3R: Reduce

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas behind climate change. Your carbon footprint is unique to you. How you travel, use electricity, and even how you eat are all factors.

USE AUTOMOBILES LESS

-- carbon omissions vehicles produced 95,000 pounds of global- warming pollution per year.

• go by public transit
• ride a bicycle
• use you feet walk
• take trains or busses not planes

LOWER EMISSIONS

-- if we must use a car we can ensure that we do our best todecrease the damage caused by automobiles

• drive a fuel-efficient or an alternative fuel vehicle vehicles – driving a typical car for a year produces 95,000 pounds of global-warming pollution
• keep vehicles running efficiently -- ensure you have a functioning catalytic converter to reduce exhaust emissions
• don’t leave a vehicle idling simply to keep the interior warm in the winter or the air conditioner running in the summer
• avoid jack-rabbit starts and stops, and slow down
• keep tires properly inflated -- you can save fuel and cut pollution

PLANT A TREE

• Planting a tree is good because trees give off oxygen that we breathe and trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which filters our air, and trees prevents soil erosion. It’s much better to a plant tree that is native to your area and one that doesn't require heavy irrigation.

LOWER ENERGY CONSUMPTION

• turn off all not needed lights
• replace existing light bulbs with energy saving bulbs -- compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use about 65 percent less energy than regular bulbs
• adjust thermostat – get an thermostat you can schedule to turn off when you are working. Also set it down a degree in winter and up a degree in summer -- you’ll spare the air 500 pounds of carbon dioxide and save up to 15 percent on energy bills
• clean or replace your air conditioner and or furnace filters – this increases efficiency, running in peak condition uses less energy. Nearly 50% of a household's energy costs go toward heating and cooling
• use ceiling fans instead of air conditioners -- will reduce your cooling costs by at least 60%.
• keep cold drinking water in your fridge or drink room temperature water (it’s good for you) - The electricity consumed by North America's water coolers in one year is equal to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by 700,000 cars

MINIMIZE THE GARBAGE WE CREATE AND THROW OUT

-- every day North Americans throw away almost 5 pounds of garbage each!

• simplify your life as much as possible - create less waste for the future
• stop using disposable start using reusable products like: containers for food and beverage, and products such as disposable cups and plates, razors, towels, writing pens, diapers, shopping bags, etc.
• use washable dishes and utensils instead of disposables
• use cloth napkins and hand towels instead of paper towels
• use rubber stamps instead of address labels
• take photos with a digital not disposable camera
• practice paperless communications when possible
• compost kitchen and garden organic waste – over two thirds of the waste produced in North America can be composted, yet we still send thirty million tons of leaves and grass clippings to landfills each year. Also composting organic kitchen and garden wastes helps to build healthy soil and reduces the amount of materials going to the landfill. Composting also improves the quality of our air and water.
• buy smart and cook less food – give care packages to our guests. At least 28 billion pounds of edible foods are wasted each year - or over 100 pounds per person. That’s about 2 million pounds!
• avoid disposable decorations - like balloons and crepe paper/streamers, instead make your own from salt dough or bakers clay – decorate newsprint, tissue or scrap paper with potato stamps. Cut up old cards. 

QUIT SMOKING

- Cigarette butts litter – so pick them. Plus by now everyone knows second-hand smoke is a major indoor air pollutant and health hazard. When you quit, both you and your family will lead longer and healthier lives. 

CONSIDER PACKAGING

- Did you know if every family reused just 2 feet of holiday ribbon, the 60,000 km saved could tie a bow around the entire planet? 1/3 of all household waste is packaging materials Canadians spend about $4 billion on wrappings, decorations and gifts each winter 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold yearly in the USA could fill a football field 10 stories high.

• where possible buy without packaging
• buy in bulk to cut down on packaging waste
• skip the bag or use reusable bags
• choose goods with eco-friendly packaging
• look for wrapping paper that is recycled or recyclable
• twine can be as festive as pre-packaged ribbons
• use homemade wrapping decorations
• use reusable containers, like shoe boxes
• wrap presents in old comics, maps, magazines or newsprint
• cut up old cards to make gift tags
• make the wrapping part of the gift wrapped in fabric, like a scarf for ribbon, wrap things like wedding shower gifts in bath towels and table cloths

BE A WISE WATER USER

• save / conservation water
• don’t throw chemicals in our sewers
• fix tap leaks
• take shorter showers -- save hundreds of gallons of water a month.
• turn your hot water tank down -- if half the house holds in North America turned their water heaters down ten degrees Fahrenheit six degrees Celsius it would prevent 239 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted each year.
• add an automatic rain sensor to your manual or automatic sprinkler -- 90% of people over water their lawns

REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Minimize the Damage

• practice organic lawn care and organic gardening
• reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides
• eliminate the use of pesticides for cosmetic reasons
• take old paints, chemicals computers to recycle centers
• don’t litter
• use de-icers that are less damaging to the environment than salt and sand

BUY ECO-FRIENDLY

- Keep the environment in mind whenever you purchase anything Purchase environmentally safe / eco friendly products such as

• eco-safe biodegradable soaps and cleaners
• bio degradable plastics
• organic pesticides
• clothing where material is organically grown
• products made from sustainable products
• shop for gifts at antique stores or estate sales
• organic cloth napkins
• replace paper towels with cloth towels
• bleach-free, toilet paper - made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum)
• building materials

PURCHASE ORGANICALLY GROWN FOOD

• local grown food – local grown food is not only fresh but it is easer on the environment because it takes less fuel to get it to the consumer, but it also has minimal packaging and much more of it is organically grown.

CHOOSE COMPANIES WHO WORK TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

– more and more companies are trying to be environmental conscious seek out and support proactive businesses

SHARE

• team up to buy rarely used items - sharing decreases the energy and pollution from mining, manufacturing, packaging, and transporting new goods
• Organize a shared tool shed - If you only use things like your ladder, hedge shears, garden tools once in a while, consider lending them to others
• Set up a book exchange at you office or community center

Source:
ardentgreenliving.com