is a big part of a home owner’s power bill. And finally, led lights consume less power than CFLs, or about 12 % of the power used by incandescent bulbs. A big savings there.
    Now the downside. They are really expensive, and not largely available. A company called C Crane, (ccrane.com) has them for sale now in relatively small sizes. We have three led night lights, one in each bathroom, and one in the living room, on all night. So, if nature calls during the night, there is no need to turn on a regular light. They emit plenty of light to navigate around the house without falling over something. Each led night light consumes about 0.8 watts of power. We also have a led reading light over our bed, which emits about as much light as a twenty watt bulb, but only uses about two watts of power. It is great as a reading light, but isn’t so bright that it bothers your spouse who might be trying to get some shut eye. There are led bulbs that are available for other applications also, that I haven’t tried. A larger bulb is in the developmental stage which will be the equivalent of a 60 watt bulb. This one is going to be really expensive, but as soon as it is available, I’m going to get one as an experiment, if nothing else.
    Take a look at C Crane’s site. Led lighting may be the future in household lighting.

  27. The first commenter had it exactly right.
    Save the environment: Go Vegan.

    The production of 1 hamburger accounts for the deforestation of a 10’x10′ patch of rain forest. That’s enough to fill your entire kitchen.

    The production of meat is 22 times less efficient than the production of soy. You save 22 times the amount of resources every time you choose to eat soy over meat.

    The production of meat for one day’s worth o food consumes more energy, resources, and water than every single other item on this list put together.

    Going vegan not only saves your health, it saves the environment.

  29. Using photovoltaic cells to provide energy to your house, can possibly reduce your energy bills to zero. My favorite types of renewable energy are PV cells (solar), hydroelectricity, and geothermal.

  30. if you have a tap leak, and cant fix it. put a bucket there and water your plants with the water

  32. collect rainwater whenever it rains.. use the water to wash clothes, water plants, wash your car, & so on.. if u dont have enough clothes for washing in a day, try not to use the washing machine. Instead, try washing with your own hands for a change. It could save energy and is a great work out.
    check if your streets use the most energy efficient street lamps.
    convince your own family and others to own 1 car for the whole family and not 1 car for each family member!

  33. Pingback: The little things » The Diatribe * net

  34. I’m a freshman in high school, and I just recently joined a club called Youth Venture. Everyone in the club is responsible for coming up with an idea to put into action so we can make a difference and be a positive influence on our community. I’m passionate about helping the Earth, and protecting and improving the environment. If anyone has an idea that I could pitch to the club, please respond immediately. We’re 20 kids in America eager to make a difference in our world, and that’s a powerful thing. Please help us help the world!

  35. you could air dry your hair instead of using blow-dryer to save more enegery/electricity in your home.

  37. Yeeeeeeah, thanks anonymous 🙂 but we’re looking to make a big difference in the community, not just little household changes. The problem we’re facing is, there’s not much to do to help in new england! Doesn’t ANYONE have ANY ideas to contribute?? C’mon people, don’t you love the earth?!?

  38. Man, the environment is bad i know, but it isnt total trash. You dont have to go to ridiculous lengths to protec the environment. I know one thing for sure, im NEVER giving up meat! hahahahaha!

  39. I have a cousin who lives in Australia and she says that eating beef or lamb is really, really, bad for the environment! Instead, she and her roommates eat kangaroo, and they say that it feels spectacular helping the environment, plus it tastes like chicken! 🙂

  40. hi, i live in southern california and traffic can be hectic at times. so i found a great alternative to avoiding the traffic and on top of that i save gas money, car insurance and have improved my overall cardiovascular. my discovery is a road bicycle, these bicycles in souther california is becoming a polpular method for college students and transportation. these bikes a very fast a agile, and the great thing is you can ride these bikes one the street. ever since i began riding a bike as my main source of transportation i have noticed much muscle growth on my legs. i have to say buying this buy i one of the greatest investments i have ever decided on. my most important reason of my changes is the concern of our environment, for about two years i have been concerned about our earth and how we take it for granted. i am glad there is more advertisement on methods to reduce pollution. well in conclusion, this is my method of reducing pollution and i hope this was helpful and relieving to know there is one more person fight the slow distruction of out earth. thank you

  42. The toll that meat production has on the environment is incredible!! Become a vegetarian or atleast buy organically from local farmers markets. Even better, grow your own!!

  43. Avoid switching on and off computers or TV’s or anything else. Switching it on and off uses more electricity than when it’s on.Keep the computer or TV on stand-by mode only for a short period.On stand-by mode, it uses less elecricity but it uses atleast some .Switch off the device when not in use for more than 40 or 45 minutes.

  44. E-CROSSING:
    WHEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET DO NOT CROSS THE STREET WITHOUT CONSIDERING HOW MANY CARS MUST STOP THEN RE-START. BETTER TO CONSIDER CROSSING AT THE NEXT BLOCK, MAYBE AT THAT BLOCK YOUR CROSS WILL BE THE SAME TIME AS THE CROSS TRAFFIC. BY NOT CROSSING AND STOPPING VEHICLES YOU SAVE FUEL. EASY TO DO, COST NOTHING, JUST BE AWARE OF WHEN YOU CROSS AND IF YOU CAN PLAN TO CROSS WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. BOB VARDANEGA 11-22-2009

  45. i am a dropout on helping enviroment where i live you may grow and raise your own food but i try to help. i learned there is no point in it. i plant trees others just cut them down. i fix pond loggers poured gas in it. to recycle we pay$$ for it. that plant finaly shut down. and there is no way i cant drive i would never get nowhere walking closest place 8mls away. (The only thing that i can say to help the enviroment is to just try your hardest and buy less. dont waiste and buy things you dont need. less is better. and try to get cats and dogs fixed they kill alot of wildlife. to many strays can hurt the enviroment if you dont want it take to vet or shelter, instead of them starving and getting ran over) they have no use one is enough in each house

  46. Air pollution. A few years ago I developed asthma. For those of you that don’t know, asthma, is a disease of your bronchial tubes. Your bronchial tubes become sensitive to certain triggers (my trigger is smoke) and it makes it very difficult to breath. Asthma attacks can last for a day or several months. Asthma also kills 5,000 people in the USA each year. Wood smoke is the worst for me. I used to love the smell of it when I was camping or living in a place with a fireplace or woodstove. I had no idea what it can do to those people that suffer from Asthma or any other lung disease. There are so many people that cannot go outside when the air is smokey. Please use a clean source for heat. Also, compost your leaves and yard waste instead of burning them. It’s way better for the soil and the air. Breath free, fresh air.

  48. Commercial Vertical Organic Urban Farming can save a tremendous amount of natural resources..see video for details.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPvgkZhrWUA

    Home Town Farms combines proven growing technologies in such a way that drastically reduces the amount of water, fuel, fertilizer, packaging and land that traditional farms use to grow the same amount of food. Home Town Farms will virtually eliminate the cost of transporting produce hundreds if not thousands of miles by setting up vertical farms in densely populated areas with direct to consumer sales, on location where the food is grown in addition to wholesale sales to local farmer’s markets, restaurants and grocery stores.

  49. My name is Jedison and I love helping the environment anyway I can. For my Birthday I got a book called “101 Ways To Help Save the Planet Before You’re 12!” It is a great book and I suggest you buy it too even if you are older than twelve. of course you probably know to recycle, reduse and reuse but here are some examples and other ways you could help the planet.
    1. Participate in community cleanups
    2. Use both sides of your paper
    3.Get books from the library rather than buying it because a library REUSES books!
    4. Before you buy something make sure you really want it and will use it often
    5. If you are a kid ride the bus instead of being driven separately because than only one engine is being used
    6. Carpool
    7. Do not feed wild animals!
    8. Volunteer at your local animal shelter or other good and important programs.
    9. Use florescent lights!
    10.Use reusable things such as reusable water bottles and plastic containers.

  50. Heyy there im a thirteen year old girl who is veryyy concerned with what could happen,i mean im not no “The world is going to end in 2012” beliver…. but still……
    Its cool that you put efffort in trying to help others in their search to find ways to help the Earth, i love this site it gave alot of useful information….

    Thanks,
    Taylor perry:)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *