Around the house
- Recycle everything you can-- cans, newspapers, glass, aluminum foil & pans, motor oil, batteries, scrap metal, etc.
- Cut up the plastic rings that hold six pack drinks so birds and sea creatures don't get stuck in them
- Create a compost pile-- it makes great fertilizer for those homegrown veggies
- Reuse old t-shirts that are holey or don't fit as rags
- Clean with plain old white vinegar and water rather than chemical products
- Use cloth napkins
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and washing your hands
- Program your thermostat to 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter, and turn it down/up 2 degrees while you are away and asleep
- Use an insulating blanket on your hot water heater
Outside
- Pull your weeds rather than using herbicides (plus you'll get some exercise)
- Use beer traps for slugs instead of baiting with poison
- Use mulch to conserve water in your garden
- Plant native shrubs and grasses rather than large expanses of grass. While grass is beautiful, it does not make good habitat for creatures
- Don't burn leaves-- it creates air pollution, compost instead
- Plant short, dense shrubs near your home's foundation to help insulate it from the cold
- Plant a garden
- Use old 2 liter bottles turned upside down (lid on), poked with holes, filled with water in the garden to continuously water plants. Water will be delivered to the plant on an as need basis, and you only need to refill when the bottle is empty.
- Do not feed wild animals
Out and About
- Use public transportation
- Walk or ride your bike
- Buy a hybrid or more fuel efficient car
- Check your tires- pressure, alignment, etc
- Don't litter!
- Don't buy "disposable" items (cups, plates, spoons, etc); if you must, buy paper, not plastic or Styrofoam
- Buy in bulk-- reduces pollution and packaging
- Buy recycled products
- Read labels- buy organic or the least toxic to the environment that you possibly can
- Bring your own reusable bag to the store- I am guilty of forgetting to do this so I now have a stash in my car and another hanging in my pantry
Things You Can Do In Your Everyday Life
- Join a conservation organization
- Donate money to a worthy organization, my personal favorites: http://www.isfoundation.com/ http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx
- Watch nature programs on TV
- Think about the effects of your daily lifestyle on the environment
- Tease, shame, persuade make fun of your friends and family for not being environmentally friendly
- Teach children to respect nature and the environment. Take them on a hike, build birdhouses, buy them nature books, let them watch documentaries, etc.
- Buy organic- it's not that much more expensive and in some instances (like cereal) it's the same price or cheaper than the national brand
- Watch Food, Inc. - You will have a new perspective on the food processes in this country
These are just some ideas. I don't take credit for them all, but they are great ideas that I put in play in my household. Just some food for thought!
