Saving The World Starts at Home

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Saving The World Starts at Home

Environmental problems can sometimes appear overwhelming or too far away for an individual to be able to do anything about. But, when the focus of the environment is brought closer to the house there are a many ways to protect that small piece of the planet, which is called home.

To use less energy, look for energy efficient products for your home. The right choices can save families about 30% and also decrease emission of greenhouse gases. Use the Energy Star Program when replacing old appliances, remodeling or buying a new house. Energy Star s the government backed plan for energy efficiency. This program makes it easy to know which products to buy without sacrificing features style or comfort that today's consumers expect.

Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room. Use the microwave to cook small meals, as it uses less power than an oven. Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity, by contacting a power supplier to see where and if it is available. Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired and/or cut back on air conditioning and heating use when possible. Insulate the home, water heater and pipes. Keep in mind that every trip in the automobile adds to air pollution. Use a bicycle or public transportation when possible.

To use less water, do not allow the water run while shaving or brushing teeth. Take short showers instead of tub baths. Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool. Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads. Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine. Buy high-efficient plumbing fixtures & appliances. Repair all leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day). Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day, such as early morning. Water plants differently according to what they need. Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only and not to water the street or sidewalk. Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.

Exercise the three R's: first reduce how much you use, and then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what's left in the most environmentally friendly way. To reduce: Buy permanent items instead of disposables. Buy and use only what you need. Buy products with less packaging. Buy products that use less toxic chemicals. To reuse: Repair items as much as possible. Use durable coffee mugs. Use cloth napkins or towels. Clean out juice bottles and use them for water. Use empty jars to hold leftover food. Reuse boxes.

Purchase refillable pens and pencils. Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away. To recycle: Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center. Recycle electronics. Recycle used motor oil. Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants. Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use recycled packaging. That's what makes recycling economically possible.

Common household items such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides contain hazardous components and need to be handled properly. Although we cannot completely stop using hazardous products, we can make sure that leftovers are managed properly. The best way to handle household hazardous waste is to give leftovers to someone else to use. Many communities have set up collection programs to keep hazardous products out of landfills and combustors. Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency