What can I do?
By making small changes you can have a big impact on the environment.
To learn more watch An Inconvenient Truth or The 11th hour.
Watch David Suzuki's Timecapsle from The 11th hour below.
1) Buying organic food is great! but if that food had to travel a long distance to get to you its not worth it. Buying local fruits and vegetables from local farmers markets like trails end which is open every Saturday.
2) Go pesticide free! don't use harm-full pesticides on your lawn or garden, pull weeds by hand and buy organic fertilizer. You can also use an electric mower instead of gas powered.
3) Around the house you can make a-lot of "green" choices. Use fluorescent light bulbs, they cost more but they last for up to 5 years and use 75% less electricity. Make sure you change your furnace filter every 3 months and get your furnace checked by a professional to make sure it is in good running condition. Close your curtains in the summer time and open them in the winder time, use the energy of the sun to help keep your home cool or warm. Buy a cover for your hot water heater, it helps to keep the water hot and uses less electricity. Buy a programmable thermostat and keep the temperature a little warmer in the summer and little cooler in the winter. Use renewable power! Go to www.bullfrogpower.com to find out how.
4) Bring your own grocery bags! invest in some nice canvas bags and keep them in the car for easy of use when grocery shopping, they sell great ones at Costco (they even have a cooler bag to help keep your frozen good cool on the way home). If you have to use plastic bags recycle them at your nearest grocery store or save them and use them again.
5) Use a low flow shower head, take 5 minutes off your shower. Don't water your lawn as often. Remember you don't have to keep up with the Jone's. Place a bucket in your shower to gather gray water to use for houseplants or washing the car.
6) Use less consumer product! Try and buy something used instead of new, you will save money and packaging.
7) Recycle! In London you can recycle glass, can's, foil, paper, boxes, magazines and plastic as long as it has a number 1,2,4 or 5 on the bottom, look for these numbers before you buy a plastic product. Remember juice boxes, and milk boxes are not recyclable, avoid products that come in containers you can't recycle.
8) Make your next car a hybrid! Oil is running out, don't support the human race continuing to be dependent on oil. Try not to idle and if you are not going far walk or ride your bike.
9) Compost! its as easy as digging a hole or building a wooden container, place all your food waste (minus meats and dairy) into the compost along with grass cuttings, leaves and weeds it makes a great natural rich soil. You can also make a pet waste compost see the forum for more details on how to make one of these.
10) Plant a Garden! grow some veggies and fruit for your family. Its fun, good for your body and good for the earth.
This is just a start!
If you need more information please visit the forum and links tab for endless information!
