How can I be more 'green?'?

Question

I'm a teenager and still live with my parents. I want to live a more 'green' lifestyle. I've already switched a lot of general products that I use (makeup, hair products, ect) to more natural brands, and I eat more local food. What else can I do?

Answer 1

There are some fantastic answers already so I just want to say, Well done for caring!

It's very encouraging to read your question.

Answer 2

Use soaps and detergents that are biodegradable and natural. And not only that cleaning products as well. I just found out about this great company that makes everything green: from soaps, detergents, cleaning products, to  vitamins, great health and not only natural supplements, cosmatics, even canldes. Let me know if you need more info.

Answer 3

The most important thing is to get government to give us more renewable energy. join coolingearth.org

Answer 4

One good way to start living a more green lifestyle is to reduce the amount of co2 you produce. It sounds like you are on the right track and doing well. Whenever you use electricity the power plant it comes from is more than likely burning coal and producing co2. A great way to reduce your energy consumption would be to get a green computer, since you obviously use a computer to get onto yahoo answers. If the computer you use is more than 2 years old or you have a CRT (large not flatscreen lcd) monitor, you may be using up to 3 times more energy than you need to. There are many companies out there that offer eco friendly computer options. GreenStar PCs offers computers that are lead and mercury free (unlike some other computers), use very little electricity (less than half) and come with carbon offsets (planting trees to soak up co2 produced by using the computer). If you want to learn more about how you can live a greener lifestyle, check out www.greenstarpcs.com

They offer 3 different computers that can help you save energy as well as energy star certified monitors.

Answer 5

Some great ways to be green are to use those 99 cent reusable bags at Wegmans, Giant, or Wies/Kings. Use energy efficient light bulbs, eating all the food in your fridge(not throwing food out unless its spoiled) and eat out less. Ride your bike or walk instead of driving, or if you have to drive, go in a circle of all the stops you want to make that day, and  only make one trip out if possible. Don't drive do fast, because the faster you drive the more gas you use, the more money you spend, and the more accidents occor. Also, you can try buying food from locally owned stores instead of big chains, making the gas emissions less. Those are just a couple of suggestions. You also get a magazine at Wegmans put out by National Geographic called The Green Guide, which is really helpful, along with thegreenguide.com.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

shower with a friend

nah im kidding

car pool!

Answer 7

There are many more ways to be green!  

-Turn off lights when you aren't in the room.

-Use electrical devices that have the "Energy Star" symbol.

-Ride bikes, skate, walk, or carpool.

-Keep your faucet turned to cold when not in use.

-Take shorter showers and turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

-Use soaps and detergents that are biodegradable and natural.

-Unplug your chargers when not in use.

-Turn your thermostat down two degrees.

-Buy re-usable grocery bags (cloth instead of plastic or paper).

-Plant trees!

-Reuse whatever you think can be reused.

-Teach others about being green!

-Make every dollar count...make it go as far as it can!

These things just scratch the surface of what you can do to become green.  Look online and see what other things you can find, and I'm sure it'll go well!

Answer 8

we can do a lot about not damaging the Environment more,and be more frugal or economic with our Natural resources ,since we get an additional 70 million people every year with an accumulative factor included ,

And we can do a lot about contaminations,especially of the soil,Air and water.

water conservation

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

pollution

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

ECO FRIENDLY BEHAVIOR

The best we can do as individuals is be more responsible ,in our own neck of the woods

Organize well publicized clean up parties ,talk on the radio

Have citizen meetings

Get the schools involved to plant trees and listen to environmental awareness talks,

If you do any cleaning up leave signs behind saying who cleaned,why and ask people not to start dumping rubbish again ,leave a hole or bins ,in case people come with trash ,

POSITIVE ACTIONS)

Classify trash take out all the organic waste and make compost with it ,the worst you can do is throw it with the trash

70% of contamination is due to organic waste that is mixed in with the garbage .

And it is just as bad in the sewer where it helps to breed rats and in the landfill it poisons the ground

And it is the easiest to take care of

o first of all we have to classify trash at least keep the organic to one side ,like in a plastic bin with a lid

If you got a few meters of ground ,you only need 1 or 2 square meters in a shallow hole ,in the shade ,that you can wet now and again ,where you dump everything that is organic ,from toilet paper,bones vegetable cuttings ,eggshells,,,excrement ,and cover regularly with leaves to keep humid and to hide any smell

the worms will come and decompose the wastes turning it into beautiful black soil for the garden of flower pots .

If you are in a apartment ,if you have a balcony get a big plastic bin drill some holes in the side and lid ,

Add a few buckets of sand now and again to put over the trash ,you should really stir or move the stuff at times to aerate it and ensure that the decomposition is overall ,keep moist

This rubbish does not get big very fast and the thing works for a long time with out getting full

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these are Al gores sites

http://events.stepitup2007.org/............

http://www.stepitup2007.org/

http://events.stepitup2007.org/............

If you want to help the planet ,plant a tree every week ,if everyone on the planet did we we would be able to slowdown the destructive processes

Reduce carbon emissions,and they are already working on that by alternative forms of energy and regulations on carbon producing materials,aerosol cans,burning rubbish,industrial chimneys,power plants etc.

Water harvesting projects ,such as millions of small dams.to redirect over ground water flows from the rains into the ground to supply subterranean water supplies.

The protection of existing forests.

Stop building more highways,urban planning to include vegetation stop building cities encourage people to return to the land to conduct their business from there which now has become possible thanks to the internet.

Education to motivate people to auto sufficiency by building more home food gardens.

Education on environmental awareness

education on family planning to curb over´population

Agricultural education and improvements to follow the principals or sustainability and soil management.

More environmental or land ,design to prevent bush fires,such as--fire breaks

More dams.regulations and control for public behavior

Alternative efficient public transport to discourage the use of the internal combustion engine

101 Ways To Live More Ecologically,may be you find something that applies to you

1. Avoid disposable in favor of reusable

items.

2. Avoid drying rags in a clothes dryer.

3. Avoid power appliances when hand power works.

4. Avoid highly processed foods.

5. Avoid using styro foam—it can't be recycled.

6. Avoid watering driveways and sidewalks.

7. Be responsible and creative with leftover foods.

8. Buy in bulk goods to reduce wasted packaging.

9. Buy energy efficient electric appliances.

10. Buy foods without additives.

11. Buy foods without preservatives.

12. Buy food and goods from sources you trust

13. Buy large quantities to reduce shopping trips.

14. Buy living Christmas trees.

15. Buy locally grown food and produce.

16. Buy organic, pesticide-free foods.

17. Compost your food scraps.

18. Discover and protect watersheds in your area,

19. Don't burn trash or other smoky materials.

20. Drain cooking grease onto paper bags, not paper towels.

21. Drive a fuel-efficient car.

22. Drive less: walk, bicycle, carpooland use public transportation.

23. Eat foods low on the food chain; avoid meat.

24. Eat more natural, nutritious foods.

25. Educate elected representatives on ecology.

26. Exercise regularly.

27. Explore and learn about your bio region.

28. Grow your own food, even a small amount.

29. Hang dry some or all of your clothes.

30. Heat your home less and wear warmer clothes.

31. Heat your home more with renewable energies.

32. Hold a potluck dinner to discuss local ecology.

33. If you use a dishwasher, turn off the drying cycle.

34. Install a water-conserving device in your toilets.

35. Install a water-conserving shower head.

36. Insulate your home to maximum efficiency.

37. Invest for social responsibility as well as profit.

38. Invest in solar power, where practical.

39. Invest in well-made, long-lived clothing.

40. Keep hazardous chemicals in safe containers.

41. Keep appliance motors well adjusted for efficiency.

42. Mend and repair rather than discard and replace.

43. Oppose meddling in ecological balance.

44. Oppose private development of special areas.

45. Oppose roadside use of defoliants.

46. Organize or join a neighborhood toy exchange.

47. Pick up litter along streets and highways.

48. Plant native trees and shrubs around your home.

49. Plant trees throughout your community.

50. Plant your living Christmas tree.

51. Practice preventive health care.

52. Practice responsible family planning.

53. Prepare only as much food as will be eaten.

54. Protect your favorite distinctive natural areas.

55. Purchase goods in reusable/recyclable containers.

56. Put a catalytic converter on your wood stove.

57. Put toxic substances out of reach of children.

58. Recycle aluminum.

59. Recycle glass.

60. Recycle newspaper.

61. Recycle old clothes.

62. Recycle plastic.

63. Recycle used motor oil.

64. Recycle your unneeded items.

65. Re-use paper bags.

66. Re-use plastic bags for storage and waste.

67. Save up for full loads in clothes washers.

68. Save up for full loads in dishwasher.

69. Shop by phone, then go pick up your purchases.

70. Speak out about your values in community groups.

71. Support efficient energy sources in your bioregion.

72. Support elected representatives on ecological issues.

73. Support energy conservation in your bioregion.

74. Support global ecological improvement efforts.

75. Support local credit unions.

76. Support local merchants before large chains.

77. Support neighborhood food cooperatives.

78. Support proper waste water and sewage treatment.

79. Support the cultural diversity in your bio region.

80. Support the plants and animals in your community.

81. Take shorter showers.

82. Teach your children ecological wisdom.

83. Turn down the thermostat on your water heater.

84. Turn off the lights when not needed.

85. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

86. Use biodegradable soaps and detergents.

87. Use cloth diapers.

88. Use cloth table napkins.

89. Use less tap water whenever possible.

90. Use non-toxic pest control.

91. Use only medications you trust/understand.

92. Use rags or towels instead of paper.

93. Use rechargeable batteries.

94. Use the second side of paper for scratch paper.

95. Use water from cooking vegetables to make soup.

96. Volunteer for work in a community garden.

97. Volunteer to maintain local parks and wilderness.

98. Wash clothes in cold water.

99. Wash dishes in still, not running water.

100. Weather-seal your home.

101. Work to unlearn poor ecological habits

Answer 9

Try using http://biogoogle.net it runs on 100% renewable energy.

Answer 10

First, I want to tell you that I'm glad you want to help the environment.  And it's good that you are trying to actually do something, not just talk about it.  First of all, don't leave lights on.  And if you drive to school,  start riding the bus.  It creates less CO2 per passenger mile than a car does.  Recycle papers and such.  Don't leave the computer on.  Actually, if you get a flat screen instead of a CRT (the big, fat ones), you save a lot of electricity.