100 Ways To Save The Enviornment Part IV (Save and Protect our Water and Create Less Trash)

Ways to Use Less Water

1. Check and fix any water leaks.
2. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
3. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
4. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
5. Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
6. Install a low-flow shower head.
7. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
8. Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

Ways to Protect Our Water

1. Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
2. Never dump anything down a storm drain.
3. Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
4. Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
5. Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
6. Learn about your watershed.

Create Less Trash

1. Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
2. Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
3. Buy products that you can reuse.
4. Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
5. Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
6. Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
7. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
8. Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
9. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
10. Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
11. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.
12. Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make great packaging material.
13. Compost your vegetable scraps.
14. Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.

100 Ways To Save The Enviornment Part III (The Office and Ways To Protect the Air)

In Your Office

1. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
2. Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
3. Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
4. Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
5. Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
6. Use recycled paper.
7. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
8. Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are less toxic.
9. Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

Ways To Protect Our Air

1. Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
   Recycle printer cartridges.
2. Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
3. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
4. Don't use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.
5. Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution.
6. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
7. Use solar power for home and water heating.
8. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
9. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
10. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
11. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid.
12. 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.
13. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
14. Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Source: seql.org