Steps to Saving the Environment
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- Did you know that the average house is responsible for more air pollution than the average car? You can cut utility bills and save energy by purchasing energy-efficient appliances, fixtures, and other home equipment and products.
- When light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs. Converting bulbs can help you save energy and compact fluorescent bulbs last much longer then standard light bulbs.
- We can insulate our homes and tune up the furnace to save on fuel bills. We can also set the thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer. This will result in substantial savings on our utility bills and energy consumption.
- You can also save on your energy bill by using cold water to wash clothes. Modern detergents clean well in either hot or cold water, so choose cold when possible.
- If new appliances are needed consider buying an ENERGY STAR appliance. We can reduce energy consumption by 40% by buying home products that have the ENERGY STAR label. You will save money in the long run. There are many ENERGY STAR products to choose from such as: washers, dryers, microwaves, air conditioners, and even ceiling fans.
- Be sure to know how to dispose of unwanted medications to avoid poisonings.
Don’t flush unused medications down the toilet because they can seep into local water sources. Instead, place unused medications in the trash once they are removed from the original container. Wrap the medications in a plastic bag with coffee grounds or kitty litter and then place the waste in the garbage. - In hot weather, go to the gas station early in the morning or after dark. By filling the tank when it’s cooler, fuel evaporates less and keeps smog-forming chemicals out of the air.
- Keep your car well-tuned and tires properly inflated to save on fuel costs.
- Plant trees in strategic locations around your yard. Shade trees can reduce your energy bill. The average tree can remove 50 pounds of carbon from the air in one year during photosynthesis.
- Use a push mower instead of a power mower to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 pounds per year.
- Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of placing them in a bag. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.
- Buying Green
- Shop at the local farmers' market. Though the offerings seem more expensive, we can generally count on a higher quality product-and the entire purchase price goes to the farmer. Buying any goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country.
- Whether moving to a new area or trying to downsize, consider garage sales and thrift stores for buying and donating clothing and everyday items.
- Use creativity in gift giving, including making homemade gifts or even giving away an unused gift.
- Skip the bottled water at the grocery store and filter your tap water. Bottled water is more expensive and produces large amounts of container waste. Container waste is responsible for 4% of U.S. energy consumption. Use reusable grocery bags to reduce the volume of used bags in landfills. This can save consumption of oil to produce plastic bags. Many grocery stores now sell sturdy cloth grocery bags. Keep a stash of reusable bags in the pantry.
- Practice Waste Management
- If you use a battery operated flashlight or radio, instead of buying new batteries, buy rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries and the charger cost a little more initially, but will save money in the long run.
- We can donate or recycle old eye glasses
and hearing aids . Many organizations collect used eyeglasses and hearing aids, clean them and distribute them to those in need. Unfortunately the Lions Hearing Aid Recycling Program is not available in North Carolina, but they do have this program in numerous other states. - E-waste from discarded cell phones and computers is a growing problem. Donating used electronics to be reused extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the landfills. Reuse, is an environmentally preferable alternative and benefits all of us. By donating used electronics, we allow schools, nonprofit organizations, and families to obtain equipment that they otherwise could not afford.