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Everyday Actions
10 Simple Things You Can Do for the Environment
Recycle
It really makes a difference. Make the extra effort to rinse out your spaghetti sauce jars, soup cans, and plastic soda bottles. Composting food waste for the garden helps return valuable nutrients to the soil. Remember, the more you recycle, the less waste goes to the landfill. (Back to the top.)
Buy Recycled Products
In many cases, products made from recycled materials require less energy to produce as compared to those made from virgin materials. For example it takes 75% less energy to make steel items from recycled steel. Purchase the goods with less packaging-this means less energy to produce the package, less waste that goes to the landfill, and fewer trips to the curb to dispose of your trash. (Back to the top.)
Park Your Car
On average, every gallon of gasoline burned emits about 22 pounds of carbon dioxide. Want to cut down? Try this:
- Turn off your car even while running quick errands (it's better for your car, anyway!) Skip the drive-through; park and go inside instead. Try walking, taking public transportation or biking to get where you need to go.
- When it comes to your vehicle, opt for non-petroleum fuels like biodiesel, made from waste vegetable oils and better for diesel engines than regular fuel. Shoot for 30 miles per gallon the next time you buy a car - consider one of the new fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles that get as much as three times as many miles to the gallon.
- Want more? Try the U.S. Department of Energy for fuel economy info, check out the National Biodiesel Board, or look at the Green Car Journal.
(Back to the top.)
Save Energy
Save money and help the climate. Switch to ENERGY STAR qualifying compact fluorescent light bulbs, draft-proof your windows and doors, and air dry your laundry (check out www.laundrylist.org). For home improvement resources which go beyond draft-proofing windows, visit the ENERGY STAR web site: www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement. Appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers and water heaters can be energy hogs. If you are in the market for a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR label-these appliances use 20-40 percent less energy than standard products. (Back to the top.)
Choose Green Power
Most electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. In some states, you can choose the company that supplies power to your home or business. If you can't buy green electricity through your power company, offset the pollution caused by your electricity use. Learn more about how you can get the benefits of renewable electricity at the websites for Green-E and NativeEnergy. (Back to the top.)
Take a Stand by Shopping
You can make a big difference just by making informed choices about the products and services you buy. Use businesses that make an effort to protect the climate and which stock climate-friendly products. Be sure to let them and their competitors know why you make the choices you do. Buy local produce whenever possible: when food does not have to travel great distances by road or air, fewer greenhouse gas emissions are emitted during transport to market.
Want more information on what companies or products are the most environmentally and socially responsible? Check out these great resources: The Green Guide and Ideals Work. (Back to the top.)
Educate Yourself About Climate Change
Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers or see on the television. Some Washington lobbyists spend a lot of time and considerable amounts of money trying to confuse the issue. Use Clean Air - Cool Planet's Science and Policy, Additional Resources, and Program pages to get started and find out what scientists, business people and economists are really saying. (Back to the top.)
Let Your Elected Representatives Know You Care
Write to your representatives in Congress and in the state legislature and tell them that clearing the air and slowing global warming are important to you. Urge them to support actions to reduce carbon pollution, save energy and expand the use of renewable energy. Find your local representative now. (Back to the top.)
Create a Climate Friendly Environment
Initiate a Green Group in school or in the neighborhood to investigate issues such as recycling and energy efficiency. Look into the assistance available through the EPA's Green Lights or Climate Wise programs. Make sure equipment like photocopiers and computers are Energy Star compliant. Ask your employer to consider employee benefits for commuting by bicycle or mass transit. (Back to the top.)
Get Involved
Give a talk, or invite a guest speaker to your school, place of worship or library. Start a local initiative to reduce the community's impact on the climate or get the issue on the agenda for a town meeting discussion. Support environmental non-profit groups working to slow global warming. You can become a member, take part in events like Earth Day or participate in letter- writing campaigns. (Back to the top.)
Information provided by Clean Air-Cool Planet.
Be Climate Neutral
Be Climate Neutral: Offset Your Carbon Emissions
When electricity is generated using wind, solar, water, or other safe, clean sources, carbon dioxide is not produced. In recognition of this, clean energy generators receive credits, measured in tons of CO 2 avoided. Individuals or companies can buy those credits or "offsets" in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates or green tags. When you purchase green tags, you are offsetting the CO 2 released in the creation of the actual electricity you used. Before purchasing offsets, try to reduce your energy use and lower your carbon footprint - that way there's less to offset. By balancing your energy use with your carbon offsets, you can become climate neutral and have a minimal impact on the environment.
Find out how much carbon you're contributing to the environment now.
For more information about offsetting your carbon by supporting future wind farms, visit Bonneville Environmental Foundation and NativeEnergy.
Information provided by Clear Air-Cool Planet.
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