Compost Food Scraps
Plant a Tree
Turn off your lights when you're not using them
Take the bus instead of driving when possible
Walk, Run or Bike when possible
Turn off the tap when you're brushing your teeth
Pick up recyclables that people have thrown on the road and put them in a blue box (or bring them back for money)
Have shorter showers
Don't have so many hot showers
Don't have a shower unless you need to
Use soaps and cleaning materials that are biodegradable
Recycle paper, metal, glass and plastic
When buying a car, consider the mileage that it gets
Use energy efficient light bulbs
When possible, eat organic foods
When possible, eat local foods
Use leftover water from boiling/cooking food to water plants instead of pouring it down the drain
Put your computer on standby or hibernate when you're not using it
Unplug appliances such as televisons, stereos and dvd players when not in use (they still use electricity)
Put on warm clothes instead of turning the heat up
Open the window instead of turning on the A/C (for cars and houses)
Collect rain water to feed your plants or put in your toilet
Vote for leaders who have the environment in mind
Ask your energy provider if they have renewable sources of energy
Switch to renewable sources of energy
If your energy provider doesn't have renewable sources of energy, ask them why not?
Write to your government representatives in support of carbon taxes
Run for office and promote policies that show respect to the environment
Tell your friends and family members to do the things on this list
Talk to local children about this list
Grow your own food
Support businesses that try to make themselves sustainable
Don't drink bottled water
Buy clothes made from organic fabrics
Learn as much as you can about sustainability and share that information with others
Use better insulating windows to keep your house warmer
Invest in environmentally friendly companies
Don't use paper unless you need to
Eat less meat
Use reusable containers and bags if you have to bring a lunch
Switch to a low-flow shower head
Reuse plastic containers instead of buying tupperware.
Don't put apples, oranges, etc. into plastic bags when grocery shopping
Bring cloth bags when grocery shopping
If you have to use plastic bags, find ones that are biodegradable
Submit assignments electronically when possible
Scan things instead of photocopying them
Wash plastic food bags as well as zip lock and reuse them
When washing dishes, instead of using the tap to rinse every dish and spoon, fill up your second sink to rinse the dishes off.
Remember that we only have one earth. If we destroy it, there's no second chance.
I realize this is not quite a comprehensive list, therefore I'm asking all of my readers to add their own. There is a prize (some nice high quality chocolate - I'll come back and revise this post with specifics soon!) for the person who gives me the most unique ways to help the environment. The criteria is that it must be an activity that an individual is able to do, and the activity has to be reasonably easy and affordable to do. I'll evaluate them on a case by case basis.
All responses should be posted as comments to this post and your name MUST be included. The deadline for responses will be Tuesday April 10th at 11:59pm PST.
Good luck!
5 comments:
High quality chocolate?? I'm in...
use the library - use their magzines, dvds, videos, etc. because chances are yours will end up in the trash eventually.
dumpster dive! - i hear safeway leaves bags of perfectly good bagels and doughnuts just sitting behind their store...
use less paper, and 100% recycled when you have to.
use the blank side of your used paper to make notepads.
sunday colour comics make excellent wrapping paper.
reusable coffee mugs!!! all you people who leave your starbucks litter on my beach make me angry.
properly insulate your house or you're wasting engry (and paying a lot more for hydro than you have to)
1. Only wash clothes that are legitmately dirty, and not just on the floor.
2. Wash with cold water, not hot.
Mommy says...
1. air dry clothes instead of using the dryer..
2. put coffee grains in your garden instead of chemicals
2. shower with a friend to save water....
mommy says (again)
- use a push lawnmower and hand clippers instead of electric or gas
-when visiting a friend who doesn't have access to composting etc (ie apartment dwellers) offer to take their stuff home with you to compost...
- use old towels etc as rags instead of paper towels...
Here are a few ideas I came up with for your contest:
1. Printing – reuse papers that have been used (one side)
2. Use leftover (cooled) tea in the teapot to water plants
3. Eat by candlelight
4. Wash and reuse milk bags
5. Take frozen meats out in advance for defrosting to avoid using microwave
6. Cut grass with the old-fashioned style of mower (no gas or electricity)
7. Shovel snow instead of having driveway plowed
8. Subscribe to newspapers/magazines online or read library copies
9. Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
10. Carry a mug or thermos cup for drinking at work or school.
11. Instead of a shower or bath, have a sponge bath.
12. Practise safe disposal of batteries (http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-dispose-of-batteries.htm)
13. Line or rack dry clothes instead of using dryer.
14. Use cloth diapers.
15. Donate rather than throw out. One person’s garbage may be another’s treasure.
16. For teachers: If you have printed acetates that you keep to use for a long time, you can prolong their lives (and discard/ use fewer acetates). If each time you use the acetate, you use a marker for whatever purpose, then each time you clean off the marker you will gradually wear off the print on your acetate. To avoid this problem, place a clear acetate on top of the printed one so that whatever markings you make will be washed off of the clear acetate and will not wear off the print of the “original”.
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