GREEN your lifestyle

Here are a few simple tips and tricks you can use to lessen your environmental impact courtesy of The Rainforest Site:

Plant a tree with a child: Take a walk in the woods, or plant trees (which store CO2). Teaching our children to love and care for the planet is the most important thing we can do to ensure the future of humankind!

Transportation: Use alternative transportation whenever possible, especially for your daily commute! Bikes, public transit, and carpools are great ways to commute. If you must drive, choose a fuel-efficient car, and try not to speed. Fuel economy decreases rapidly at 60 mph and over. Also, make sure your tires are inflated to recommended levels, since proper tire inflation increases the lifespan of your tires, saves fuel, lowers emissions, and saves lives.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Compost: Reusing packaging material saves more energy than recycling. By avoiding extra packaging, you save both energy and landfill space. Yard and kitchen waste (leaves/grass/vegetable scraps) make up 30% of trash—an amount you can significantly reduce by composting. Also be sure use and re-use a canvas grocery bag.

Conserve water: Global temperatures are on the rise, and water is becoming a very precious commodity. Check your home regularly for leaks, and don't let faucets run. Water your lawn only when necessary, and then schedule it in the late evening or early morning—if you water at midday, most of the water evaporates and does your grass no good. Take shorter showers, run the washing machine and dishwasher only when full, or better still, wash your dishes by hand. You can even use the leftover rinsing water to water your plants! Let grass grow longer, and plant native or drought-tolerant garden plants.

Eat less meat, and try eating more local & organic foods: Feedlots concentrate an unnaturally large number of animals and are a major source of organic pollution. In tropical areas, rainforest is cleared for cattle pasture. Local and organic foods reduce the energy costs of transportation and the excessive use of pesticides.

Reduce your everyday energy consumption: Lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer. Wearing a sweater in the winter and short sleeves in the summer saves energy and reduces pollution. Replace old thermostats with efficient programmable models, and keep your windows and doors up-to-date and sealed so that your home is properly insulated. Try replacing incandescent lightbulbs with energy-saving flourescent bulbs.

For more tips, click here