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10 ways you can help save the planet
This is not a drill – it's really happening. We're going green, and there's no turning back. So what realistic, everyday things – way more easy than installing solar panels on your roof and buying a hybrid car – can you do to lighten your carbon footprint? Glamour magazine's article "57 Little Ways to Save the Planet" lays it all out. Here are 10 things you can start doing right now.
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Ride your bike or walk.
I envy those who live close enough to bike to work. If that's not your bag, try biking or walking to the store, especially if you only need a few things. Get a basket for your bike or a pushcart for walking. Don't worry about how you look – it’s for the environment.
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Get electronic bank statements and bills.
Not only would this save trees and wood (2.3 million tons every year, according to the article), it would also prevent the release of 3.9 billion pounds of harmful greenhouse gases created during production of the paper.
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Carry a reusable water bottle.
Reusing these bottles instead of buying a case of water every week keeps plastic out of landfills, and it's safer than refilling a regular plastic water bottle (they get germy after a while). Fill your reusable bottle with tap water – filtered, if your city's water is questionable.
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Wash your clothes in cold water.
Unless your clothes are super dirty, cold water should be sufficient – and it will hold the colors longer. Energy used to heat the water emits tons of carbons into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
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Bag your groceries in a reusable tote.
Plastic bags clog landfills (not to mention they look sad tangled in trees) and paper bags take more energy to make. Tote bags are simple space and energy savers, and a lot of grocery stores now sell their own.
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Use a power strip for electronics and appliances.
Even though your electronics are turned off, as long as they're plugged in they're still using power. Cut the wasteful energy by plugging everything into one power strip that can be turned off.
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Buy local.
Getting your produce from local farmers or other goods from local crafters not only supports the little guys and your community, it also cuts down on transportation pollution and pollution from mass production.
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Don't drive like a maniac.
Keep a steady speed-limit pace and you can improve your fuel efficiency by 30%, according to Glamour's report. This means don't lay on the gas, don't brake every two seconds, and don't cut in and out of traffic like you're in a Formula One race.
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Turn down your heat and air conditioning.
To reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released by households every year, experts recommend setting your thermostat to 68°F in the winter and 76°F in the summer. If you find these temperatures uncomfortable, you can easily adjust by putting on a sweater or wearing fewer clothes.
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Use the whole sheet of paper.
Think of how much paper we'd save if just students alone used single spacing and printed on both sides. If everyone did this, according to the article, we'd use 75% less paper than we do now. Decrease the margin size! Go crazy!
In what ways are you saving the planet?