You hear it in the
news every day. Global warming
is happening and changes need to be made.
Each and every one of us can make a difference. If we all make small
changes in our lives we can alter the future of our planet.
By making good choices we can craft
big change.
Following are some
things that we can all do in our everyday lives.
BUY PRODUCTS WITH RECYCLED CONTENT.
Look for products that have a high recycled content. Post consumer
fibers are recovered from paper that was previously used by consumers and
would otherwise have been dumped into a landfill or an incinerator.
Recycling saves trees, energy and water and reduces the amount of air and
water pollution from manufacturing processes.
BUY PRODUCTS MADE WITH CLEAN
PROCESS’S.
Paper products are bleached to make them whiter and brighter, but
chlorine used in many bleaching processes contributes to the formation of
harmful chemicals that wind up in our air and water and are highly toxic.
Look for products labeled totally chlorine free (TCF) or processed chlorine
free (PCF)
BUY FOREST FRIENDLY PRODUCTS.
If the
products you buy aren't labeled as 100% recycled, make sure the trees used
to manufacture them came from sustainably harvested forests certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council. The Forest Stewardship Council is the only
credible seal of approval for good wood products. Look for the FSC
logo
DID YOU KNOW THAT...
If
every household in the United States replaced just one box of regular facial
tissues with100% recycled ones we could save
163,000 trees!
If every household in the United States replaced just one box of regular
toilet paper with 100% recycled ones we could save 423,900 trees!
If
every household in the United States replaced just one box of regular paper
towels with 100% recycled ones we could save 544,000 trees!
If
every household in the United States replaced just one package of regular
napkins with 100% recycled ones we could save 1,000,000 trees!
DRIVE SMART.
DRIVE LESS.
Get your engine tuned up and keep your tires inflated -- both help fuel
efficiency. If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated (and a
government study shows that many don't), gasoline use nationwide would come
down 2 percent. A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4
to 40 percent; a new air filter could get you 10 percent more miles per
gallon.
When
possible, choose alternatives to driving (public transit, biking, walking,
carpooling), and bundle your errands together so you'll make fewer trips.
TUNE UP YOUR HOME.
Insulate your home, caulk windows and doors, and tune up your furnace
and air conditioner.
GO SOLAR.
Install a solar thermal system in your home to help provide your hot
water, and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about720 pounds annually.
Encourage your utility to do its part. Many local utility companies offer
energy from clean sources (landfill gas recovery, high-efficiency natural
gas-fired power plants, or renewable such as solar and wind).
GET INVOLVED AT WORK.
Your company can save money by joining EPA programs such as ENERGY STAR®
Buildings and Waste Wi$e recycling programs, and by buying office equipment
with the ENERGY STAR® label.
PLANT TREES.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. Join family
members, neighbors, or community service groups in planting trees in your
yard, along roadways, at schools, and in parks.
RECYCLE!
At home separate glass, plastic, cans and paper then take to a local recycling center.
Start a recycling program in
your school or workplace, follow the link for more info;
www.bottlesandcans.com
Never throw your old
electronics into the trash; they are toxic to our landfills. Follow
the link to learn what to do with them.
www.erecycle.com
Get rid of your old cell
phones, or start your own recycling program, follow the link for info;
www.wirelessrecycling.com
GO ORGANIC
Whenever possible buy locally grown organic fruits and vegetables. Visit your local Farmers Market.
CHANGE A BULB
Replace the light bulbs in
your house with CFL's. Click on the light bulb above to find out more