Ideas for Helping the Environment

Reduce Waste

• The waste created by households can be detrimental to the environment. By trying to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills, you can do your part to protect the Earth. This can be achieved by shopping carefully to find goods that will not produce a large amount of waste. So when you go to the store, find products that do not use a large amount of packaging. This may mean buying your fruit and vegetable loose, rather than pre-prepared and in a bag, for instance. Reusing goods such as plastic bags also reduces waste, while buying reused or recycled materials means you can make the most of the materials already in circulation. Help create these products and support sustainable disposal by recycling any goods that can be made into other things. This includes cardboard, plastic and glass.

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

• Energy efficiency in the home means reducing the amount of power you use. Generating electricity releases greenhouse gases, which add to climate change, so using less power lowers demand and decreases the amount of emissions that need to be released. Insulating your home means that heat is kept inside so you will not need to expend much energy maintaining a comfortable living environment. Look for the ENERGY STAR labels on household appliances and light bulbs. These products have been certified as being energy efficient. Keeping appliances on standby also reduces the amount of power they use.

Buy Green Power

• Organizations in the U.S. can choose to procure green power rather than get their energy from a conventional source. Green power is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as including electricity generated from hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, biomass, biogas and wind sources. These types of energy production methods release fewer greenhouse gases and the EPA states it could also be good for business, as it can increase pride and loyalty toward the company from customers and stakeholders.

Green Vehicles

• Cars are a major source of greenhouse gases, and making eco-friendly decisions on how you run your vehicle is a good idea for helping the environment. The EPA has attributed scores to vehicles according to the volume of greenhouse gases they release and the extent to which they affect air pollution. Look for vehicles that have received SmartWay certification from the EPA. These products are in the top 20 percent of those that have a lower impact on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. SmartWay Elite certification is given to vehicles that are the best according to environmentally friendly criteria.