Ways to help save the environment. 100 different ways each one of us can make a difference and help to save our environment on planet Earth.

In Your Home – Conserve Energy

1. Clean
   or replace air filters on your air conditioning unit at least
   once a month.
2. If you
   have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused
   rooms.
3. Lower
   the thermostat on your water heater to 120.
4. Wrap your
   water heater in an insulated blanket.
5. Turn
   down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for
   extended periods.
6. Turn off
   unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
7. Set your
   refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to
   5 .
8. When using
   an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces
   oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
9. Clean
   the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses
   less energy.
10. Unplug
    seldom used appliances.
11. Use a
    microwave when- ever you can instead of a conventional oven
    or stove.
12. Wash clothes
    with warm or cold water instead of hot.
13. Reverse
    your indoor ceiling fans for summer and winter operations as
    recommended.
14. Turn off
    lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
15. Purchase
    appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label;
    old refridgerators, for example, use up to 50 more electricity
    than newer models.
16. Only use
    electric appliances when you need them.
17. Use
    compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
18. Keep your
    thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer.
19. Keep your
    thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are
    away
20. Insulate
    your home as best as you can.
21. Install
    weather stripping around all doors and windows.
22. Shut off
    electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
23. Plant
    trees to shade your home.
24. Shade
    outside air conditioning units by trees or other means.
25. Replace
    old windows with energy efficient ones.
26. Use cold
    water instead of warm or hot water when possible.
27. Connect
    your outdoor lights to a timer.
28. Buy green
    electricity - electricity produced by low - or even zero-pollution
    facilities (NC Greenpower for North Carolina - www.ncgreenpower.org).
    In your home-reduce toxicity.

In Your Home – Reduce Toxicity

29. Eliminate
    mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury,
    and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off
    facility when necessary (e.g. old thermometers).
30. Learn
    about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use
    hazardous chemicals.
31. Buy the
    right amount of paint for the job.
32. Review
    labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives
    like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow
    grease.
33. When no
    good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find the least amount
    required for an effective, sanitary result.
34. If you
    have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead.
    If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other
    material instead of sanding it or burning it off.
35. Use traps
    instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
36. Have your
    home tested for radon.
37. Use cedar
    chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.

    In
    Your Yard

38. Avoid
    using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment.
39. Use
    an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.
40. Leave
    grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients
    to the soil.
41. Use recycled
    wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture and
    prevent erosion.
42. Use only
    the required amount of fertilizer.
43. Minimize
    pesticide use.
44. Create
    a wildlife habitat in your yard.
45. Water
    grass early in the morning.
46. Rent
    or borrow items like ladders, chain saws, party decorations
    and others that are seldom used.
47. Take actions
    that use non hazardous components (e.g., to ward off pests,
    plant marigolds in a garden instead of using pesticide).
48. Put leaves
    in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away.
    Yard debris too large for your compost bin should be taken to
    a yard-debris recycler.

In Your Office

49. Copy
    and print on both sides of paper.
50. Reuse
    items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
51. Use mailer
    sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer
    sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
52. Set
    up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each
    employee.
53. Use e-mail
    instead of paper correspondence.
54. Use recycled
    paper.
55. Use discarded
    paper for scrap paper.
56. Encourage
    your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based
    inks, which are less toxic.
57. Use a
    ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

    Ways To Protect Our Air

58. Ask your
    employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
59. Recycle
    printer cartridges.
60. Shut off
    electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
61. Report
    smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
62. Don't
    use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.
63. Avoid
    slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount
    of pollution.
64. Burn seasoned
    wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
65. Use solar
    power for home and water heating.
66. Use low-VOC
    or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
67. Purchase
    radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
68. Paint
    with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize
    harmful emissions.
69. Ignite
    charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative
    to lighter fluid.
70. If you
    use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required
    to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and
    cleaner burning.
71. Walk or
    ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
72. Join a
    carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Ways to Use Less Water

73. Check
    and fix any water leaks.
74. Install
    water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
75. Don't
    wash dishes with the water running continuously.
76. Wash and
    dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
77. Follow
    your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
78. Install
    a low-flow shower head.
79. Replace
    old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
80. Turn off
    washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

    Ways to Protect Our Water

81. Revegetate
    or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
82. Never
    dump anything down a storm drain.
83. Have your
    septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
84. Check
    your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
85. Take your
    car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
86. Learn
    about your watershed.

    Create
    Less Trash

87. Buy items
    in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging
    wasted.
88. Avoid
    products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient.
    About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
89. Buy products
    that you can reuse.
90. Maintain
    and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
91. Check
    reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown
    rates.
92. Reuse
    items like bags and containers when possible.
93. Use cloth
    napkins instead of paper ones.
94. Use reusable
    plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
95. Use reusable
    containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling
    wrap.
96. Shop
    with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
97. Buy rechargeable
    batteries for devices used frequently.
98. Reuse
    packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make
    great packaging material.
99. Compost
    your vegetable scraps.
100. Buy used
     furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper
     than new furniture.

Source: seql.org