Bulk Up!

Buy products with less packaging or buy in bulk. Always choose paper or cardboard, which biodegrade, while plastic does not.

Plant a Tree!

Pick a spot in your backyard or near your house where you can plant a tree. Not only does planting a tree beautify the area, it also provides a home for wildlife and absorbs carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming.

SKIP RED MEAT ONCE A WEEK!

Meat production — especially in mass-produced beef — is extremely resource-intensive. It can take seven or more pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef, and livestock consumes 70 percent of America’s grain! Eat less of it and choose pasture-fed, sustainably raised beef whenever you can. If you alone gave it up once every seven days, you would save the 840 gallons of fresh water it takes to produce a single serving!

PAPER PRODUCTS!

Stop using paper towels as much and don't use plastic utensils unless necessary! Paper towels and napkins are particularly wasteful of forest resources, landfill space, and your money. If you do purchase paper towels or napkins, make sure you buy an eco-friendly variety. A better alternative is to use cloth napkins at meals, and rags, sponges, or towels to clean up messes. As for plastic utensils, wash and reuse them instead of throwing them out because they are not biodegradable products. If you do need to get rid of them, recycle them!

Unplug It!

Unplug appliances you aren't using. Even if it is off, a plug in the wall uses "ghost power", which is not only a waste of your money at the end of the month on an electrical bill, but a waste of energy which is very easily avoided as well.

Reuse!

Do you go to school with a bag brown lunch everyday and throw the bag out after? Try saving the paper and reusing it for more than one day. Then when you need a new one, recycle the bag instead of throwing it out! You can use the same concept at the supermarket. Start bringing bags to the supermarket instead of using new plastic grocery bags every time!

Get rid of Styrofoam!

Make sure you cross styrofoam cups off your shopping list this year. With the amount of foam cups we use each year, we could circle the earth 436 times!

Turn Off the Water!

If you leave the water running when you brush your teeth, it wastes three gallons of water. If you only turn it on to rinse, think of how much water you're saving!

Light Bulbs

Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent. In its lifetime, a CFL bulb will save $30 in electric costs and it simply just takes one of these eco-friendly bulbs. If you change all of the light bulbs in your house, imagine how much money you could save!

Change the temperature!

Turn your thermostat down three degrees in the winter and up three degrees in the summer. By doing this, you can prevent the emission of nearly 1100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and you won't even feel the temperature change in your house!

Drive Less!

Carpool or take public transportation. Even better, ride a bike or walk. You'll save money in gas and help the environment.

Tip # 1

Make a compost pile in your backyard for your garbage! About 60% of household waste can be put in a composte pile! For example, grain products, fruits and vegetables, plant clippings, egg shells, coffee grounds, and tea bags can all go in a backyard compost.