Easy Ways to Help the Environment

Do you have the idea that it is hard to be environmentally conscientious? Here are some ways that you can help the planet that will take little to no effort on your part. 

1) Skip rinsing your dishes.  

You can save up to 20 gallons of water by just throwing your dished in the dishwasher.  So next time you are feeling lazy and don't want to rinse your dishes off, it is totally okay!

2) Have a vegetarian meal once a week.  

It takes 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of ground beef.  If once a week you have a nice dish that is vegetarian this will help out a lot. 

3) Don't forget the back side of your paper!

A lot of businesses in America throw away paper just because they print their documents on one side.  There is a setting on most printers that is called duplex printing.  This allows printing on both sides.  You can also recycle paper that you don't need anymore. 

4) Use your  cruise control. 

By using cruise control you can get up to %15 better gas mileage.  This is good news for the environment and your checking account.  Imagine what you could buy with that extra money!

5) Buy second hand. 

With the use of the internet you can get almost anything you need second hand.  A lot of people use eBay and craigslist to obtain expensive items for a lower cost.  This cuts back on the amount of energy needed to produce more items that just eventually wind up in the garbage.

6) Give unwanted items to another

Before you throw something in the garbage think if there is anyone you know who might want it.  There are many things that you may not want that someone else might desperately need.  If you do't know of anyone who might want the item you can always donate it.  

7) Get your own coffee cup. 

By cutting back on paper coffee cups you can make quite a considerable impact in the way of helping the environment. You can find a nice coffee cup with a design you like and use it for your morning coffee.  Most places will even refill your coffee cup each morning for less than it costs you if you use a paper cup. 

 8) Fire the post office. 

 You can set your bills and banking up to go to your email address.  A lot of times your utilities, bank and even auto insurance will give you a discount for doing this.  My mom decided to go paperless when she could not get a key to the mail box.  This has worked out very nicely for her for the last 8 years or so. It is also good to know that you are getting all of your important documents no matter where you are.

  

9) Stop the junk mail.

The average American receives about 40 pounds of junk mail every year.  This is insane considering all that paper typically winds up in the trash. Many places will stop sending you all those ads.  All you have to do is tell them to stop. 

See doing all these things is easy!!!  I really hope that you start doing these simple actions today.