Going Green – What Can You Do?

Everywhere you go you hear people talk about “going green.” What does that mean? Going Green is about practicing an environmentally friendly lifestyle to protect the environment and save the earth’s natural resources for current and future generations.

Reasons to go green

1. Too Much Trash – Most American Families throw out 2,460 pounds of paper, 540 pounds of metals, 480 pounds of glass, and 480 pounds of food scraps. About 80% of that garbage ends up in landfills that are running out of room. The worst part is between 5 and 10 percent of what we throw away contains material that can get into the ground and poison the air, water, and soil.

2. The Greenhouse Effect - Our atmosphere is constantly changing. Some of our favorite activities create gases that pollute the atmosphere. As those gases build up, the atmosphere keeps in too much heat. These gases include:

• Carbon dioxide: all humans and animals produce carbon dioxide. The main source of carbon dioxide is the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, gasoline and wood.
• Nitrogen oxide: is given off by cars when driven and by coal-burning power plants as they make electricity.
• Methane: is created by rotting plants and household garbage in landfills. We have been creating these gases for a long time. But now we are producing too much of them and they are making the earth a little hotter.

3. Air Pollution - There are many factors that add to poor air quality. When the air gets too dirty it can be uncomfortable to breathe. Every breath you take may include substances that can make you sick. Air pollution also can hurt animals and plants.

It also can poison trees and crops, and may even kill off entire forests.

4. Damage to the Ozone Layer - Ozone is an invisible gas. It is a form of oxygen. A thin layer of ozone exists above the Earth and forms a protective shield. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are destroying the ozone layer. These chemicals are used to make many products such as plastics and foam packing materials, and coolants. The CFCs cause holes in the ozone layer which in turn could cause eye and skin diseases in millions of people. CFCs damage farmers’ crops and food sources for animals.

5. Water Pollution and Excessive Use of Water - In a typical household, each member uses about 80 gallons of water a day. The less water used the better for the environment it will be. Do you know how much water is used in homes each day? Here is a guide:

Activity Water Used
1 flush of the toilet= 3.5-7 gallons
1 bath = 25-30 gallons
1 ten-minute shower = 50-70 gallons
1 washing machine load = 25-40 gallons
1 dishwasher load = 9.5-12 gallons

6. Save Money - Switching all the light bulbs in a home to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs could save you about $270 in one year. A typical home has 20 lamps or light bulbs. The annual operating cost of a 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb is $3, according to the Energy Star Program. The equivalent 60-watt incandescent bulb is $20. So with a compact fluorescent light bulb you can save $17. Other things you can do to save include:

• Turning your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in summer.
• Make sure your walls and ceilings are well insulated.
• Replace bathroom and kitchen sink faucets with low-flow models. Install low-flow showerheads.

Source: FCIC.gov