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10 Easy Ways to Live Greener
Everything we do has an impact on our planet, and unfortunately, much of that impact has caused irreversible damage. But not all is lost. If every single person made just a few simple changes to the way they live, the damage could be stopped. If you want to be a part of the “go green” movement, but are not sure where to begin, here are 10 easy things that you can do right now to start making a positive impact on our planet.
1. If it’s not being used, turn it off. Get into the habit of turning off lights when walking out of a room and turning off any appliances or other electronic device when not in use. You can save even more energy by unplugging electronic devices when they’re not being used like printers, microwaves, and DVD players. The devices still use electricity when in standby mode. If you can afford to, replace your old appliances with new Energy Star appliances to cut your carbon dioxide emissions.
2. Replace all incandescent light bulbs with 20-watt fluorescent lights. Fluorescent light bulbs cost a little more, but they last longer and use 75% less energy.
3. Wash your clothes in cold water to reduce your washer’s energy use by 75%. Also, just dry your clothes have way in the dryer, and then hang them to finish drying. Also, if you can, replace your top-loading washer with a front-loading, Energy Star washing machine which uses 50% less energy. The front-loading washers also use less water.
4. Wear a sweater! Dress more warmly in the winter time so that you can lower your heater’s thermostat by a few degrees. And make sure to turn it off completely when leaving the house.
5. Recycle plastic, paper, glass and aluminum cans. Most cities offer curbside recycling, so take advantage of this service. You can also make some money off of your recycled products by taking them to a local recycling center.
6. Use cloth grocery bags instead of plastic or paper bags when grocery shopping. About 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away every year and they spend centuries in our landfills. Paper bags are not any better because of the number of trees being cut down every year for paper products.
7. Use public transportation or carpool to work. Most major U.S. cities have great public transportation services including light rail trains and express buses. Also, many employers cover the cost of public transportation for their employees. Not only does this help the environment, but it saves you a ton of money on gas and reduces the wear and tear on your vehicle.
8. Water your lawn before sunrise or after sunset. This way the water won’t evaporate before the grass can absorb it. Also, make sure that you are watering the grass, and not the sidewalk or driveway. Do not water the grass unless it really needs it; watering uses a great deal of water and grass is very resilient.
9. Reduce your consumption of consumer products. Purchase products that offer re-fills (baby wipes, makeup removing wipes, household cleaners, ink cartridges), purchase second-hand merchandise from thrift stores, and try to purchase locally made goods and produce.
10. Plant a tree. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide us with much needed oxygen.
You are taking the first step into stopping global warming and providing a clean and “green” planet for future generations to come. Remember that every little bit helps and never think that your single contribution doesn’t make a difference to the environment.
Trees and Tots
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