Katie Lambert, an alumnus from the University of Georgia, writes about 10 things you can do to help save the EARTH.
1. Pay attention to how you use water. While brushing you teeth, close the faucet if you don’t need the running water yet. It’s something good. If you have a leaky toilet, you might be wasting a lot of water; 200 gallons according to Environmental Protection Agency. Let someone fix it right away.
2. Leave your car at home. You’ll reduce gas emissions by 1590 pounds / year. Plan your errands so as not to comsume gas and time travelling.
3. Walk or ride your bike (Good thing is that there is an electric bike already) to school, work, and anywhere you can.
4. Recycle. FACT: If an office building of 7,000 workers recycled all of its office paper waste for a year, it would be the equivalent of taking almost 400 cars off the road [Source: Environmental Protection Agency]
5. Compost (a widely accepted process for converting decomposable wastes of natural origin into stable, sanitized products useful for horticulture) Click here to learn more.
6. Change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) last 10 times longer than a standard bulb and use at least two-thirds less energy. If you’re shopping for new appliances or even home electronics, look for ENERGY STAR products, which have met EPA and U.S. Department of Energy guidelines for energy efficiency. In 2006, the ENERGY STAR program saved energy equivalent to taking 25 million cars off the road and saved Americans $14 billion in utility costs [Source: ENERGY STAR].
7. Make your home more energy efficient (and save money). Clean your air filters so your system doesn’t have to work overtime. Get a programmable thermostat so you aren’t wasting energy when you aren’t home. When you go to bed, reduce the thermostat setting — you won’t miss those extra degrees of heat or air conditioning while you’re asleep.
8. Maintain your car. Underinflated tires decrease fuel economy by up to three percent and lead to increased pollution and higher greenhouse gas emissions [Source: Environmental Protection Agency]. Underinflation also increases tire wear, so it will save you money in the long run if you’re good about checking your tire pressure.
9. Drive smarter. Slow down — driving 60 miles per hour instead of 70 mph on the highway will save you up 4 miles per gallon. [Source: Consumer Guide Automotive]. Accelerating and braking too hard can actually reduce your fuel economy, so take it easy on the brakes and gas pedal.
10. Turn off lights when you’re not in the room and unplug appliances when you’re not using them. It only takes a second to be environmentally conscious.
As the author said,
“Taking care of the Earth is not just a responsibility — it’s a privilege.”
