1. Reduce!
Turn off the water, turn off the lights, print and copy on both sides of your paper, stop junk mail, take short showers, etc. The little things add up! For example, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 200 gallons of water a month!
2. Unplug Unused Electronics!
Did you know your appliances still use electricity when they are turned off if they are left plugged in? In the average home, 25% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off!
3. Recycle!
Simple enough right? We see those blue containers everywhere! But do you know how much of a difference it can make? " Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, two barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough energy to power the average US home for five months"
4. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on products!
If a product has this label, it means it meets certain energy efficiency standards.
5. Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL's)!
"ENERGY STAR labeled CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, saving an average of $30 over the lifetime of each bulb."
6. Fix Leaks!
Fixing leaks in your house can DRASTICALLY reduce water waste! "A faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year. A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water every day."
7. Buy Recycled!
When shopping, look for the words "recycled" and "postconsumer" on products. Just about anything you can think of can be made of recyled materials. Buying recycled keeps trash out of landfills and prevents the use of more precious natural resources.
8. Computer Power-Management!
"Enable low-power sleep modes and turn off computers and monitors at night. General Electric implemented power management features on 75,000 of its computers, annually saving the company $2.5 million dollars and preventing 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions." For instructions on how to optimize settings on your computer and other advise, visit the ENERGY STAR website!
9. Properly Dispose of Hazerdous Waste!
Some electronics, batteries, and light bulbs contain toxic materials that, if disposed of in a landfill, can pollute the surroundings and water supply. There are often free collection events and, in some cases, you can even get paid for recycling old electronics! Check out the Collection Events page at OurEarth.org for more info on collection events!
10. Fresh, Local, Organic Food!
Now doesn't that sound delicious? Your food generally travels about 1,200 miles to reach you. Buy local food to prevent emissions and save energy! Also, try to chose fresh foods over frozen since frozen foods take 10 times more energy to produce.
Hopefully you can incorporate these little tips into your everyday life and live a little greener! Check out this website to calculate your carbon footprint and see where you need the most "green improvemetn!"
(Source: OurEarth.org)
