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Below we have listed ways for you to help the environment. Most of them are simple, and all they require are a few extra
steps per day. We hope you take them seriously, and we hope they help!
Save Paper
Using less paper means encouraging the recycling industry to expand, and also cuts back on the amount of forests which are
clear-cut. Although some companies log responsibly, it's hard to know where your paper products are coming from. Using less
paper means less trees are being cut down-period.
-Reuse paper in your printer by putting used paper in upside down for rough drafts. On final products, print on both sides
of your paper. Not only does this help the environment, it saves you money.
-Recycle all your paper. Remember, all kinds of paper can go into a paper bag and can be picked in recycling bins, or
dropped off at your local DPW center.
-Buy materials that are made from recycled paper, like tissues, printer paper, toilet paper, scrap paper, notebook paper,
and other paper products.
-Use a dishtowel to dry your hands, rather than paper towels.
-Use sponges to soak up water, rather than paper towers.
-Use hand-dryers rather than paper towels.
-Don't print out papers to edit them, edit them on the computer and only print out rough drafts.
Save Electricity
Cutting back on your electricity use forces power plants to produce less power, thus cutting back on the amount of fossil
fuels burned. This means that less greenhouse gases are produced.
Turn off lights when you leave the room, and turn them off when you leave the house and go on vacations. Don't leave lights
on while you are sleeping.
-Don't leave your computer on all day. Only turn it on when you need it.
-Don't use the speakerphone function on your telephone-remember, speakers use up an unbelievable amount of electricity!
-Use headphones when you listen to music, and turn them up loud instead of your speakers.
-You don't need a doorbell if you can easily hear someone knocking! Every little thing counts...
-Washing dishes by hand saves electricity, but can use more water if you leave the water running.
-Use fluorescent light bulbs and LEDs rather than conventional light bulbs.
-Use LEDs for your holiday lights-holiday lights are a major consumer of electricity.
-Use telephones with cords. Besides saving electricity, phones with cords don't stop working during a power outage.
-Don't use electric pencil sharpeners, manual sharpeners work better anyways.
-Think up your own ways to cut back on electricity use.
Save General Materials
Everything you save means something else doesn't have to be produced to replace it. Whether this be a car or a coat hanger,
saving and recycling is one of the best things you can do for the earth and its people. Plus it saves you money. Remember
everything that is made has to be produced using electricity, and transported using fossil fuel burning vehicles.
-If something is broken, fix it! Don't just throw it out.
-Recycle everything. Check with your local recycling agency for what you can and cannot recycle. Remember, things like
mercury thermometers, alkaline batteries, and used motor oil can all be recycled, and if you don't-the fine is major.
-Save gas! The best thing you can do for the planet is to drive less. Ride a bike, take Public Transportation, or carpool.
Driving a car produces greenhouses gases, which contribute greatly to global climate change.
-Home heating. Make sure your home is insulated in the winter, and even then keep the heat moderately low. If you keep
the heat low, and dress a little warmer in the house, you will save hundreds on your heating bill, and you will be helping
to save the environment.
-Buying things used is a great way to save money and materials. A used CD works just as well as a new one, a used movie
plays just as well as a new one, and used books still have the same letters in them that new ones do. Besides that, you will
save a lot of money.
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