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There are small steps everyone can take,
wherever you live, to make your environment clean and green. Do
it for yourself and it will sure bring a change in your life.
These are not big life-altering steps; they just mean you have
to make an extra effort, like the time you spend five minutes
bargaining for something you like, the five minutes you spend
waiting outside the theater to watch your favorite star light up
the screen. Just a little extra effort and you can do it.
• Start with reducing your use of
electricity. Turn off fans, lights, ACs and heaters when not
needed.
• Change to low watt bulbs. You need to spend
a little money for this but it does reduce your monthly
electricity bill.
• Take your own bags when you head out to the
store. Remember the days when you carried your bags to the
market? Before the era of plastic bags? It is really simple. I
do know plastic bags are extremely convenient at instances but
other times carry your own bag. In the BHEL, Trichy, campus
there is a board that says “Carry your bags and not plastic
carry bags” - a good advice to follow.
If you live in the US, at your grocery store,
please ask for paper bags. Most grocery stores have a plastic
bag recycle program. Instead of throwing away your plastic bags,
let them be recycled. Collect some bags and the next trip to the
store, remember to take them. Yes a little extra effort but
worth it.
• If your destination is close-by, walk down
or drive a bicycle. If you can use the public transportation
system - please do. But if you live in a city like Houston where
the public transportation system is somebody’s weird idea of a
joke, you really cannot help it. Try a carpool. Yes it means on
some days you end up staying late at work or going early to
accommodate your carpool partner, but I am sure you can work
around it. A little extra effort!
• Plant some trees around your house or if
like me you live in an apartment or a flat, a patio/balcony
garden works well. Grow a few flowering plants, a few herbs and
vegetables. Use natural fertiliser instead of chemicals and
enjoy an organic garden.
• If you live in the US, join the recycle
program. Most cities offer them free for residents. Houston has
a recycle program once every two weeks. If your area does not
have a recycling program find out where your closest recycle
center is located and go ahead: recycle your paper and milk and
detergent containers. It costs nothing. Try starting a recycle
program in your neighborhood. Collect newspapers and other dry
paper and sell them to a recycler.
• Try to use less of hot water. Invest in
solar power heaters they work great.
• If you want to go one step ahead, think
about eco-friendly natural materials for your carpet the next
time you replace them, say no to latex paints and go for
eco-friendly but a little more expensive green paints.
When you do a small bit for a greener earth
and it gives you satisfaction, it is an effort worth taking!
Take the first step!
A better environment, for you and for me and
for the whole universe!
- V
http://poohsden.blogspot.com/
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