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Fifteen Things To Do Now
Make a Commitment...
The average American family generates more than 80 tons of toxic carbon dioxide gases per person, uses 102,000 gallons of water and creates 3.3 tons of landfill waste EVERY YEAR. The most well off among us typically use even more.* (source True Green by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin copyright 2006)
And get started...
Pick something. Choose 5 ways you are going to change today, then add a couple next week, and set new goals for the following weeks. Don’t get overwhelmed by all there is to do, focus on a few things that you believe you can do. Once you do them, you will feel great, you will want to do more, and most importantly, you’ll be MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
15 THINGS TO DO NOW
1) CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE -- and your behavior will follow. Look at what you do every day without thinking. Catch yourself – you will be amazed how many small actions every day have an impact. Train yourself to ask questions before you act: Do I need this? Is this something I or someone else can reuse? Is it recyclable? Does it contain hazardous chemicals? Can I combine errands today?
2) PRECYCLE, REUSE AND RECYCLE -- Everything you buy has an effect on the environment. Think before you make a purchase. Is it reusable? Buy in bulk - it's cheaper and uses minimal packaging. Buy loose vegetables, not the ones in plastic bags. Buy beverages in glass and aluminum - they are easier to recycle. Buy items that you can reuse. Put the dry cleaner’s hangers in the bag of dirty laundry to return to the dry cleaner. Give unused clothes and household goods to charity. If you’ve bought it and can’t reuse it, recycle it. Use your garbage hauler to recycle your newspapers, glass, aluminum, and #1 and #2 plastics. Dust off that blue bin and fill it up! If you have questions about what you can and can't recycle click here.
3) USE A COOL SHOPPING BAG - Take a reusable shopping bag with you wherever you go. If you forget it in your car, buy a new one. And remember, they’re not just for groceries – they work just as well at Home Depot, Target, and Macy’s.
4) BORROW YOUR BOOKS - Use your library and borrow your books instead of buying them. Buy used books that the libraries are discarding or get books for free at the Book Exchange at Holly Hill. You'll save money and create less waste.
5) DITCH THE CUP -- Skip the coffee or tea in a paper of styrofoam cup and bring your own reusable mug. It will cut down on waste and still give you the same caffeine fix you need to get through the day. While you are reducing paper products, move the paper towels off the counter. Hang a handtowel, use a dishtowel, put out sponges. Cut up old towels for the housecleaning.
6) GET AN ENERGY AUDIT -- The SINGLE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY in the US for lowering carbon emissions directly and indirectly is in improving energy efficiency in buildings and appliances. You are (hopefully) going to be in your home for awhile, so invest: you will lower monthly bills and increase your home’s value. An audit will tell you where to invest for the greatest returns. Sign up for an audit here.
7) REGULATE YOUR TEMPERATURE, NOT THE PLANET’S -- If it’s cold, put on a sweater, if it’s hot, take it off. In winter, you can save roughly 5% of your heating bill for every one degree you lower your thermostat, and you will lower your carbon emissions. Buy a programmable thermostat and take it one degree at a time. Shoot for wintertime thermostats at 68 degrees when your home and 62 for nighttime and when your out. In summer, try 85 in the day and opening windows at night.
8) CHANGE A BULB -- Use 20-watt CFL bulbs - they provide the same amount of light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb and last eight times longer. Better yet, turn off the lights. Turn off your lights if you leave the room for more than a minute. Buy a dimmer switch, or a motion sensor, or use an inexpensive timer control to avoid leaving lights on. Leave the outdoor lights off or turn off the automatic timers
9) SIGN UP FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY -- "CTCleanEnergyOptions" allows you to buy your electricity from environmentally-friendly renewable resources companies using wind, water and more. Click here to sign up here.
10) MIND THE FAUCET -- Sinks and dishwashers account for 15% of household water consumption. Make sure your sinks and toilets don’t leak. Only run the dishwasher when its FULL and fill the sink with water while you wash. Don’t pour drinkable water down the drain – water the plants. Running water is a waste.
11) SHORTEN THE SHOWER -- Reduce your average shower time by five minutes; insulate your hot water tank; lower the temperature on your water heater. You'll save water and lower your water and energy bills in the process.
12) FIND ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC -- The things that make plastic so convenient - durability and resistance to degradation - also make it hard to dispose of. Opt for a healthier home and choose natural products like wood, paper or glass. The best water bottles are recycled aluminum. If you do have plastic water bottles, make sure they are BPA free.
13) USE GREEN CLEANERS AND LAWN PRODUCTS -- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products. The chemicals that you use in and around your house wind up everywhere, including your body or the Long Island Sound – make sure they are safe. Save your hazardous chemicals for the town’s Hazardous Waste Collection Days.
14) DON’T DRIVE ALONE – Share a ride Get to know your neighbors and folks who belong to the same groups as you do and ask to ride with them or pick them up. You’ll save money on gas, cut down on traffic and of course, cut down of fossil fuel emissions.
15) SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS AND EAT LOCAL -- Local businesses are the backbone of our community. Local trade reduces energy and transportation costs. Local products require less packaging and waste than the products sold in the large stores. The average fruit or vegetable we eat has traveled 1,500 miles to reach our table. About 40% of the fruit we eat was imported from outside the United States. Domestic food transport creates 120 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
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15 Things To Do Now
1. Change Your Attitude
2. Precycle, Reuse and Recycle
3. Use a Cool Shopping Bag
4. Borrow Your Books
5. Ditch the Cup
6. Get An Energy Audit
7. Regulate Your Temperature, Not the Planet's
8. Change a Bulb
9. Sign Up for Renewable Energy
10. Mind the Faucet
11. Shorten the Shower
12. Find Alternatives to Plastic
13. Use Green Cleaners and Lawn Products
14. Don't Drive Alone
15. Support Local Business and Eat Local
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