TIPS TO HELP THE PLANET

 

 

1 Change incandescent (regular) light bulbs for energy-saving ones. Energy-saving light bulbs save a significant amount on electricity consumption. No more incandescent bulbs!

 

2 Use biodegradable diapers. Washable diapers are good, but a lost no one uses them anymore because disposables are so much easier. In fact, so many have been used that they are filling up landfills. Try using biodegradable ones.

 

3 Hang your clothing out to dry. Intelligent clothes washing. Machine washing your clothes uses a lot of energy and water, so fill the washer to maximum capacity and sun-dry your clothes. You’ll save 90% of the energy you normally consume in keeping your clothes clean.

 

4 Close doors and windows to use air-conditioning. Air-conditioning is really comfortable, but it uses a lot of energy and produces large quantities of greenhouse gases. Use it at 25° C (that’s 79° F); close the doors and windows tight.

 

5 More public transportation, less cars, less pollution. More and more cars on the road, more noise, more pollution and more traffic; change that: use your car less, walk, and use your bicycle or the bus.

 

6 Pay your bills by Internet. Besides saving on paper and helping to reduce logging of the trees that produce it, you’ll cut down on the gas it takes to get you and all that paperwork to the bank.

 

7 Save water. Install water-saving shower heads, fix any leaks in your house, and turn off the faucets completely. When you wash your car, don’t use a hose; use a bucket.

 

8 Water your plants early or late in the day. When you water your garden, it’s better to do it early in the morning or at sunset. This way you avoid evaporation before the water can do your plants any good.

 

9 Check your meters regularly. Check your water, gas and electricity meters regularly to better control consumption and to set yourself goals to use less and optimize more. This way you’ll also catch any leaks or short circuits that can cause big bills.

 

10 Change you air-conditioning filters. Clean or change your air-conditioning or heater filters. You can avoid production of up to 140 kilograms (310 pounds) of carbon dioxide per year.

 

11 Don’t use plastic bags; use reusable cloth bags. More than 500 billion plastic bags are handed out each year and less than 3% are recycled. It can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to biodegrade. Reusable bags are the best; and if you buy take out, take your own plastic containers to pack it in.

 

12 Disconnect appliances you’re not using. Did you know that up to 75% of the electricity consumed in a household is due to appliances on “stand by”? Disconnect all equipment in your house or office that you are not using!

 

13 Use artificial light only when necessary. Try opening the shades, cleaning windows and painting your house in light colors and see the savings on your electricity bill

 

14 Use recycled paper and use paper on both side of the sheet. Recycled paper uses 60% less energy to produce than new. One ton of recycled paper saves 4,000 kW hours of energy, 26,600 pints of water and 17 trees. A single tree can filter more than 60 pounds of pollutants out of the air.

 

15 Carpool to work or school. If you have a car, share it; find someone colleagues on the same route and take turns driving. Do this twice a week and you’ll cut our 1,560 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions out of the air each year.

 

16. Tune up your car. Regular maintenance on your car not only saves on your gas bill, but also reduces gas emissions. Check tire pressure and you’ll save even more.

 

17. Save water while flushing. Place a 1-pint plastic bottle full of water or gravel in your toilet’s water tank and save with each flush.

 

18. Reuse shower water. Don’t let the water run while you’re waiting for it to heat up. Let it flow into a bucket and use that water to flush the toilet.

 

19. Put your water heater on “pilot” when not in use. When you finish bathing, put your water heater on “Pilot” in order to save gas.

 

20. Check the faucets and make sure water flow is not excessive. Also check that they don’t drip.

 

21. Plant one tree a month. Don’t plant trees and plants only when there’s a reforestation or beautification campaign. Trees and plants decorate your house and contribute to reducing the greenhouse effect.

 

22. Take care of the plants and trees in your garden, school and city. Protect gardens: don’t pull off leaves or flowers unless you have to.

 

23. Protect forests. When you go to the forest, don’t pull off leaves or flowers unless you have to. Don’t start campfires. Walk only on marked paths. Don’t throw cigarette butts on the ground and take all garbage away with you.

 

24. Eat fruit and fresh vegetables. It’s better to eat seasonal fruit and fresh vegetables. Frozen food takes a lot of energy just to keep frozen and is brought from far away. Eat Local.

 

25. Use organic waste to make compost. Making compost reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by 25%/ Separate organic waste (fruit peels, dry leaves from the garden, leftover food without bones). Buy a large garbage can, punch holes all over it and cut a small door in the base. Lay one layer of dirt and one of organic waste successively; water every once In a while and you’ll see that in a few months you’ll have some great quality compost for flowerpots or your garden. 

 

26. Always Scoop the Poop! Animal feces left in public areas are a source of infection. They dry and are reduced to a powder, become airborne and cause gastric and respiratory diseases. When you walk you pet, always scoop the poop!

 

27. When you cook put the lids on. Food cooks faster and you save gas by just putting the lids on the pots when you cook.

 

28. Try not to use insecticides in your garden or in fields. Insecticides, even the ones you use at home, always leave a residue that not only kills insects but can affect our own bodies. Try cleaning really well instead to avoid visits from pests.

 

29. Reuse washing machine water. Washing machine water, from both the soapy and rinse cycles, can be used to wash bathrooms, clean floors or simply wash the driveway.

 

30. Use biodegradable products. Always make sure that your cleaning products are biodegradable, although it’s even better to avoid using them all together. Use grandma’s old standards: vinegar for glass;  bicarbonate of soda for sinks, tiles and tubs; clean water for mopping tile floors, etc.

 

31. Don’t throw old cook oil down the sink. Burnt kitchen oil makes water treatment difficult.  Use an old bottle or can and put used kitchen oil in it day by day until you fill the container.  Then throw it out with the inorganic garbage.

 

32. Use renewable energy. If you can, buy solar cells to produce your own electricity.  Put pressure on politicians to legislate in favor of these technologies to make them more affordable.

 

33. Batteries:  less is better. Batteries are expensive and pollute the environment.  Use products that don’t need batteries and when necessary, use rechargeable batteries.  When the batteries are no longer good, don’t throw them out with the rest of the garbage. collect them and when you have enough, take them to the designated disposal sights.

 

34.  Don’t overuse your iron. Don’t iron when it’s only one or two pieces of clothing.  Iron the most you can when you use turn on your iron.  When you take dry clothes off the line, don’t “crumple” them up; it will take longer and you’ll need more energy to iron the wrinkles out.

 

33. Drive at a moderate speed. The greater the speed, the greater the gas consumption and risk.  On highways, never go above 65 mph because you’ll consume more gas and pollute more, too.  Modern vehicles perform best at this speed.

 

36. Check you tire pressure. You could be consuming up to 3% more fuel if your tires are not filled to the air pressure indicated in your car’s manual.  Putting useless weight in your trunk or overusing the air-conditioning can also cost you more…and you pollute more, too!

 

37. Don’t go disposable at home or in the office. Using plastic utensils or disposable cups for every cup of coffee or glass of water you drink is a big waste of money. Use metal utensils and ceramic or glass cups.

 

38. Garbage, no; waste, ok. Garbage is a mix of all types of waste.  It pollutes because it wastes things that can be reused or recycled. Change your concept of “garbage” for organic waste (things that rot).  If we separate organic from inorganic waste, we can reuse and recycle easier.

 

39. When you buy packaged goods, make sure the plastic is PET.  Better yet, buy goods in glass bottles.

 

40. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reduce the amount of goods you use. Reuse each container and article we buy as much as possible.  And lastly, when they have finished their life cycle, take them to the recycling center.

 

41. It only takes two hours to recharge you cell phone battery. Don’t leave rechargeable equipment plugged in to long; even though their fully recharged, they continue to use energy.  Disconnecting them reduces energy consumption and possible risk to the equipment.

 

42. Separate cans from plastic bottles. Throwing out cans and plastic bottles is a huge waste.  Squash them as flat as possible and when you have enough saved up, take them to recycling bins or sell them to make some extra money.

 

43. Don’t buy or use aerosols that are not eco-friendly. Aerosols used to use gases that affected the ozone layer.  Although it’s best not to use them at all, if you must buy aerosols, make sure they don’t contain these harmful substances.

 

44. Use eco-friendly suntan lotions and insect repellants. Make sure your suntan doesn’t harm the beach, sea or lagoons you visit.  Buy biodegradable suntan lotions and insect repellants.

 

45. Use rechargeable batteries. Each year, more than 15 billion alkaline batteries are produced.  Most of them are not recycled and end up in landfills, causing pollution.

 

46. Light-colored roofs. Paint your house and business roofs a pale or light-reflecting color to help keep them cool.  You’ll use less air-conditioning.

 

47. Use matches instead of lighters. Most cardboard matches are made of recycled paper, while lighters are made of plastic and use butane gas.

 

48. Buy second hand. A lot of objects are used for a little while then thrown out, still in condition, like toys and kids’ bikes.  When you buy second hand, you’ll reduce production and keep them out of landfills.

 

49. Give away what you don’t use. Just like you can buy second hand from others to reduce expenses, give away those objects you don’t use to someone who needs them.

 

50. Clean your refrigerator. Put the food in your refrigerator in order to find them easier. Each time you open the refrigerator, you let out 30% of the cold air, and increase electricity use.

 

51. If you can, buy energy-saving appliances. Microwaves, refrigerators and air-conditioners are huge consumers of electricity at home. If you can, change them for newer models that incorporate energy-saving technologies. Take advantage of government and manufacturer trade-in programs.

 

52. Download software and music. One way of reducing pollution is to download software or music files instead of buying them.

 

53. Find out where local recycling companies or centers are and take them your recyclable or pollution-causing waste, like plastic, oils, batteries and cell phones.

 

54. Use the stairs instead of the elevators to save on energy and lose a couple of pounds. You can use up to 400 calories by using staircases; you also save energy.

 

55. Save water and energy with your jeans. Using jeans has as much impact on the environment as producing them does. Use your jeans at least three times before washing them. Use cold water, air-dry them after stretching them out well, and don’t iron them. This way you can reduce their energy

 

56. Buy national. Shipping products causes green house gases. Buy national and in season to shorten distances and thus pollute less.

 

57. Replace your normal cleaning products for biodegradable ones. Current technology has allowed development of cleaning products that pollute less. Read labels carefully and go biodegradable wherever possible.

 

58. Use rainwater as much as possible. If you can collect rainwater, do it and use it to water your garden. In order to avoid the proliferation of mosquitoes, keep the reservoir covered.

 

60. Get rid of deodorants. If you’re a women, use soda bicarbonate to prevent bacterial growth. Deodorant, especially the antiperspirant kind, increase the risk of breast cancer.

 

61. Think about what construction materials you should use. If you plan to build or remodel your home, think about the materials you’re going to use. Otherwise, you might spend more on heating or cooling later on.

 

62. Use cardboard, not plastic, boxes. Cardboard boxes are strong but biodegradable. Plastic has a very slow decomposition rate; therefore it is harmful to the environment.

 

63. If you have a garden or flowerpots on a balcony, use compost. Take advantage of the space you have. Try burying the waste from fruit in the flowerpots. With a little air and water, they’ll “feed” the soil.

 

64. Less noise. Noise pollution negatively impacts our quality of life and has a direct impact on our health, causing nervousness, irritability and stress.

 

65. Think before you throw something out. An egg carton can be recycled as a child’s toy; use left over material to stuff pillows.

 

66. Toys and time.No overload a child with toys they won’t appreciate. They would rather have you spend a little time with them teaching them to use their imagination to entertain themselves with projects and games.

 

67. Its better to take a shower than a tub bath.A long soak in the tub is a real treat, but a pain for the environment. Take showers instead of tub baths to save 1,750 gallons (7,000 liters) of water a year.

 

68. Cultivate endemic plants.If you like gardens and plants always use regional varieties; they require less care and less water. Exotic plants are beautiful, but the break the environmental balance.

 

69. Plant you own vegetables. There’s nothing like your own vegetable garden and see it thrive with compost and natural fertilizers! You’ll help the environment, cut down on grocery bills and your vegetables will taste better.

 

70. Separate your garbage.Some 70% of the garbage you throw out is recyclable. Separate your garage even though you might not have a serious local recycling policy in place. Have two garbage cans: one for dry garbage (paper, glass, plastic) and another for wet garbage (leftover food, wet paper, diapers). Give dry waste to local urban recyclers.

 

71. Fight pests without so much insecticide. Pesticides pollute by introducing toxic substances to the environment. Mosquito netting is a great option. Pots of basil or geraniums keep flies away. A mixture of flour, plaster, sugar and bicarbonate of soda will eliminate cockroach infestations. Ants run away from used coffee grounds sprinkled wherever you see them. Snails and slugs are eliminated with a can of beer…be sure to throw it out afterward!

 

72. Use less energy when cooking. The most efficient kitchens are those using electricity, with up to 70% energy efficiency. Gas stoves, on the contrary, only reach 40% efficiency levels. Put lids on pots and pans will make food heat faster and more evenly.

 

73. Brush your teeth with the faucet closed. One percent (1%) of the entire world’s water resources is wasted by people brushing their teeth. Use a glass of water to brush your teeth and never leave the faucet on while you’re brushing.

 

74. Educate little environmental protectionists. Teach your child by your example. Children will be the ones to create a change in culture toward sustainable development. They become the true promoters of the environment when they learn about the damage our behaviors cause. Environmental protection must become a part of any education plan in order to create awareness in adults.

 

75. Recycled paper. Buy products like notebooks, note paper, files, etc., made out of recycled, unbleached paper in order to promote recycling and lowering the price o recycled products.

 

76. Efficient cars don’t pollute. If our only transportation option is a car, let’s get one that uses he least fuel possible. Consider a hybrid. Remember that large cars use more fuel than small ones.

 

77. Use cloth, not paper, napkins.Fewer trees are cut down, less energy is used to convert them into napkins and you save space landfill space by not creating more waste.

 

78. Eat slowly. Fast food restaurants are the greatest polluters of the environment. They have to produce animals faster, creating huge amounts of waste due to packaging and they use lots of energy. Besides, this food is not very nutritious.

 

79. Use acrylic paint. Oil-based paints are toxic and he manufacturing process causes heavy pollution. If you’re going to buy paint, make sure it’s water-based.

 

80. Buy wholesale. Buying wholesale is cheaper. They generally use less packaging than retail. Get together with family and friends to take advantage of price clubs.

 

81. Wash your clothes in cold water. Hot water is not needed to wash most clothes. If necessary, try using warm, not hot water.

 

82. Pick up the garbage on the street. Many people take a small bag with them when they go walking for exercise. They pick up bottles and garbage as a service to the community.

 

83. Change your old monitor for a flat LCD screen. Modern monitors use just one third the electricity than the older, transistor and bulb monitors do.

 

84. Buy local organic fruits and vegetables. Organic produce use no pesticides and, of course, are healthier for you. You can also help the local agricultural industry by buying at your local farmer’s market.

 

85. Don’t burn leaves or waste. Never burn dry leaves or the “green” waste from gardens. You’ll pollute and might cause a forest fire.

 

86. Maintain your home appliances in good working order. Make sure your gas stove doesn’t have any “micro leaks” and that it burns gas correctly. If you don’t, it will cost you more and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, not to mention the possibility of an explosion.

 

87. Use a bicycle. It’s great exercise, it doesn’t pollute, it helps reduce traffic jams; no matter how you look at it, it’s a great idea.

 

88. Don’t fish or hunt just for fun. Recreational fishing or hunting is being insensitive. Don’t mistreat animals and don’t lock them up into cages.

 

89. Reduce your consumption of red meat. Cattle ranching increases global warming and cutting down of trees to create grazing ranges and forage. Producing one kilogram of meat (2.2 pounds) uses more water than 365 showers.

 

90. Don’t consume exotic animals like turtles or iguanas. Buying exotic animals is an attack on an ecosystem’s biodiversity, helps promote mafias dedicated to trafficking in exotic species, and fosters corruption.

 

91. Don’t consume animal products out of season. Seasons are established to help animal populations recover from exploitation. If you buy or consume animals that are not in season, you’re contributing to their extinction and you’re fostering corruption.

 

92. Eat farmed fish instead of fish caught at sea. Today’s fishing industry is so advanced that it catches faster than fish populations can recuperate, pushing many species into extinction. It’s better to eat fish varieties that are farmed.

 

93. Don’t throw garbage of any kind into the sea, rivers or lakes. When you go to the beach, don’t leave any garbage behind. Take a bag with you and put all your garbage in it. You can help by picking up any other garbage you see near by.

 

94. Toilet paper should never be thrown into the toilet. Put a wastepaper basket in the bathroom. Not only does the plumbing get stopped up,excess cellulose in the water kills fish and make wastewater difficult to treat.

 

95. Use the least amount of air-fresheners as possible. They don’t eliminate odors but rather release stronger odors that keep use from smelling the other ones.