I know most people don't see why they need to change their lives or do the little things to help the planet, but just because it's probably not going to directly affect you doesn't mean it won't to someone close to you. What will the world be like in 50, 60+ years from now? What kind of planet will your children and grand children be living in? Upon the unfortunate event that our time has passed on this earth, it doesn't mean the world stops revolving and everyone else stops living. Just because you may no longer be around doesn't mean the loved ones you leave behind can no longer feel pain.
This isn't meant to scare or frighten anyone but to hopefully open up peoples eyes to the tunnel vision millions of people have about the VERY REAL problem that will continue to get worse unless we all get onboard and start doing the little things now, that will have a huge impact on not only our futures....but everyones as well. |
| Below are some random facts about what you could possibly do to help: |
| MAKE SURE "OFF" IS OFF |
Household electronics account for more than 25 percent of home electricity use, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Since chargers for iPods, cellphones, electric drills, and the like draw electricity even when not connected to their mates, these should be removed from sockets as soon as the devices are juiced. Anything with a standby light - TVs, for example - should be plugged into a power strip that is shut down when not in use. (Electronics qualified by the federal Energy Star program - a joint effort of the EPA and the Department of Energy - use lower wattage in standby mode.) |
| ENERGY CONSERVATION |
Energy conservation can be simple, but it has a big impact. If every home in the United States replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), the energy saved would prevent greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road, says Arthur Rosenfeld, a physicist and member of the California Energy Commission. He also says that if Americans achieved a 2 percent reduction in energy use each year for the next 30 to 40 years - a feasible rate - we would be halfway to stabilizing our greenhouse-gas emissions. "What many people don't realize is how easy conservation is," says Rosenfeld. |
| STOP HAND WASHING THE DISHES |
Good news: Using the dishwasher is actually better for the planet than washing dishes by hand. The average energy-efficient dishwasher uses just 4 gallons per cycle, saving as much as 5,000 gallons of water per year compared with hand washing, as well as $40 in energy costs and 230 hours of washing time, according to the EPA. |
| RECYCLE NEWSPAPER |
There are 63 million newspapers printed each day in the U.S. Of these, 44 million, or about 69%, of them will be thrown away. Recycling just the Sunday papers would save more than half a million trees every week. |
| RECYCLE GLASS |
Recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20 percent and related water pollution by 50 percent. If it isn't recycled it can take a million years to decompose. |
| WASH IN COLD OR WARM |
If all the households in the U.S. switched from hot-hot cycle to warm-cold, we could save the energy comparable to 100,000 barrels of oil a day.
Only launder when you have a full load. |
| PLANT A TREE |
It's good for the air, the land, can shade your house and save on cooling (plant on the west side of your home), and they can also improve the value of your property. Make it meaningful for the whole family and plant a tree every year for each member. |
| RECYCLE ALUMINUM |
Twenty recycled aluminium cans can be made with the energy it takes to manufacture one brand new one. |
| RELATED LINKS |
http://www.wecansolveit.org
http://www.repoweramerica.org
http://earth911.com/ |