Tuesday 22 April 2008

Earth Day, April 22nd


It is Earth Day.

What YOU can still do!


1. Flip the Switch to Cleaner Electricity. Most people don't realize that making electricity is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the U.S. By purchasing a 100 percent new renewable energy product for a year, an American household using an average of 920 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month could help avoid contributing over 15,000 pounds of CO2 annually. This is like not driving your car over 16,000 miles or as much CO2 as 900 trees would absorb in one year.

2. Reduce where you can, neutralize the rest. 1) Reduce — When you incorporate some of our easy-to-follow reduction tips into your lifestyle, you’ll quickly begin lowering the size of your carbon footprint; 2) Offset — While it’s nearly impossible to reduce your carbon footprint to zero, you can offset the emissions that remain from your household’s driving, flying, natural gas and electricity with BeGreen Carbon Offsets. By purchasing BeGreen carbon offsets you’re investing in cleaner technologies that help neutralize your impact on global warming. To purchase a BeGreen carbon offset product or to find out what your carbon footprint is, visit: www.begreennow.com.

3. Drive Smart. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere! Keep your car tuned up, combine trips, limit idling to 30 seconds, never “top off” the tank, drive less aggressively and maintain proper tire pressure. Keeping you tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent.

4. Upgrade to EPA’s ENERGY STAR-Certified Products. With the help of ENERGY STAR, Americans saved enough energy in 2005 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 23 million cars.

5. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). CFLs last 10 times longer and use about 72 percent less energy than a standard bulb.

6. Recycle More. You can save as much as 2,400 pounds of CO2 emissions per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

7. Reduce at Home. Turn off computers, televisions, CD players, and other electronic devices when they won't be used for at least half an hour.

8. Say No to Plastic Bags. When shopping, bring a reusable bag to carry your purchases. A plastic bag can take an astonishing 500 years to decompose.Reuse your plastic shopping bags: use them as trash bags( which I do) so as not to buy others that are more energy wasting.
Use paper bags rather than plastic bags when you are given the choice.
Use reusable grocery bags, which always have a lower environmental impact.

9. "Tune up" your home. Caulk around windows and doors; clean your heating and air conditioning system to improve operating efficiency; and insulate attics and crawl spaces.

10. Make Every Day Earth Day! Make a pledge starting with Earth Day 2008 to live greener at home, at the office and in your community by Making Every Day Earth Day.

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