1. Minimize the use of cars and trucks. Automobiles in the United States spew nearly 1 billion ton of

carbon dioxide into the air every year. To help reduce this pollution, use public transportation, ride a bicycle, or

walk whenever possible. If you must drive to work, car pool. If you are considering buying a new car,

look for maximum fuel efficiency.

2. Make sure your home is properly insulated. The amount of energy that leaks through American

windows each year equals the amount of oil that flows through the Alaskan pipeline.

Caulk of otherwise seal all leaks. Buy double-glazed or other windows

that effectively retain heat inside in winter and outside in summer.

3. Make sure all appliances you buy are as energy - efficient as possible. Refer to the American

Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy's booklet The Most Energy-Efficient Appliances. Refrigerators with

the freezer on the side generally use 35% more energy than those with one on top of the other. Models with

manual defrost use 50% less energy than those with automatic defrost.

4. Conserve energy. Turn the air conditioner off or down. See if you can survive

winter with the thermostat down a few degrees. Always turn off light when you leave a room.

5. Try compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of standard incandescent. Lighting

alone uses 25% of America's electricity. Compact fluorescent usually last ten times as long as

incandecents and are so energy-efficient that they save more than $25 over their lifetime. If you have

15 light fixtures, that's a saving of $375.

6. Use low-flow shower heads. These can cut water use up to 75% and still deliver a good shower.

If you have several people in your house or apartment, you will save over one hundred gallons of

hot water a day. If your water is heated with natural gas, those one hundred gallons not used will save you

$200 a year in fuel costs. With electrical heating you'll save around $300 every year.

7. Use water-efficient fixtures. Flushing your toilet is the single largest use of water in your

apartment of house. using 5 to 7 gallons a flush, your toilet probably uses up some 8,000 or 9,000

gallons a year. If your has a tank, put in some stones or plastic jugs filled with water to save

thousands of gallons a year. Or get a state of the art, low flush toilet. Using 1 or 1.5 gallons a flush,

it will save over 7,000 gallons a year.

8. Cleaning Kitchens and bathrooms. These are some of the most toxic cleaners made. You

can find organic and biodegradable replacements.

9. Cleaning glass. you can use vinegar with one quart warm water. Organic and biodegradable window

cleaners are also available.

10. Laundry. Scentless, colorless liquids contain no toxins and are biodegradable

11. Choose soap and paper products that have no artificial scent of color.

12. Choose Organic shaving cream over creams containing scent or color.

13. Choose Organic shampoo.

14. Toothpaste.

15. Look for carpets made of natural materials such as cotton or wool. Synthetic

carpets and flooring material often contain toxic ingredients.

16. Use natural and organic alternatives in place of chemical garden and lawn

fertilizers.

17. Barbecuing causes a great deal of air pollution, which lighter fluids

make worse. If you use a barbecue, avoid self lighting charcoal. Light coals with paper

and wood kindling instead of lighter fluid.

18. Avoid products with CFCs. Chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs) are one of the primary

causes of damage to the ozone layer, CFCs are used in the manufacture of polystyrene

cups, plates, and egg cartons. They are used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

Polystyrene is known generically as Styrofoam, a registered trademark of Dow Chemical.

Most dust-off sprays for photographic or electronic equipment and some kinds

of insulation contain CFCs. Better yet, use fans rather than an air conditioner. Switch from

foam to heavy paper products. Use "real" coffee mugs and plates.

19. Make sure coolants are recycled during repairs on refrigerators and

air conditioners in your home and car. Leaky air conditioners in cars are

responsible for a majority of the CFCs released into the atmosphere. An increasing number

of auto repair shops are capturing CFCs for reuse.

20. Recycle Separate newspaper, bottles, and cans. Recycling saves energy and

uses material otherwise discarded as waste. A soda can made from recycled aluminum

uses less than 50% of the energy required to make one from raw materials, causes

90% less air pollution, and 95% less water pollution.

21. Look for products with the recycled symbol. Notice the difference in these

two symbols and their meanings.This mean that the product CAN BE recycled

This means that the product is made out of recycled materials

22. Avoid products with mixed packaging materials. Combinations of different

plastics are nearly impossible to recycle now, yet most frozen and microwaveable foods

are packaged in three of four kinds of plastic, That should change in the next few

years, as companies like Wellman, Inc. and DuPont experiment with methods to separate

different kinds of plastic to make them reusable.

23. Use recycled paper products. If you don't use recycled materials, you're not really

recycling materials, you're not really recycling. Without a market demand for recycled

materials, recycling will fail or become another subsidized industry. At home and at the

workplace, use stationary, toilet paper, and paper for printing made of at least 50%

recycled fiber. Conservatree is a reliable wholesale recycled paper broker that carries only

recycled paper milled with superior pollution controls in place.

24. Reuse containers and products as much as possible. Ask friends or

neighbors if they need materials you plan to discard. Donate them to organizations to resell

or to distribute to those in need. For clothes, furniture, and just about anything you can

safely clean, buy second hand, at fairs, bazaars, and garage sales.

25. Buy in bulk. This reduces excess packaging and saves you money in the long run.

26. Diapers. Use cloth ones you wash yourself or use a diaper service. Terry cloth is the best

diaper material. Reusable diapers are far cheaper than disposable over the diaper-using life

of your baby.

27. Avoid disposable products. Buy a pen with a replaceable cartridge or one that is

refillable. Use razors with replaceable blades instead of totally disposable ones.

28. Avoid products with needless, excessive packaging. Given two equivalent

products. choose the one packaged more simply, in a single material.

29. Bring a string mesh or canvas bag to the store for smaller shopping trips. If

you buy one or two items in a store, put them into your handbag or briefcase instead of taking a

plastic bag from the store.

30. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Whenever possible, shop at green markets. farmers

markets, and farm stands. Their produce isn't already wrapped for distribution, And it's usually far

more nutritious.

31. Look and ask for organically grown foods. They're better for you and growing them doesn't poison our farmland. ground water, and waterways with harmful chemicals.

32. Don't be tricked by perfect-looking fruit. A majority of the chemicals sprayed on

them are used for cosmetic purposes.

33. Buy product grown domestically and in season. Chances are, the farther food must

be shipped the more synthetic chemicals for preservation it will contain, Also, food grown in foreign

countries is likely to contain chemicals banned in the United States but still sold abroad.

34. Let stores and manufacturers know how you feel about needless packaging,

the importance of recycling, organically grown foods and all natural ingredients.

Don't be afraid to ask companies hard questions about their products or operations. Write to company

executives and tell them what you like and don't like about their policies.

35. Don't buy products made from endangered or over exploited species. Avoid

furs, ivory, reptile skin, tortoise shell, and exotic hardwoods.

36. Start or join a community garden. In urban areas gardens bring communities together

and bring a bit of nature into the community.

37. Plant trees. Trees turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. One growing tree can replace up to 48

pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Trees can prevent erosion and desertification. Well placed trees can

lower cooling needs buy 10 to .50 percent

38. Support organizations working on causes that you care about. Become a

member or volunteer some of your time. See the annual conservation directory, $15 from the national

wildlife federation, 1412 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-2266. Or see the Directory of

National environmental Organizations , $35 from U.S. Environmental Directories,

Box 65156, St. Paul, MN 44165.

39. Write letters. Tell your senator or representative how you feel about environmental issues or

specific legislation. Write to Consumer Reports asking for coverage of the environmental impact of

products. Let government officials and business leaders, know we need rechargeable batteries, public

receptacles for separated garbage, market incentives for alternative power sources., composting of

municipal sludge, and much, much more.

40. Urge your schools to provide environmental education. We might yet restore a

healthy harmony with nature if consideration for the environment in which we live becomes second

nature.

41. Urge your workplace or company to be more environmentally aware. Is it

energy efficient? Does it use recycled paper ? Are materials in the waste stream separated ?

42. Sign Earth Day 1990's Green Pledge. Buy and use products least harmful to the

environment and made by companies that promote global environmental responsibility. Write:

Earth Day 1990 P.O. Box AA, Stanford, CA 94309.

*****Remember you can recycle, recycle, recycle till your blue in the face but if you don't buy recycled materials you are not creating a demand for recycled products*****