Earth Saving Tips - New Year's Enviro-lutions
These Earth Saving Tips are provided by Earth Share organization The Nature Conservancy, republished from their Great Places website
It has long been a tradition here at Great Places to make New Year’s resolutions. Each year we try and improve ourselves and the way we live... and some of our efforts even outlast the month. While most people’s resolutions focus on personal “goodness� and wellbeing, this month we mull over some ideas that not only make us better people, but improve the environment that sustains us all.
Exercise
Many people resolve to exercise more in the coming year, in hopes of improving overall physical and mental health. There are numerous benefits that can be gleaned from briskly walking just 30 minutes a day. Walking enables you to live longer, reduces the risk of developing many diseases, reduces stress, helps you sleep better and helps control your appetite. Walking can also help the environment when it replaces traditional, fuel-burning forms of transportation — driving may be the most polluting thing we do as individuals. Take a walk or bicycle to the store instead of driving, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Try walking or biking to work. If your commute is too far to do this, take public transportation or carpool to a spot 15 minutes from the office, then walk from there. Even when the 30 minutes are split, the health benefits are nearly identical, and the environmental benefits are even more promising. Replacing your drive to work by walking or biking even one day a week can help. Another added benefit — this form of exercise and transportation are free! Sources: Ramblers’ Association, National Safety Council
Eat Healthier
Another popular New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier. We already know that including more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in our diets (and reducing our intake of holiday sweets!) can provide major health benefits. Eating organic, local foods can also benefit your health — as well as Mother Nature’s. Organic foods are grown without pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers or growth hormones, and they contain higher levels of antioxidants which fight cancer. And when you buy local products, not only are they fresher, but fuel use and greenhouse gasses emitted from transportation are minimized. On average, the food we buy in the United States travels 1,500-2,500 miles before it is consumed! For more information on organic food certification and local foods in the United States, visit usda.gov and localharvest.org. Sources: Worldwatch Institute, United States Department of Agriculture
Complete That Home Improvement Project
When you consider tackling that home improvement project you’ve been putting off, remember to add these energy-saving ideas to your ‘to-do list,’ they can save you money in the long run. (Buildings are associated with about 40 percent of Earth’s material and energy use, and while each home may not significantly contribute to this number, there are many things you can do to have an impact.) Source: Worldwatch Institute
Use recycled materials when possible. With landfills receiving a large amount of construction-related waste and the rate at which raw materials are being used, it makes sense to first use what has already been built or processed. You can re-use anything from wood to bricks, to the kitchen sink. For more information, visit ubma.org.
Replace your lights. Replace the five most-used light bulbs in your house with bulbs that have earned the Energy Star® from the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, and you can save up to $60 each year. Energy Star bulbs use less energy, and provide more light than standard incandescent lights. In fact, if every home in the United States replaced only one bulb with an Energy Star light, the greenhouse gas emissions prevented would have the effect of removing one million cars from the roads. For more information on Energy Star® certification, visit energystar.gov. Source: The United States Environmental Protection Agency
Insulate, insulate, insulate. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 50-70 percent of our home energy costs can be attributed to heat and air conditioning, while roughly 20 percent goes toward heating our water. Insulating the attic, exterior walls and between interior walls and floors to the recommended levels will save money and energy. And insulating hot water pipes can decrease the time it takes to receive hot water at the tap, reducing the amount of cold water wasted before a shower or washing dishes. For more information, visit energy.gov, or to conduct a free online energy audit visit the Home Energy Saver Website at hes.lbl.gov. Source: The United States Department of Energy
More Tips
There are countless other ways you can help the environment this, and every year. Below are a few more ideas you can add to your list of New Year’s enviro-lutions.
Recycle. Most communities provide either curbside pick-up service or a recycling center. With such accessible facilities, recycling is a simple practice we can all make a habit. For general information on recycling, visit epa.gov.
Start a compost pile. Once you know the basics, creating a compost pile at home is almost as easy as taking out the trash --a simple way to reduce your waste and create fertilizer for your yard. For general information on compost piles, visit epa.gov.
Volunteer with local environmental organizations. There are numerous local and national organizations dedicated to protecting the world around us, and volunteering with one can be a rewarding experience for all parties involved.
Buy recyclable products and products made with recycled materials. Purchasing goods ranging from paper to blankets can be another way to help the environment in the new year. For information on recycling labels, visit ftc.gov.
