5 EASY WAYS TO HELP SAVE THE PLANET EARTH

Conserving Water

1. Conserve water at home. Wasting water is one of the biggest ways

individuals impact the health of the planet. Taking measures to use less water
is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with a water
shortage, this is even more important for the health of your region's
environment. Try to check off as many items as possible from this list:

o Check and fix any water leaks. A leaky faucet can waste a lot of water.
o Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. A low-flow
showerhead could be a good start.
o Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously. Use a method
that requires less water to get the dishes clean.
o Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks. It doesn't
need to be on all the time.
o Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
o Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes. Doing a half-load
wastes water.
o Don't use too much water to water your lawn.
o Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth.
2. Use fewer chemicals. Chemicals used to wash our bodies, homes, cars and
everything else get washed down the drain or absorbed in the grass, and eventually
end up in the water supply. Since most people use heavy-duty chemicals for all sorts
of things, chemicals are doing real damage to waterways and aquatic life. The
chemicals aren't good for humans, either, so do your best to cut back on them.
Here's how:

 Learn about alternatives household cleaning items that do not use hazardous
chemicals. For example, using a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water
works as well as most commercial cleaners for basic cleaning jobs. Baking
soda and salt are cheap, nontoxic cleansers, but should be used in
moderation.
 When no good alternatives to a toxic item exist, determine the least amount
required for an effective, sanitary result and use a minimal amount each time
you clean. Paying close attention to the requisite amount will help you reduce
and also save money.
 Instead of using chemical-laden shampoos and soaps, try making your own.
 Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, find natural ways to get rid of
weeds and pests.
3. Dispose of toxic waste the right way. Paint, motor oil, ammonia, and a host of
other chemicals should not be poured down the drain or directly into the ecosystem.
They'll soak into the earth and end up in the groundwater. Contact your local
sanitation department to find out about best practice for disposing of hazardous
waste and toxic chemicals.

Help identify large-scale water polluters. Individuals can only do so much when it
comes to keeping water clean. Businesses and industries are often the culprits when
it comes to water pollution. In order to protect the earth's water, concerned citizens
should speak up and find ways to stop pollution at its source.

 Join a local environmental group that works to clean up the water in your
area, whether it's a river, lake or ocean.
  Contact your local representative to speak up about your views on keeping
water chemical-free.
 Volunteer to help clean up beaches or riverbanks.
 Help others get involved in efforts to clean up the water in your area.

Preserving air quality

5. Use less electricity. Coal and natural gas are the most common sources
of energy that gets turned into electricity. The burning of these substances is
a major factor in world air pollution. Reducing your reliance on electricity is a
great way to play a part in saving the planet. Here's what you can do:

o Use solar power for home and water heating.

o Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
o If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused
rooms.
o Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120.
o Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for
extended periods.
o Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
o Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 .
o When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it
reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
o Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less
energy.
o Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
o Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
o Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
o Plant trees to shade your home.
o Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
o Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you
are away.
o Insulate your home as best as you can.
20 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Save Our Planet

1. Pay attention to what you are buying. I understand that we all have a budget,
but in today’s world, you also have OPTIONS. Find a happy medium for house-hold
goods, and if nothing else, make an effort to purchase goods and clothing that are
made in sustainable ways, from companies who are mindful of what they produce
and how. Buy paper products made from recycled goods, etc.. Research what kind
of things you buy from where and if there are better alternatives that are close in
price. It DOES matter. Your choices matter and directly impact the market for these
goods. There are even environmentally friendly companies for beer. New Belgium
Brewery out of Fort Collins, CO is consistently on the lists of best companies for the
environment. Keep these companies afloat AND become a more mindful consumer.

2. Recycle. If you don’t recycle, COME ON. It’s 2014. Don’t blame it on your building
or your house or your town. Find a recycling center, get some bins or re-use boxes
and RECYCLE everything that you possibly can. There is no excuse not to.

3. Be mindful of what you throw away. Can it be donated? Can it be saved?

Recycled? Composted? The dumpster should be the last resort. So much of what we
use can be reused, and not just thrown away. Find out what you can do with all of
the things you usually throw out to ensure that you are not wasting things that can be
saved. Waste doesn’t magically disappear when you throw it out.

4. Become a vegetarian. I know this seems extreme, but it isn’t as hard as you
might think. Vegetarians have far fewer health problems than meat-eaters, and live
longer lives. Vegetarian athletes have been proven to out-perform their meat-eating
competitors, and most of the nutrients our bodies need can be found in their most
efficient forms in their non-meat sources. How much pollution and waste is created
because of meat farming and production? The short answer: A LOT. And in case you
need another reason, most meat production is extremely inhumane. Research ‘ag-
gag’ laws if you need convincing. A vegetarian diet is healthier for you, the planet,
and kinder to animals that meat production has disconnected you from. Fake meat
products are more delicious than ever now, too. I know there are many people who
cannot or won’t become vegetarians, but it is worth considering. Even eating less
meat will help reduce demand.

5. Volunteer. Give your time, or at least some of your cash to worthy causes. Help
clean up areas where you live, walk dogs at your local shelter, or raise some dollars
to give to a worthy cause. There are people out there fighting for the planet and its
animals. Help them out!

6. Give meaningful gifts. The next time you don’t know what to give someone you
love for a gift, consider making a donation in their name. Symbolically adopt their
favorite animal for them from WWF, or donate a heifer to a hungry family. If your
loved one already has it all, don’t create need for more materials to be produced,
and ultimately for something that gets produced to take up space in a landfill.

7. Go paperless. With the fluidity and ease of emails today, there is no need for any
of our bills or mail to be in paper form. Most companies are pretty good about
rewarding their clients or customers who go paperless, or at least providing the
option to go paperless. It’s less piles of paper to have to recycle!

8. Adopt an animal. It’s heartbreaking that there are still people out there buying
puppies and kittens, when there are THOUSANDS of dogs and cats who get
euthanized daily because they are homeless. Save a life. You will feel the reward
paid back to you a thousand fold and give some loving animal a home. *Don’t forget
to get that pet spayed or neutered, too!*

9. Get mad. All it takes is a little research to find out the horrifying truths about how
little is being done about climate change, pollution, waste, and bad practices. Pick a
cause to be mad about, and do something. It’s your planet, too, and nothing will help
more than individuals caring about what is going on. Turning a blind eye to species
who are becoming extinct, environments being destroyed, and destructive practices
staying in place will not fix it; it will expedite the trip to those terrifying and
heartbreaking ends. DO something!

10. Get reusable bags for the grocery store. This one is easy. Most grocery stores
have them for sale near check out for $1, and lots of events give them out for free. In
the UK and Europe, grocery customers are charged for plastic bag use, or not
permitted to use them at all. Get reusable bags. Use them.

11. Carpool. This is a no-brainer. Why waste gasoline and create more pollution
than necessary? The ride is better with other people anyways.

12. Don’t waste water. Don’t you know it’s better for your hair the less you wash it?
Don’t run the dishwasher with nothing in it. Don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily. There
are people on the planet with no water to drink, yet we waste water at an alarming
rate. Call me a hippy, but if it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down. Don’t
waste gallons of fresh water unnecessarily.

13. Donate money to charities. Can’t adopt an animal because of where you live?
Websites like Petfinder, ASPCA, and WWF let you sponsor animals and causes with
monetary donations. OR find your local shelter or organization and donate what you
can. Think of all the dumb stuff you spend money on (or least I know I do) and
realize that $15 will really help someone else.

14. Ride a bike. Get exercise AND pollute less. If you can walk or ride your bike to
work, it’s a win-win. Your actions DO matter. And don’t forget a helmet.

15. Be a leader. People around you, people you work with, and your friends will see
you changing aspects of your lifestyle to be more mindful of what we are doing to the
planet. Take responsibility for being a citizen of the Earth, and don’t expect “others”
to make changes. We all need to do our part and make INFINITELY better decisions,
and if this is you, know that you will make a difference to the people in your life. It
isn’t easy, it isn’t cheap, and it can be time-consuming to figure out what the best
choices actually are, but it’s worth it. Just because other people don’t care doesn’t
mean we should just throw our hands up. Lead by example.
16. Donate your used clothing and furniture. Why throw something away that
someone else might want? You never know what just might fit someone else’s bill,
especially if they’re in need.

17. Don’t have children if you don’t want them. The Earth is overpopulated as it
is, and there are so many children who need homes. We continue to reproduce,
even when we aren’t sure if we want to be parents. Old ways of thinking need to fall
away completely in order to stop pressuring people to have kids if that isn’t what they
want. If only the people who truly wanted to be parents had kids, there would be a lot
fewer human beings in bad situations.

18. Stop making excuses. Don’t expect the rest of the world to make good choices
to make up for yours. YOU MATTER. What you buy and consume matters, and it
directly affects the rest of the world. Don’t expect all the ‘hippies’ to eat organic and
locally, or even worse, don’t just decide it’s not worth trying. It IS. Even if you don’t
care about the people of the planet (we’ve done this to ourselves), at least make an
effort for the animals. THEY DESERVE BETTER! The animals of this planet do not
deserve to go extinct because of OUR poor choices and lack of caring.

19. Buy locally grown produce & groceries. In buying food from people in your
area, you are not only supporting them, but you are cutting demand for large
companies that probably produce a great deal of waste. Go to farmers markets, shop
locally, and know where your food comes from. This solves so many problems.
Simply buying ‘organic’ doesn’t always necessarily guarantee quality or
environmentally friendly production.

20. Teach young people the importance of treating our environment with care
and that we CAN make a difference. In fact, we HAVE to make a difference and
QUICKLY. If we don’t teach our children that what we do DIRECTLY affects the
planet, things will never change. Everything we do matters, and if we don’t STOP the
practices that past generations have put in place, our planet truly is doomed.
Wyoming, where I live, is particularly awful when it comes to educating children
about what gas and coal industries are doing and will continue to do to the
environment, but we are not powerless. Children learn from those around them.
Inspire them to help us and make them part of the rescue efforts. The mind of a child
is a beautiful thing, and sometimes they come up with solutions and feel greater
conviction to stop injustice than adults.

No one person can change the world, but together, if we all choose changes to make
and causes to fight for, we can change many things. The planet needs immediate
help, and your everyday actions matter. We can’t all be perfect, but we can all be
conscious global citizens. Lead the way wherever you are, and take responsibility for
your impact on this one place that we have to live. Make it a place that future
generations will be able to live in, too.