March 31, 2010
You Can Do More to Save the Planet
The Little Things Add Up to Make a Difference
1) Change the air filter in your car - it reduces vehicle emissions.
2) Switch to cold water when doing laundry - almost 90% of the energy used by washing machines is for heating water - most loads don't need it.
3) Carpool, walk, bike or take public transportation instead of driving. You'll reduce carbon emissions and get a little exercise in the process.
4) Shut the faucet off while you brush your teeth and you'll save about 2 gallons of water for every minute you brush.
5) Broken or missing gas caps can emit harmful fumes into the air, ozone and lungs.
6) Letting your car idle for more than 10 seconds actually wastes more gas than it takes to start it back up.
7) Recycle old electronics instead of putting them in the trash. When they're put in the garbage bin, dangerous toxins like mercury can enter our water and food sources.
8) Unplug your cellphones and laptops after they're charged. When you keep them plugged in, they continue to use energy.
9) Buy in bulk - it saves on trips to the store, packaging and materials.
10) Switch to compact florescent light bulbs which last ten times longer than regular bulbs.
11) Save energy by skipping the dryer and using a drying rack or clothesline instead.
13) Fix your dripping faucet and save about 3 gallons each day.
14) Save trees and resources by paying bills on-line.
15) Save paper and our environment - print on both sides of the page and recycle the paper so it never reaches the landfill.
16) Save energy and power-down your computer every night.
17) Switch to rechargeable, reusable batteries.
18) Keep your tires properly inflated and reduce vehicle emissions.
19) Choose paints low in toxins and improve air quality inside and out.
20) Replace chemical weed killers with lemon juice and protect soil and water resources.
© 2010
