Environment

Environment

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; they produce the same amount of light as normal bulbs, but use about a quarter of the electricity and last ten times as long.
Install low-flow showerheads and taps that will use half the water without decreasing performance. Turning down the hot water heater to 120°F will also reduce electricity use while cutting costs by as much as 50%.
If you have house plants, water them with left-over drinking and cooking water whenever possible to reduce water consumption.
Run your dishwasher only with a full load.
Reduce the amount of on "standby power" you use by unplugging electronic appliances you are not currently using.
Reuse margarine tubs to freeze foods or pack lunches to reduce the need for foil or plastic wrap.
Reduce organic waste by composting food scraps, and by leaving short grass clippings on lawns to decompose.
Create designated holding bins for each type of recyclable product and place these in a convenient spot in you home/garage/office.
Paint your home a light colour if you live in a warmer climate and a dark colour if you live in a cold climate, it can help regulate the heating and cooling of your home.
Cancel subscriptions to magazines or newspapers you don't actually read, especially if you could read them at the local library. Give old issues to friends, coworkers, nursing homes, doctors' offices or libraries.

At school, kids should use both sides of a sheet of paper before recycling it.
Ask your teachers to set up a reuse box in the classroom for used pencils, pens, folders and other items that are still usable.

Save petrol by carpooling or using public transportation and you can save nearly $2,000 at the pump.
Make sure to drive smart. A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires uses less petrol, cuts pollution and saves money.
Write to policy makers to urge them to raise fuel economy standards to 40 miles to the gallon, we can save nearly 4 million barrels of oil a day. The technology exists to make our cars go farther on a gallon of petrol. Using less petrol is the biggest single step we can take to curb global warming because the less petrol we burn, the less CO2 we put into the air.

Recycle paper. Recycling a stack of newspapers only 4 feet high will save a good-sized tree.
When shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag and for larger purchases, bring your own cloth bags.
To reduce rubbish production, participate in bulk buying programs so you can purchase larger quantities of items with less packaging.
Recycle old clothing by donating it (in season) to homeless shelters, thrift stores, and other community organizations.
Buy durable (long-lasting, multiple-use) items instead of those that are disposable or cheaply made.