thestevestiffler

The World is going green.  “Green” this and ”green” that but what does “going green” really mean?  Below are a few tips to help save the Earth.  You might not agree with all of them but we should try to be responsible and do our part in taking care of our home. 

Bike Instead Of Ride
Riding your bike instead of riding in a car saves energy and reduces pollution!  It is also fun!  That makes it a double benefit.

Buy Products Made Of Recycled Paper
How can you tell if a package is recycled?  Many have specific claims, such as “made of 100 percent recycled material.”  However, some recycled packages don’t advertise this fact, although there are ways you can find out for yourself.  For example, when shopping for cereal, cookies, crackers, and other groceries packaged in cardboard boxes, make sure boxes are made from recycled paper.  If the underside is gray or dark brown, the cardboard is made of recycled material.  If it’s white, it is made of unrecycled material.

Change A Light Bulb
By replacing a standard bulb with a compact fluorescent one you will get more light for less money and save a lot of energy.

Close The Refrigerator Door
By leaving it open for just a few extra seconds, you waste a lot of energy.  Decide what you want before you open the refrigerator door.  Then get it and close the door right away.

Collect Aluminum Cans
You might raise a lot of money in the process.  The best thing is to combine this with your stream or park cleanup (see above).  Sell the cans you collect to a local aluminum recycler and use the money for something fun!  Or donate the money to a worthy environmental organization (see below).

Create A Compost Pile
It’s easy to do.  Find a corner of the yard that’s out of the way.  Carefully throw food wastes (leftovers, eggshells, coffee grounds, spoiled vegetables, etc.) into a pile and mix with dirt.  Every week or so, turn the pile over with a shovel to give it more air.  In a few weeks, it will turn into a rich, nutrition soil that will help plants grow.  Just think:  What used to be “garbage” is now a valuable substance!

Cut Down On Packaging
We’ve already given you several ways to do this.  Keep in mind that about half of what we throw away is packaging.  By buying products that have as little packaging as possible, you can help to reduce those mountains of trash.

Don’t Buy Aerosols
There are environmentally better packages for most products.  Aerosols can’t be recycled–which means that they are guaranteed to end up in landfills–and some of their ingredients contribute to air pollution.  Instead of aerosols, look for spray bottles, liquids, powders, and roll-ons.

Find Out How To Dispose of Hazardous Waste
Nearly every household has some kind of hazardous waste: old paint cans, used motor oil, unused pesticides and weed killers.  If you dump these things down the drain, you’ll end up polluting the water supply.  THey should be disposed of in a site specially designed for hazardous or toxic wastes.  Some cities and counties have monthly or annual pickups.  Other areas have special drop-off sites.  Call your city or county government to find out the proper way to dispose of such trash in your area. 

Grow A Garden
A garden provides flowers, vegetables, and environmental benefits.  It can help to reduce soil erosion and may help to reduce some kinds of air pollution.  Try to grow your garden using as few pesticides and chemical fertilizers as possible.

Insulate Your Home
You may find a lot of energy being wasted right in your own home.  After you’ve finished your energy audit, make a list of the things you believe should be done.  Your local hardware-store sales person can help you determine how much the improvements will cost, how much energy they will save, and how much money your family will save in reduced energy bills.

Keep The Car At Home
You’ve learned by now that automobiles are one of the single biggest sources of pollution.  Most driving trips are under five miles, and you’d be surprised how many are under one mile.  Try walking, biking, skateboarding, roller-skating, or taking the bus.

Make Scratch Pads
Here’s a good way to recycle paper.  When you use a piece of paper on only one side, don’t throw it away when you are done with it.  Instead, put it in a pile with all of the blank sides surfacing up.  When you get a big pile, you can turn the paper into scratch pads.  First, get someone to cut the pile of paper in half.  Then, staple small batches of paper together into “pads.”

Observe The Three R’s
Refuse, Reuse, and Recycle.  Whatever you buy, wherever you live, the Three Rs are the most important rules to live by, at least as far as the environment is concerned.  The next time you go shopping–whether by yourself or with your parents or friends–think about the Three Rs every time you pull a potential purchase off the shelf.  Is it something that is overpackaged or wasteful?  If so, Refuse it.  Is it something that is made of or packaged in recycled material, or which you can reuse in some way? If so, Reuse it.  Is it something that can be recycled easily? If so, Recycle it.

Plant A Tree
How would you like to plant your very own tree and watch it grow?  There are organizations in most communities that have set up tree-planting campaigns.  But you don’t even need one of these.  Visit a local nursery to find out what kinds of trees will grow best in your area.  The nursery people might also help you find a good place to plant a tree.  You can watch the tree’s progress every year, and have the pleasure of know that you put it there for everyone to enjoy!

Quit Throwing Away Batteries
Americans go through more than two billion batteries a year to power such things as radios, calculators, watches, flashlights, and computers.  Unfortunately, batteries contain many hazardous materials, which leak into landfills when batteries are thrown away.  Many of these dangerous chemicals get into our water supply.  There are two ways you can avoid throwing away batteries.  One is by using batteries that can be recharged over and over.  You should also find out if there are companies in your area that recycle batteries.  If you must throw batteries away, do so at a hazardous-waste collection site, if there is one in your area. 

Recycle Everything
Well, not everything, but just about.  As we described earlier, there is little you can’t recycle one way or another.  One exception is plastic, most of which is not easily recyclable.  Set up recycling boxes in your home–one for collecting newspapers, another for collecting other types of paper, another for glass, and another for aluminum.  Try composting, which is a way of recycling food and other organic matter.  You can even try recycling plastic, if you can find a place that accepts plastic for recycling.  If you can’t recycle something, see if there is some way you can reuse it.

Reuse Bags
Some people believe that bags made of trees–paper bags–are less harmful to the earth than bags made of chemicals–plastic bags.  The fact is, making both types of bags creates a lot of pollution, and both paper and plastic bags use a lot of resources.  So neither is much better than the other.  The best solution is not to use any bag at all, or to bring your own bag.  Some people carry a canvas or mesh bag they can use over and over.  If you must use a paper or plastic bag, don’t throw it away.  Try to use the bag over and over–as many times as you can.

Stop A Leak
Organize a Stop-the-Leak Day on which everyone in your family tightens, insulates, replaces, caulks, and does whatever else is necessary to make your home as “tight” as possible. Your local water, gas, or electric utility company may be able to provide help, or even instructions and supplies.

Turn Off The Lights
This is such a simple thing to do, but sometimes it’s so hard to remember!  Ask your parents if you can put little stickers near the light switches you leave on the most often, reminding everyone to turn them off when they leave the room.  Consider starting a Lights-Off Fund, to which each person must donate a nickel or dime every time he or she forgets to turn off the lights.  As those nickels or dimes add up, you might donate them to an environmental organization.

Use Recycled Paper
There’s just no reason why you shouldn’t buy recycled paper whenever it is available.  In most cases, it is just as good as “virgin” paper–even better, in fact, because it helps save trees!  You can buy toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, writing paper, books, newspapers, and many other things made of recycled paper.  If you or your parents can’t find recycled paper products in your local grocery store, ask the manager to stock them.

Source:  Going Green A-to-Z List of Ideas