Help Save the Environment

Switch off anything that uses electricity when not in use

1. If youre not using it, turn it off. This goes for lights, televisions, computers, printers, and so on. Put timers on lamps and use them to turn off lamps at the same time each day. Timers like these can be found in hardware stores and they can be plugged into outlets, then control the power to your lamp. .....

Unplug devices when possible

2. Leaving devices plugged in, such as laptop chargers or toasters, can use phantom energy. Even when an appliance is turned off, it may still use power.It is best to unplug anything that you do not anticipate using in the next 36 hours (or more).Use a power strip to turn lots of things off with the flip of a single switch. You can plug all your devices in one area say, your computer into a power strip. When youre done, simply turn the power strip .....

Trade in your dryer for a good old fashioned clothesline

3. Air drying leaves your clothes smelling fresh and is environmentally friendly. Tumble dryers are among the biggest energy users in most households, after the refrigerator and air conditioner. If you do use a dryer, make sure to keep the vent clear, for safety as well as efficiency. .....

Run your air conditioner sparingly or not at all

4. Air conditioners use a great deal of electricity. Use natural ventilation or a fan to keep cool, as much as possible.If you do use an air conditioner, set it to a slightly lower temperature than outside. Remember that setting the temperature lower uses more electricity, and it wont cool things off any faster. .....

Close the heating and air conditioning vents in your home

5. If you are not using certain rooms in your house, close the vents in these rooms, and close the doors. Doing this consistently will reduce the amount of energy squandered by heating or cooling seldom occupied spaces. .....

Dont use electronic exercise machines

6. Instead of using exercise equipment, use a real bicycle (or a unicycle), or walk to get to nearby destinations or for pleasure. Calisthenics, push ups, and other bodyweight exercises work, as well. .....

Use a warm blanket or sweater in winter

7. Bundle yourself up and lower your thermostat by a few degrees. Aim to set your thermostat at 68 degrees F in the winter, perhaps even lower at night. Every degree above this will generate about 6 8% additional energy output. .....

Conserve water

8. The average family of four in the U.S. uses about 400 gallons of water every day.Make conscious choices to lower your consumption of water.Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub only one quarter to one third full. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.Install low flow faucets (taps) or aerators, low flow shower heads, and low flush toilets.Run your dishwasher only when it is completely full.Wash full loads of laundry in a washing machi .....

Recycle all you can

9. If you have curbside recycling, use it. Be sure to separate your recycling into glass, metal, paper and so on. Take special trips to a recycling center if you don .....

Avoid using disposable items

10. Anything you use only a few times and throw away consumes resources only to spend centuries in a landfill. Carry your own reusable cup or water bottle, eating utensils, and cloth shopping bags with you. Pack a waste free lunch. Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable batteries. Batteries not only take up landfill space, as they cant be incinerated. They also can leak acid into the Earth.Dispose properly of hazardous waste. Many materials .....

Use only as much toilet paper as you need

11. Dont unwind a mile of it for one little wipe. Be reasonable. Go easy on the paper towels, too, and use a washable cloth or sponge for most of your kitchen cleanup. For the paper products you do use, look for products made from 80 100% recycled paper, preferably with a high post consumer content.For most household cleaning, look for reusable terry cleaning cloths. They are inexpensive, especially when bought in bulk, and can be washed and reused h .....

Consider using cloth diapers

12. Cloth diapers have come a long way from the things with pins and plastic covers. You will save a fortune (especially if you have more than one child), keep potentially dangerous chemicals away from your babys skin, and do a good thing for the planet while youre at it. .....

Stop your junk mail from coming

13. If you get several catalogs which you do not need, call and ask them to stop sending them to you. Sign up at Opt Out Prescreen .....

Be a mindful consumer

14. Ask yourself how your purchases are impacting other people and the natural environment.Do not buy what you do not need. Besides saving money, youll save resources if you dont purchase a lot of excess stuff.Buy for durability. For items you do buy, look for things which will last a lifetime. Search buy it for life to find forums and recommendations for durable products. Buy used. Reuse is a far higher purpose for used goods than the landfill, pl .....

Contact your government officials

15. Call or email your congressional representatives and local officials. Ask them to support environmental conservation and renewable energy. .....

Participate in rallies

16. Most cities hold rallies to raise awareness of environmental issues. To be effective, these demonstrations need lots of people. Attend a rally in your community. Make signs to carry during the demonstration to convey your message.Recruit family members and friends to join you. .....

Join an environmental organization

17. Choose an organization that focuses on an aspect of the environment, such as Greenpeace, the Sierra Club or the Environmental Defense Fund, and become a member. .....

Write a letter to the editor

18. Use the news media to highlight environmental issues. Write a letter to the editor about fossil fuels or endangered animals. This can help start a dialogue in your community about a particular environmental issue.Alternately, propose writing an opinion editorial for your local newspaper. .....

Donate to an environmental cause

19. Choose an organization working on an environmental issue. Donate money to this organization. Many organizations have different giving levels, from very small amounts to large amounts. Choose to give monthly or annually.Donations to nonprofit organizations are tax deductible. Ask for a receipt so that you can deduct this donation on your taxes. .....

Volunteer your time

20. Pick up litter, educate others, fix bikes, start a repair cafe, plant trees, observe birds and animal populations. There are many ways you can create and promote a better environment by volunteering. .....

Walk or bike for local trips

21. Walk or ride a bicycle when your destination is close to home. Short trips are generally the hardest on your car and on the environment, so swap out your car for your feet or bike.Always wear a helmet and safety reflective gear when riding a bicycle. You can also buy pannier racks, a bike trailer, or a sturdy basket to hold items during your ride. .....

Organize a carpool for work or school

22. Coordinate with another person or two to carpool to work or work with other parents in the neighborhood to carpool kids to school. Carpooling will also enable you to take the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on a highway. This lane will usually save time and money on gasoline.If you live near your childrens school, consider organizing a walking school bus instead of driving. Children walk to school together in groups, supervised and guided by .....

Take mass transit

23. If you live in an area that has a bus, light rail, or subway system, consider taking this option to get to work, school or other destinations. Reducing car trips in favor of mass transit trips reduces congestion on roads and reduces the amount of gasoline that is used.Many bus systems in major cities operate diesel electric hybrid buses, which further reduces harmful emissions. .....

Plan out your errands and combine trips

24. Make errand trips more efficient by planning out where you will go and hitting all your stops in one trip. Group outings into fewer, longer trips, and plan them out so that you .....

Telecommute or work from home

25. Telecommute or work from home, if your job permits you to do so. One day per week reduces your commute transportation by 20%. .....

Drive a hybrid car

26. If you have been looking for a new vehicle, consider buying a hybrid car. These kinds of cars, which run on both gasoline and electric motors, are rapidly becoming more popular and available in different models.They not only give off less emissions into the air, but they also can save you money with fewer trips to the gas station.You may also be able to get a tax credit on your federal taxes during the tax year that you bought a hybrid car. .....

Maintain your car

27. If you do have a car, keep it in good repair by changing the oil and air filter on schedule, repairing fluid leaks promptly, keeping the tires properly inflated. .....

Take fewer airplane flights

28. Whether for work or vacation, lower the number of flights you take. Airplanes emit vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other polluting materials, which increases annually due to increased numbers of flights around the world.Do your part by taking fewer flights. Fly economy class. If there are more people on a plane, the relative environmental impact of one flight will be spread out among more people.Opt to stay longer in a location rather than .....

Live near work school and other frequent destinations if possible

29. Otherwise, try to live near transit or bicycle routes. If you are choosing a residence, consider transportation options as part of the process. .....

Plant a garden

30. Create a garden plot with vegetables, fruits, and/or herbs.Try to implement techniques so that your garden does not require fertilizers or excessive watering. For example, adding mulch to your garden will seal in water and make the soil moister.Include plants that produce your favorite fruits and vegetables so you won .....

Make your yard friendly to wildlife

31. Modern developments encroach upon natural habitats and pose risks to wildlife. Take some steps to make your yard friendlier to wildlife.Plant many different types of vegetation. Various creatures will visit your yard if you provide them with reason to be there. When you have many different types of vegetation, you .....

Reduce the area of lawn

32. Grass areas usually require more frequent maintenance with lawn mowers, weed eaters, and other gas or electric powered tools. Convert some of your lawn to garden or native plants, which will also attract wildlife. .....

Avoid pesticides herbicides and man made chemical fertilizers

33. Pesticides kill hundreds of birds and other animals per year. If you have unwanted weeds, pull or hoe them out yourself, clip them down, or plant a ground cover in their place.Check out permaculture, integrative pest management, poly cropping, and other techniques to reduce or eliminate the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizer.If you do apply chemical fertilizer, apply no more than is really necessary. Ensure that excess fertilizer is not .....

Plant a tree

34. Add a tree to your yard. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen, and they also improve area water quality and help make the ground more fertile for other plants.Deciduous trees carefully located near your home can also help keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.If you plant a fruit tree, you will have the added benefit of being able to harvest your own fruit instead of needing to buy it at a store. .....

Make a compost area

35. Designate an area in your yard to put your yard waste, fruit peels, and uneaten food. Find some worms who can break the waste down and produce a very rich soil that works great with your landscaping. Keep your compost heap as far from all water sources as possible. .....

Use a rake instead of a leaf blower

36. Ditch your noisy electric or gas powered leaf blower and use a rake to gather up leaves or other debris in your yard.Similarly, use a broom instead of a hose to clean dirt from a paved area. .....

Buy secondhand clothes and other items

37. Visit thrift stores and consignment shops to find secondhand clothes and other items. .....

Donate or share usable household items

38. Instead of throwing away items, consider giving them away. Donate usable clothes and household items to charity. Many organizations will send a truck for pickup.Craigslist.org is another useful resource for buying, selling, and giving away used items locally. .....

Upcycle

39. Turn useless junk into something fun and cute, or fresh and funky. Make jewelry, household accessories, and restyled clothing from things you already own. Look around wikiHow to find tons of articles about how to make different things. .....

Buy or make a few reusable fabric bags

40. Bring them with you whenever you go shopping. Many communities have banned stores from giving out plastic bags, but even if your community still allows them, move to using reusable bags instead. .....

Eat less meat and dairy

41. Meat and dairy production is highly resource intensive and inefficient. Attempting vegetarianism or veganism is definitely one of the best things you can do for the environment and also for your health. Meatless Monday is a national non profit public health campaign that encourages people to give up meat one day a week. Visit the site for some meatless recipes. .....

Dont drink coffee from K cups

42. K cups, or the mini pods of ground coffee for Keurig coffee makers, are single use and typically thrown out (although they can be recycled if users disassemble them into paper, plastic, and metal). Billions of mini cups of ground coffee were sold in 2014, and the number of cups that ended up in landfills could circle the earth 12 times.Brew coffee in a regular coffee pot or French press instead.Use a mug or other reusable cup for your coffee inst .....

Buy local food

43. Transporting food from far off locations takes a toll on the environment, as it must be shipped in trucks, by rail or by ship, all of which produce pollutants. Buying food that is sourced locally will help eliminate or reduce transportation impacts. Visit farmers markets to find local vegetables and fruits or use a CSA (community supported agriculture) service to get fresh produce on a regular basis. .....

Avoid excess packaging

44. Oftentimes, food companies expend just as much energy creating the packaging for food products as is expended in producing the actual food. Try not to buy food that is individually wrapped or buy in bulk. .....

Dont waste food

45. Plan your meals so that you don .....

Use reusable bottles for water

46. Most tap water in developed countries is safe to drink, which means that buying bottled water is unnecessary. Buy a glass or metal bottle and fill it with water.Request a water quality report from your city if you are concerned about the quality of the water.A water filter is generally unnecessary, but even a simple one can improve the taste. Remember, however, that water softeners and reverse osmosis systems waste a lot more water than they deli .....

Switch to compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs

47. Compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs do cost more, but they also last longer than conventional light bulbs. They also use only one quarter of the energy.Start with the lights you leave on the most. .....

Install insulation in your attic and exterior walls

48. A good layer of insulation can be a relatively low cost way to improve both the comfort and efficiency of your home. .....

Check for leaks

49. If your faucets drip, get them fixed, or, if you cant fix it right away, at least put a container under the dripping faucet and use the water elsewhere, such as in your garden to water plants.To check your toilets, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, not the bowl. Wait about ten minutes without flushing. If you see the dye in the toilet bowl, repair your toilet. .....

Install window treatments that maximize energy conservation

50. Choose curtains or blinds that keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter. For example, heavy curtains in a colder climate will help keep warm air in at night.If you are in a hot climate, such as the southwestern U.S., consider tinting your windows or installing a reflective coating. This will redirect heat away from your house. Talk with local contractors to find out what options make sense for your situation. Tinting the windows which re .....

Plant barrier trees to protect your house from wind and sun

51. Deciduous trees provide shade in the summer, yet allow warming rays to enter your house during the colder months. Evergreens provide a wind break from prevailing winds.Be sure to consider the future growth of any plantings and plant far enough from your house that the root systems will not disrupt your foundation. .....

Install low flow toilets

52. A low flow toilet can save many gallons of water per year, both preserving the environment and lowering your water bill.You can also try putting a bottle of water in the tank of your current toilet. The space the bottle takes up will save that much water each flush, yet allow the toilet to keep functioning properly. (Dont use a brick for this purpose, because bricks can disintegrate.) Try lowering the water level in your toilet tank. Many toilets .....

Install solar panels on your roof

53. Solar panels convert sunlight to electricity and are dropping in price (some estimates put solar panel installation at about $10,000). A home utility bill can drop by 20% with the use of converted solar energy.Keep in mind that there is concern, however, about the negative environmental impact of the manufacturing of solar panels. Solar panel manufacturing can result in chemical toxicity and lack of recycling, among other issues. .....