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Read
all you can about environmental issues and vote for politicians with
the same green ideals as yourself.
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Conserve
water at home and in the backyard. Use low-flow appliances and
shower heads.
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Landscape
such that extra seeding, fertilizers, and pesticides are not needed. Use natural pesticides like ladybugs.
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Protect
streams if they go through your yard. Set up a green buffer on
their sides
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Do
not pour chemicals on the ground or down drains. Use
neighborhood special trash pickups to dispose them properly.
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Maintain
septic systems and have them inspected every few years.
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Use
non-toxic cleaners and environmentally safe products in the
house. This also reduces exposure of your family to unhealthy
chemicals.
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Recycle
used oil and antifreeze. One quart of oil can contaminate 2
million gallons of drinking water.
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Participate
in clean-up projects such as the National River Cleanup Week and the
International Coastal Cleanup.
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Use
compact fluorescent light bulbs, which will save half the lighting
energy you use and reduce a half-ton of carbon out of the
atmosphere.
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Improve
home insulation, caulking and weather stripping to reduce your
energy bill
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Maintain
the heating and cooling systems in your home.
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Use
windows to heat or cool your house when needed. It's free!
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Plant
trees in locations to block the sun in hotter environments. It
has been estimated by Urban Environment that 100 million trees could
be planted in cities in the US and 35 million tons of carbon could
be kept from entering the atmosphere.
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Research
possibilities to incorporate renewable energy sources on your home.
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Request
a free energy audit from your utility company.
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Recycle
glass, plastic, paper and metal. Buy products that are made
from recycled material or products that last a long time.
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Buy
forest products with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) stamp on
it. If that is not available, buy paper products made of 100%
post-consumer waster.
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Buy
salmon with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label on it.
This ensures you are buying fish from the sustainable
fisheries. Buy tuna with the 'dolphin-safe' label on it.
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Take
showers instead of baths. This will save about 15 gallons of
water.
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Buy
fuel-efficient vehicles and use public transportation when
available.
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Introduce
the next generation to the beauty of nature by bringing them to a
national or state park. Everyone will enjoy themselves and
learn why a healthy environment is important.
