Earth Day 2008 – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

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.