I thought I would post a few ways we can all help the earth. I am posting this a little late, I was planning on doing this on earth day but I wasn't able to log on. It is crazy to think what a difference we can all make by just doing a little at a time.
Here a some interesting facts:
- The average American contributes 1,859 pounds of air pollution to the atmosphere each year.
- Running a refrigerator and freezer for one year can produce as much pollution as driving a car from Chicago to Las Vegas.
- Each mile a person travels in an airplane accounts for 1.08 pounds of greenhouse gases.
- Every minute. 37,000 empty soft drink bottles are thrown away in the United States.
Here are a few ways to help out:
- Carpool as often as possible. Set a goal of commuting with fellow workers in a car pool at least one day during Earth Week.
- Bring lunch in reusable/washable containers. Set an Earth Week goal of having at least one waste-free lunch.
- Use e-mail instead of paper copies whenever possible.
- Conserve energy by turning off lights, computers and other appliances when out of the office.
- Drink beverages from a reusable, washable mug.
- Use double-sided photocopying or printing whenever possible.
- Buy and use products made from recycled materials.
- Participate in the recycling program at work. If a program does not exist, help establish one.
- Keep track of things you have thrown away at work each day and think of ways to prevent waste.
- Lower thermostats during winter or raise them in the summer by one or two degrees to conserve energy.
- Plant a tree that will shade your house as well as reduce the need for air conditioning.
- Combine short car trips, or use a bicycle or walk instead.
- Improve your home's energy efficiency by adding insulation and caulking, and regularly cleaning heating and air conditioning filters.
- When buying paint, cleaners or other chemicals, buy only what you need and use what you buy.
- Practice water conservation - install a low flow shower head or make an Earth Day pledge to take shorter showers.
- Use compact fluorescent lights to conserve up to 75 percent of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs.
- Purchase durable goods and choose products made with recycled materials and with minimal or recyclable packaging.
- Reduce the amount of unwanted junk mail - have your name removed from mailing lists.
- Compost it. Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.
Just a few things to keep in mind to help this lovely earth of our stay a little nicer.
