How To Go Green
The hot ticket item of recent times has been the effects and ways to counteract the phenomenon of global warming. Extensive disregard for harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions and disposal of environmentally harmful waste has stomped a carbon mud hole in Mother Earth.
The Green Train Project aims to educate people on benefits and means of living a greener lifestyle. Here are the top ways for an individual to go green in order reduce their carbon footprint and prolong the life of the planet.
The Top 8 Ways To Go Green
1. Power Down: Perhaps your parents had a point when they rode you for leaving lights on. Take the time to turn lights off when you leave the room, turn your computer off instead of letting it idle, and get in the habit of unplugging appliances before leaving the house. The task may be painful at first, but the Department of Energy estimates that 40 percent of electricity used by appliances occurs while the appliance is off.
2. Dry Out: Water heater usage is the second energy user within the household next to the heating system. Small nuances to pay attention to using hot water can cut energy consumption. Although steam baths are relaxing, they maximize hot water consumption; rock the quick shower instead, it gets the job done. If possible, install low flow faucets on your sinks and turn the water completely off when you're not rinsing something.
3. Compact: Switch to compact florescent light bulbs. These are not the tubular flickering buzzing monstrosities that many people associate with the phrase. They will cut your energy usage in the household dramatically, which equals saving money, which according to popular studies is good. The light has gone out for incandescent bulbs as you will save around $30 on your electric bill over the lifespan of each compact florescent bulb while cutting energy usage.
4. Drop: Lower your thermostat. Reducing the temperature on your thermostat will consume less energy and save massive amounts of money on your heating bill. If you're cold, put more clothes on; sweatshirts don't consume energy.
5. Eat: Shop at local, organic food markets to cut the fossil fuel usage needed to get your food from its origin to your mouth. Buying organic will reduce the use of harmful chemical pesticides involved in preserving produce; you will be reducing the amount of poison in yourself and the earth. Compost the food that you don't eat, most of it is biodegradable; why not supply the earth with the delicious nutrients that you don't eat instead of packing them into landfills?
6. Reduce: This just came out, it's brand new; not really. People have been mentioning the three R's at an annoying rate for years; maybe it's time to start listening. Start by buying products with less packaging, let's be honest, it doesn't matter how flashy the outer packaging is, unless you intend on framing it, it's heading straight for the landfill anyway. Take small steps in limiting the amount of containers you use as well. Save one water bottle and simply refill it, bring your own reusable grocery and shopping bags, and buy products that are designed to last a long time.
7. Reuse: If something breaks, intend on repairing the item rather than buying a new one. If you're not a fan of this, donate it; many thrift stores can make the necessary repairs needed to resell the item. Find other uses for objects that have served their initial intended use get creative. Simply put, try to throw away the least amount of materials possible.
8. Recycle: Again, a term that you've likely sick of hearing. There are more ways to recycle than members of the Wu Tang Clan. Find a recycling center around you and take the nominal amount of time to separate garbage from recyclable materials. Whenever possible use recycled paper as well as using other environmentally friendly supplies such as soy inks or rechargeable batteries.