What Can YOU Do?

Lately in the news there has been a lot of talk about green house gases and how terrible CO2 emissions are for the environment; everyone is talking about this issue. But that’s all people ever seem to do – talk. There are so many things that each and every person can be doing each and every day to have a positive impact on GHG emissions into the atmosphere. Although people seem to think of it as being such a huge task (because the environment is such a HUGE place) it is really a lot easier than everyone thinks. Aside from the obvious things such as walking more often, trying to carpool as much as often, and turning off more lights, there are many more ways everywhere you look to reduce GHG emissions. Below is a list of beneficial and efficient ways to help out our environment.

Water Conservation

• When you have a bath, simply fill the tub up half way, instead of all the way to the top
• Turn taps off tightly so there is no cause for dripping
• Don’t flush the toilet every single time you use it (you can be the judge of when it is necessary!)
• Conserve hot water – water heaters take up an exceptional amount of energy

Transportation

• Ride a bike as often as possible
• Carpool – if there are many people going to one place, talking to each other and putting as many people in a car as possible can probably save you from taking 5 cars as opposed to 2 or 3
• Use public transportation if it is available
• Use less gas
• When buying a new car, do your research on fuel consumption, or even buy a hybrid vehicle

Eat Healthier

• Buy local produce at your grocery store, and bring it home in bags that can be re-used
• Start eating more organic food – organic farms don’t usually use as many fossil fuels

When you go to the store…

• Buy only post-consumer recycled paper products – the third greatest contributer to global warming is the paper industry
• Tell companies that you invest in that if they don’t reduce their emissions, you’ll pull your stocks

In Your Community

• Make sure you’re knowledgeable about global warming so that you can avoid contributing to it
• Get involved – write a letter to the newspaper that warns them of the causes and effects
• Talk to a radio host and get on the air so your concerns will be shared with a broader audience
• Join an awareness group
• Watch “An Inconvenient Truth” and encourage others to do the same

Home and Garden

• Use a rake instead of a leaf blower – this way your lawn will get more oxygen and sun
• Plant a tree
• Use latex paint instead of oil-based
• Buy energy efficient appliances
• Unplug electronics when they’re not in use because even though they’re “off”, they still use little bits of energy
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs
• Before you turn up the heat, put on warm clothes to judge whether or not the extra heat is necessary

If we all do at least some of these things, GHG emissions could be reduced plenty. As long as we all have knowledge and are aware of the world around us, hopefully these little actions will have big results. After all, a few minutes a day is worth a safer and longer lifetime in the end.