How to Help Save the Earth

Conserving Water

Conserve water at home. Wasting water is one of the biggest ways individuals impact the health of the planet. Taking measures to use less water is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with a water shortage, this is even more important for the health of your region's environment. Try to check off as many items as possible from this list: Check and fix any water leaks. A leaky faucet can waste a lot of water. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. A low-flow showerhead could be a good start. Take shorter showers. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously. Use a method that requires less water to get the dishes clean. Turn off your washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks. It doesn't need to be on all the time. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes. Doing a half-load wastes water. Don't use too much water to water your lawn. Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth.

Use fewer chemicals. Chemicals used to wash our bodies, homes, cars and everything else get washed down the drain or absorbed in the grass, and eventually, end up in the water supply. Since many people use heavy-duty chemicals for all sorts of things, chemicals are doing real damage to waterways and aquatic life. Chemicals aren't good for humans, either, so do your best to cut back on them. Here's how: Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals. For example, using a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water works as well as most commercial cleaners for basic cleaning jobs. Baking soda and salt are cheap, non-toxic cleansers, but should be used in moderation. When no good alternatives to a toxic item exist, determine the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result and use a minimal amount each time you clean. Paying close attention to the requisite amount will help you reduce and also save money. Instead of using chemical-laden shampoos and soaps, try making your own. Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, find natural ways to get rid of weeds and pests.

Dispose of toxic waste the right way. Paint, motor oil, ammonia, and a host of other chemicals should not be poured down the drain or directly into the ecosystem. They'll soak into the earth and end up in the groundwater. Contact your local sanitation department to find out about best practices for disposing of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals.

Help identify large-scale water polluters. Individuals can only do so much when it comes to keeping water clean. Businesses and industries are often the culprits when it comes to water pollution. In order to protect the earth's water, concerned citizens should speak up and find ways to stop pollution at its source. Join a local environmental group that works to clean up the water in your area, whether it's a river, lake or ocean. Contact your local representative to speak up about your views on keeping water chemical-free. Volunteer to help clean up beaches or riverbanks. Help others get involved in efforts to clean up the water in your area.

Preserving Air Quality

Use less electricity. Coal and natural gas are the most common sources of energy used to generate electricity. The burning of these substances is a major factor in world air pollution. Reducing your reliance on electricity is a great way to play a part in saving the planet. Here's what you can do: Use solar power for home and water heating. Shut off electrical equipment when you leave work to head home. If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120. Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods. Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time. Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5. When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot. Turn off lights, computers, televisions and other appliances when not in use. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy. Plant trees to shade your home. Replace old windows with energy-efficient ones. Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away. Insulate your home as best as you can.

Drive and fly less often. Another big source of air pollution that has led to global warming is emissions from cars, trucks, planes and other vehicles. The manufacture of the vehicles, the gas needed to run them, the chemicals they burn, and the production of roads all play a part. If you can drive and fly less often, you'll be doing a lot to help save the planet. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible. Find bike routes in your town and use them! Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work if biking or walking isn't an option. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency. Maintain your vehicle properly. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.

Buy local goods. Buying local helps combat air pollution in two ways. You don't have to travel as far to get what you need, and products don't have to travel as far to get to you, either. Making smart choices about where your food, clothes, and other goods come from can help make a dent in air pollution. Shop at farmer's markets and buy food that was produced as close to your home as possible. When you're online shopping, pay attention to how far the items you order will travel before they arrive. Try to find items that won't have to travel long distances. Pay attention to where your clothes, electronics, home goods, and other possessions were made. As much as possible, buy items that were made in your region.

Eat vegetables and cut down your meat consumption considerably. If you still need to eat meat, choose locally farmed. Industrial farming practices are not only harmful to individual animals, but they're also unsafe for the planet itself. Factory farming produces a lot of air and water pollution. You can address this issue in a personal way by doing the following: Eat more vegetables. This simple change is a way of opting out of the factory farming industry. Question where your meat comes from. Buy only locally-sourced meat from a small farm. Avoid eating beef. Cows emit lots of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas, and other pollutants. Try to reduce your beef intake and opt for other types of meat.

Become an air pollution activist. Identify local groups working to combat air pollution, and find a way to get involved. By educating yourself and others about the problem, you can have a greater impact than you'd have by simply making lifestyle changes. Join a group that plants trees to help clean the air. Become a bike activist. Work to have safe paths built in your city. Contact your local representatives to speak up about issues particular to your region. If there's a factory spewing pollutants into the air, for example, get politically active to put a stop to it. Jane Goodall Jane Goodall, Conservation & Animal Welfare Advocate Make a difference by advocating for your beliefs. "Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right."

Protecting the Health of the Land

Produce less waste. Everything you throw in the garbage, tie up and take out to be collected is going to end up in a landfill. Plus, all that trash - plastic, paper, metal, and whatnot - was likely manufactured using unsustainable practices that hurt the health of the earth's land. By making less trash, you can reduce your impact. Try making these changes: Buy products that you can reuse. Use glass containers instead of flimsy plastic ones, for example. Don't use plastic bags - use long-lasting fabric bags. Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones. Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33% of what we throw away is the packaging. Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently. Copy and print on both sides of the paper. Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips. Use e-mail or texting as a substitute for paper correspondence. Use recycled paper. Mend clothes instead of buying new ones. Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture. EXPERT TIP Alena Le Blanc Alena Le Blanc Personal Stylist Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University. Alena Le Blanc Alena Le Blanc Personal Stylist Invest in well-made garments that are eco-friendly. Look for natural, sustainable fabrics like organic cotton or recycled synthetics. Look for durable denim with a high cotton content (around 98-99%). Prioritize quality over quantity to extend your closet's lifespan and reduce your environmental footprint.

Make your own stuff. When you make your own dinner from scratch or mix up your own cleaning supplies, you naturally make less waste. Single-sized TV dinners, shampoo bottles and the like can really add up in the trash can! Here are a few things you can make on your own: Food. If you're really ambitious, grow or hunt for your own! Otherwise, do your best to make as many meals as possible from scratch. Buy ingredients in bulk to cut back on packaging. Body products. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, etc. - you name it, you can make it! Try replacing a few things at first, then work up to making most of what you use. Hint: coconut oil is a brilliant replacement for lotion, deep conditioner and face wash. Cleaning products. Everything from window cleaner to bathroom cleaner to oven cleaner can be made using all-natural supplies.

Compost. This is an excellent way to cut back on waste and improve the health of the land you're living on at the same time. Instead of throwing your food scraps in the trash, compost them in a bin or a pile. After tending the pile for a few weeks, you'll have rich soil you can spread on your grass or use to make a delicious vegetable garden. The land around you will be healthier and more vibrant as a result of your efforts.

Plant trees and don't cut them. Trees protect the land from getting eroded, and they're an integral part of the ecosystem. In saving trees you'll be protecting not only land but water and air, too. If you have room in your yard, consider planting a few trees to invest in the future of your neighborhood. Do research to figure out what trees will be most beneficial to the environment where you live. Plant native species. Aim to plant trees that will grow tall and provide shade.

Work to stop clearcutting and mining. These practices raze and gut the land so that it's no longer healthy enough to provide a home for plants and wildlife. Join up with a group working to protect your region from industrial practices that damage the land.

Helping to Protect Animals

Make your property a haven for wildlife. All types of animals, from birds to deer to insects, have lost some of their habitat to human developments. You've probably seen birds bathing in oil-tainted water and deer wandering through suburbs because they have nowhere else to go. If you have space, try to be welcoming to animals who could use a helping hand. You can make your property hospitable in the following ways: Plant shrubs, flowers, and trees that attract wildlife. Put out a bird feeder and birdbath stocked with clean food and water. Let beneficial snakes, spiders, bees, bats, and other creatures live. Having these animals around is a sign your ecosystem is in good health. Install a beehive if you have the room. Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs. Don't use chemical pesticides. Use humane traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers. Use an electric or manual lawnmower instead of a gas-powered one.

Try a vegetarian, pescetarian, or vegan diet. Not only does this reduce the number of greenhouse emissions, but it also respects animals. Did you know that globally three billion animals are bred and raised in industrial farms every day, being confined to a cage and fed largely unnatural diets? The easiest way to respect animals worldwide is to have a meatless diet. Hunt deer, squirrels, or other animals for their meat. Although you still have to kill animals to procure meat, this is more natural and environmentally appropriate than most domestic alternatives. If practical, respect the sacrifice of life that has been made for your nutritional sustenance. Do not let any of the meat go to waste. If you are buying eggs opt for cage-free and certified humane and organic eggs. Make sure the eggs you are buying have the Certified Humane stamp on the carton. (The stamp is a rectangle with blue text at the top reading "Certified Humane". There are green hills at the bottom that have white text reading "Raised and Handled".) Brands of cage-free and certified human eggs include Nellie's and Vital Farms. These can be found at most grocery stores, but especially Whole Foods.

Eat sustainably-caught fish. The oceans are being depleted of large fish populations due to overfishing and pollution. Up to 90 percent of the ocean's large fish are now gone. You can do your part to protect marine life by only eating fish that is in season and caught using sustainable practices

Respect animals. Many animals that are thought of as pests are not causing real harm. Other animals that live in wild places aren't usually in the human view, so we tend to forget about their needs. With dozens of animal species going extinct every day, they need all the help they can get. Try being more mindful in the following ways: Let creatures like moles and groundhogs live instead of trapping and killing them. They may cause a little inconvenience in your garden, but they have a part to play in your region's ecosystem. Don't disturb wild places like forests, beaches, wetlands and other areas where animals make their homes. When you visit such areas, stay on trails so you don't accidentally cause damage to an animal's habitat.

Regulate your pets. If you have a cat that goes in and out of doors, try to keep them with you. This means if you are inside, keep the cat inside. If you are outside, take the cat outside. Regulate your cat's location because our feline friends are the leading cause of death for billions of small animals. Of course, it is natural for cats to kill mice, birds, and etc., so don't punish them if they do so, just try to be more aware of the small wildlife around your house, especially if there are any endangered species. You can also help ebb cats' killings by working with local animal shelters to get feral cats off the streets. Never punish your cat for killing an animal, it's part of their natural instincts. If your cat is an outdoor cat, consult this article if you want them to be an indoor cat.

Work to protect animal habitats. Whether there's a particular type of animal you want to work to save, or you'd like to work for the health of all of the planet's endangered species, there's an animal rights group out there that could use your energy and time.

Conserving Energy

Use a solar-powered outdoor light. These lights come with rechargeable batteries that are charged by the sun during the day.

Use the sun to heat your hot water. Search and consult with local appliance centers, this technology is more available than most think.

Install a low-wattage motion sensor night light for the bathroom. The bright light will only wake you up, so using low wattage is best and you'll save energy too.

Install a shower water recycler. This water will be filtered and fill your toilet for flushing.

Save energy at school. Your school building and equipment can use a lot of energy; there are many ways to help reduce this, including by leaving signs to switch off lights when not in use, holding talks about ways to save energy together, finding ways to reduce heating and cooling usage, etc.