You Can Help Save The Earth

EVERYWHERE

• Know that you can make a difference for the better
• Reduce your consumption of resources
• Reuse items
• Recycle items, paper, glass and metal (try to throw away as little as feasible)
• Repair items instead of replacing them
• Pick up litter and recycle or dispose of it properly
• Cut up plastic six-pack rings before recycling or disposing of them
• Support environmentally-conscious businesses

COMMUNITY

• Get to know your neighbors and help each other, e.g., car pool, buy in bulk, lend/borrow items
• Communicate your concerns about the environment to elected officials
• Vote for, volunteer for, and/or, contribute to environmentally-sensitive candidates and elected officials
• Support more funding for public transit
• Join, and/or volunteer for, environmental community groups
• Subscribe to local environmental email list(s)
• Organize programs to encourage and help others do items in this checklist

• Reduce your consumption of meat, fish, dairy and eggs (consider becoming a vegan or vegetarian)
• Buy/consume foods which are grown locally and/or certified organic
• Use a lid when boiling water, etc. - to reduce energy used

• Put a brick or weighted plastic jug in your toilet tank
• Don't flush the toilet every time when practical
• Turn your water heater down (e.g., to 120°F)
• Reduce use of heating (turn down thermostat before going to bed)
• Reduce use of air conditioning (open windows, close blinds and curtains, use a fan)
• Turn off lights, appliances, etc. when not in use
• Unplug appliances which constantly consume electricity
• Don't leave the water running when you're not actually using it, e.g., while brushing teeth, shaving, rinsing dishes
• Don't pre-rinse dishes before loading in dishwasher
• Operate the dishwasher only when full
• Take showers instead of baths
• Turn off the water during showers while you're soaping or shampooing
• Limit the time you spend in the shower and take fewer showers
• Install low-flow shower heads and faucets
• Fix leaking faucets
• Check for leaking toilets by adding a few drops of food coloring to the water in the tank and see if it appears in the bowl
• Do only full loads of laundry and use the shortest cycle feasible
• Hand wash clothes (except suits) instead of having them dry-cleaned
• Use sponges, rags and cloth towels instead of paper towels when feasible
• Air dry clothes when feasible
• Donate old clothes to charity
• Replace incandescent light bulbs (especially those you use the most) with compact fluorescent bulbs
• Ensure there's adequate weather-stripping or caulking on doorways and windows
• Wrap your water heater with an insulation jacket
• Request a free energy audit from your utility company
• Request a free water conservation survey from your water company
• Have your house converted to use solar energy
• Reduce junk mail (ask to be removed from mailing lists)
• Cancel subscriptions you don't need
• Set up place(s) to put recyclable items
• Take hazardous materials (paints, cleaners, etc.) to approved sites for proper disposal
• Use plants (e.g., native, naturally drought-resistant) which don't require a lot of water
• Reduce the amount of grass which requires watering in your yards
• Avoid using pesticides/chemicals in your yards
• Don't water the lawn when the sun is at its peak
• Don't overwater your lawn and plants
• Start a compost pile for yard waste and some food scraps
• Plant trees, especially where they'll provide shade for your house
• Let grass grow long where feasible
• Use a lawn mower with a mulcher
• Clean driveways, etc. with a broom, not a hose
• Work out of your home as much as feasible (e.g., telecommute, go to workplace for fewer days but longer hours)
• Live/work in the smallest building/space feasible and/or rent out extra rooms

• Take your own bags (e.g., cloth) to the store
• Buy used items when feasible
• Reduce purchases of disposable products
• Avoid buying items with excessive packaging and packaging which cannot be recycled
• Buy only items you're sure you'll use
• Buy items in bulk
• Buy concentrated products
• Buy items, especially paper products, with "post-consumer" recycled content
• Buy energy-efficient appliances
• Buy plug-in, instead of battery-powered, appliances
• Buy clothes which contain organic cotton, hemp, recycled PET plastic and/or unbleached and non-toxic dyes
• Avoid buying products made from tropical hardwoods or old growth trees
• Avoid using the store's bags

• Walk, ride a bike, use public transit or car pool instead of driving
• Plan ahead to combine trips
• Use your most efficient vehicle when feasible
• Keep your vehicle in good operating condition (tuned up, emissions system checked, tires properly inflated)
• Avoid quick starts
• Drive slower
• Avoid idling your vehicle for long periods
• Wash your car at a car wash or with water from a bucket