Thursday, April 30, 2009

Going Green at Home and on Campus

There are many ways to stop global warming and save our planet from completely falling apart. Here are some of the ways you can make a difference. You can be green anywhere and a good place to start would be school. You can ask your school janitor if non-toxic cleaning materials are used in your school. When you use paper, write and print on both sides. Ask your principal if you and a group of friends can start a gardening club. Carpool to school with those who live in your neighborhood, or, if you live close to school, you could ride your bike.

Another good place to go green is at home. Your house accounts for about 22 percent of total U.S. energy consumption, 21 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, and 9 percent of water use. You could use compact fluorescent light bulbs. You should always unplug electronics when you’re not using them. Even when they’re turned off, electrical appliances still use power. You can also talk to your parents about planting an herb garden. Stop using disposable bags and buy reusable ones, or make your own. You can also buy reusable water bottles. It will save money and the earth. Turn off the lights when you leave a room, or, if possible, don’t even turn on the lights. Open a curtain and enjoy the natural light. Support your local economy and shop at a farmers market. Ask your parents if they can research and see if they can sign up for green power from your utility company. Fix leaky faucets and make your own household cleaners. Talk to your parents about line drying your laundry. Collect rainwater and use it to water your houseplants and gardens. Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers or bulk storage.

There are many ways to go green and believe it or not this really is only a few. Don’t forget the most important way to go green though: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

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2 comments:

Anna Adam said...

These are some fantastic tips! Thank you for giving me something to think about! We already do some of this in our home, but we'll definitely take a few more of these tips to heart!

Anonymous said...

Katie, your a great writer and I love you soooo much


Shai