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1. Recycle and Re-Use

Recycling is one of the most important things you can do for the environment-- and there are several things that make it so important. One of these is, of course, reducing the amount of trash in landfills. Man-made materials like plastic take thousands and thousands of years to biodegrade. If you don't recycle, each plastic water bottle or milk jug you throw away will live far, far longer than you do.

When used in combination with composting, recycling eliminates 65% of your household waste. And there are many ways to put it into use in your home, from setting aside paper, plastic, etc., for public recycling programs, to re-using some materials (such as glass bottles, etc.) throughout your home.

2. Reduce Fuel Usage

With gas prices continually rising, reducing fuel usage is something that is starting to come naturally to many of us. And while the topic of global warming is still a controversial one, scientists do say that it's important to watch the amount of fuel you consume. You can reduce your "carbon footprint" by driving only when necessary and utilizing public transport whenever possible. And when you do drive, follow the suggested guidelines for getting the maximum fuel efficiency out of your car. Looking to buy a new car sometime soon? Think about a hybrid.

3. Increase Energy Efficiency

While there are a few methods of clean energy used today, most of the energy that comes to our homes and offices is produced in ways that pollute the environment. It can be easy to think that a left-on light bulb doesn't matter, the truth is that it does. Little bits of wasted energy here and there really add up.

So be wise when it comes to your energy usage. Turn the air conditioning down when you're not at home. Turn off your computer and TV when you're not using them. And when you see a light shining in an empty room, switch it off. The more you do to save energy, the more you do to save the environment while reducing your electric bills at the same time.

4. Use Green Building Techniques

Having a new home built or doing renovations to your current one? One trend is green building, or sustainable architecture. Among others, some of the techniques used in green building are creating smaller living spaces, using more efficient heating and cooling, increasing insulation, and installing alternative power sources.

5. Shop Locally

While you may think about the pollution you create every time you get in your car, you may not think about the pollution your create when you buy a dozen apples. Or a loaf of bread. Or a bag of dog food.

Both the production of the items you buy and their transport to your location create pollution. A great way to reduce the effect your lifestyle has on the environment is to shop locally. Instead of buying meat, fruits, and vegetables from out of state, drop by the farmer's market. The less distance something has to go to reach your door, the less it pollutes the environment to consume it. And as a bonus, locally grown foods are fresher and tastier.

6. Buy Wisely

One of the worst things humans do to harm the environment is over consume. We buy things we don't need and replace things that don't need replacing. This over-consumption is eventually going to have an effect, which makes it important to buy wisely. While this doesn't mean you should never buy anything you don't absolutely need, it does mean that you should consider the pollution and energy consumption behind each t-shirt or computer keyboard you buy.

Another thing to consider when shopping wisely is the packaging of the things you buy. Look for items with efficient, minimal packaging that creates less waste. Comparing two similar items of different brands? Make the quantity of packaging (and therefore the quantity of wasteful trash) a factor in your decision.

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dasliberdan2

Posted on November 24, 2008, 3:05 pm

Testing 123

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