Five Small Ways You Can Make an Environmental Difference
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
With all the hype surrounding global warming and other environmental issues in the media today, many average citizens are left scratching their heads wondering what they can do on a daily basis to make a difference. After all, you can’t all afford to trade in your car for a hybrid vehicle or convert your homes to alternative energy sources. There are many ways individuals can impact the environment. Small changes are of no less importance than large changes and can make a huge difference over time.
Switching your old incandescent bulbs to compact florescent bulbs makes much more of a difference then one would think. Standard incandescent bulbs are only about 2% efficient, while compact florescent bulbs are currently about 8% efficient. That is a big difference and if everyone participated it would have a profound effect on the environment. Additionally, over time compact florescent bulbs can save the consumer money. Not only will they reduce your electric bill, but also they last longer reducing the frequency of replacement.
Try reusing plastic bags or not using them at all. Plastic bags are not biodegradable and it is estimated that Americans use 84 billion plastic bags a year. Not only do plastic bags take up space in landfills, but they also make there way into our oceans, rivers, and streams. Consider purchasing a reusable grocery bag or container or at the very least reusing the plastic bags you are given until they can no longer be used. Any unusable plastic bags should be taken in for recycling locally.
Be mindful of your water usage. Don’t keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Scrape your plates in the trash and put them directly in the dishwasher. There is no concrete proof that pre-rinsing your dishes makes your dishwasher anymore effective. If you skip the pre-rinse you can save up to 20 gallons of water for every dishwasher load. If you have an older dishwasher and you feel that you must pre-rinse, use a dishpan pre-filled with water.
Insulate you home better. Not only will it reduce your heating bills but also it is one of the best ways to make an impact on the environment. Seal holes and cracks around your home with weather stripping or caulk. Replace old windows if you can. if your unable to replace old windows, use weather proofing plastic to seal in your heat in the winter.
The easiest way to reduce your negative impact on the environment is by simply buying recycled products. Not only does it save our natural resources, but it reduces waste. There are many products that are made using recycled materials. Some items to consider purchasing recycled are toilet paper, regular paper, copy paper, paper towels and tissues. You can always buy recycled toner cartridges for your fax machine and printer. Additionally, there are garbage bags that are made of recycled plastic. Take advantage of your community’s curbside recycling program if it is offered. Usually at least one day per week the city will come around and pick up your plastics, newspapers, aluminum and other recyclables. If your community doesn’t offer curbside recycling, then you can transport your recyclables to the nearest station.
Cutting corners in small ways may seem insignificant. However, over time these small things can make a big difference. If you can change your daily habits to implement some of these small changes it will have a profound effect on the environment over the long haul. Changing your lifestyle may also influence others around you to do the same and then the impact you have is even greater.
If you want to learn more about how you can help with global warming have a look at 200 Ways to Fight global warming, a ebook and audio program that will help you fight global warming today.
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