Earth Day and You: How To Change Your World

Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet.

Here is what you can do at home:

SAVE ENERGY

• Use the Energy Star program (www.energystar.gov) to find energy efficient products for your home. The right choices can save families about 30% ($400 a year) while reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases. Whether you are looking to replace old appliances, remodel, or buy a new house, the can help. ENERGY STAR is the government's backed symbol for energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR label makes it easy to know which products to buy without sacrificing features, style or comfort that today's consumers expect.
• Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
• Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
• Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
• Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired.
• Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.
• Insulate your home, water heater and pipes. Keep in mind that every trip adds to air pollution. Learn more at It All Adds Up.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with Natural Resources Conservation Service.

REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE

• Practice the three R's: first reduce how much you use, then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what's left in the most environmentally friendly way. Read the tips below and explore the Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste

Reduce:

• Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
• Buy and use only what you need.
• Buy products with less packaging.
• Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.

Reuse:

• Repair items as much as possible.
• Use durable coffee mugs.
• Use cloth napkins or towels.
• Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
• Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
• Reuse boxes.
• Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
• Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. For information on handling household solid waste, visit www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/citizens.htm.
• Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
• Reuse grocery bags as trash bags.

Recycle:

• Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
• Recycle electronics. More information is at www.epa.gov/ecycling/index.htm or www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/eCycling.htm
• Recycle used motor oil (read an EPA brochure in PDF format).
• Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants.
• Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use recycled packaging. That's what makes recycling economically possible. Learn more at epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/buyrec.htm

For more Help Web Earth Day tips, visit:

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posted by Consumer Help Web Editorial Team at 1:25 PM |