How do I go green as a teen?

Question

Well im just a sixteen year old girl who is willing to help out the environment in some way. How will I do so without making super dramatic changes. Besides recycling what else can I do? :) What kind of products should I use?

Answer 1

There are many things you can do. First, recycle! It is simple and easy to do. Next, buy one plastic, reusable water bottle. All you have to do is clean it, and it is as good as new. (They have some really cute ones at Victoria's Secret right now). Instead of using paper towels, use cloth napkins that can be cleaned and reused. Try not to use paper plates or plastic forks, knives, spoons, ect. Try walking or riding a bike more than driving a car. On a nice day, turn off the air or heat and open some windows, you can get a nice breeze. Also, plants trees around your house. They are good for the environment and also can shade the house which can save on air costs. If  Buy eco friendly products like dish washing liquids, and organic foods. Or you can even plant a garden. It will be good for the environment and save you money on groceries! Buy reusable grocery bags, that way you will not have to fill so many landfills with them.  Also, do not throw away batteries.  You can take them to places to recycle them so they do not end up in landfills and pollute the earth.  Take shorter showers and turns off the water when you can.  Turn off lights whenever possible, don't waste electricity. These are just a few ideas that you can try to go green. Good luck. :)

Answer 2

If your using electronic equipment start using rechargeable batteries, instead of one time use batteries.  Use solar powered re chargers for your electronic devices instead of plugging them into your conventional wall sockets.  

This will help reduce the energy consumption in your home and save a little money on the electric bill, and reduce battery waste.

Solar battery rechargers is also located on this site, I encourage you to research and surf this site so you can learn about green batteries and products that will benefit you, family and friends.

Answer 3

I have been trying to be environmentally friendly as a teen as well. One step that I have taken is that I unplugged all of my appliances and things that are not in use. This helps reduce the amount of energy that is being used because even though they are not taking up much energy while being plugged in and not in use, they take up enough to add up to alot.

also, I bought a klean kanteen water bottle from www.kleankanteen.com, and refuse to use plastic water bottles of any kind. Plastic water bottles not only leach chemicals into the water you are drinking, but can cause cancer and sometimes infertility /sterility (with plastic # 7). Also, it takes many years to break down the plastic. These bottles are filling up our land and making it impossible to clean up.

ride your bike/roller blade/ walk instead of drive everywhere that is possible

plant a vegetable garden to provide you with the vegetables you need

plant trees and plants everywhere possible (legally)

turn off the water when you brush your teeth

turn off lights when not in use

hope this helps!

Answer 4

recycle, keep your enviornment clean, try not to use a car so much if you have to don't drive so fast and try not ot use the a/c, don't use hair products like hairspray, volunteer to keep places nice and clean,

and ofcourse inform anyone and everyone about keeping out planet nice,clean,healthy, and happy :))

Answer 5

get a hiking stick ..put a nail through the end ..wherever you go pick up trash ..stuff your pockets with trash bags and fill them up as you go

Answer 6

other than all things others said which is perfect to do,u can do voluntary works .There are lots of NGOs(non governmental organizations) which accept volunteers.Its an enriching experience while being fun!;)

Answer 7

You may use:  My Best Recycling Idea

Besides recycling the plastic containers, you can improve your work or home environments by bringing live potted plants indoors.

Major items needed:

One empty plastic gallon container.   Tree Top Apple Juice is preferred, or equal in shape.

One empty plastic ½ gallon container.  Langers All Pomergranate Juice is preferred or equal.

Directions:  Lay the plastic gallon container on its side so the front label is facing up.  Place the empty plastic half gallon container on the label and with a sharpie pen outline the bottom on the Tree Top label and with a sharp knife carefully cut the outline.  Insert the half gallon into the hole until it rest on the back label of the gallon container.  Then mark and cut approximately one inch above the cut on the ½ gallon  to complete your planter container.  Remove and drill several ¼ inch holes on the bottom of the ½ gallon cut container for drainage.

Fill the cut ½ gallon planter with one inch of gravel before putting in good potting mix soil and live growing plant.  If you make two or more you can pour the water back and forth and not waste the water with the nutrients.

Go to NASA’s Clean Air Plant Study for the top ten plants that cleans the indoor air better than the rest.

Answer 8

I work with my sons high school Earth Club, when I didn my last presentation to them I had to think about things that are relevant to them. I showed them some great eco clothing, recycled plastic t-shirts, organic cotton jeans, shirts made of bamboo and Modal (wood fibre). I also brought in a collection of recycled school supplies.

We are now working on a campaign for the students to go green with back to school. We have written to the teachers and staff and asked them to put a simple message on their back to school literature and school supply lists. "Complete the Cycle, Buy Recycled". When we return to school this fall they will give a box to each teacher that has green ribbons, similar to breast cancer ribbons, for each student that has recycled school supplies for personal use or brings in recycled paper products for classroom use they will give them a ribbon to wear or dispay on their backpack. We talked so much about recyling for so long, but we don't hear much about the benifit of what is recycled.

I also gave them a copy of my favorite book, "The Green Book" you can also check it out online at www.readthegreenbook.com

Don't forget you have much more influence on your parents purchasing decisions than you may think. I don't think a DVD player in the back seat of a car came from a Mom. Talk to them about what you are learning and get them involved as well.

Answer 9

some ideas in here,http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/ite...

Answer 10

well recycling is the biggest thing you can. the next big step is get some friends together and adopt a mile of highway to clean. you can also buy new light bulbs that last longer and reduce energy usage but be careful if you by those they are filled with some pretty bad chemicals just make sure to dispose of them properly dont just throw them away. try not to use electric items like tv and computers until night. because night is when the renewable energy sources generators are more active

Answer 11

Try to use products that are encouraging the eco-movement.

A huge way to help is to use re-usable shopping bags when you go to the mall/any store.  Plastic bags are VERY un-biodegradeable and pollute the earth more than most people realize.

Answer 12

GOD BLESS YA!

Ok, re-use, recycle, renew.

Bike to school, or walk. Or public transportation, but don't get driven in a car.

Buy clothing with organic cotton, and get your shoes and school bag at http://www.simpleshoes.com ...all their stuff is super-cute and eco-friendly. It's made from hemp and recycled tires and stuff.

If you aren't already a vegetarian, eat less red meat, because it reduces your carbon footprint.

Encourage your mom or dad or whoever does the grocery shopping to use cloth bags. You can get these online. Google it.

Consolidate Trips. I don't know if you have your permit or licence or anything, but if you've got an errand to run, get them all done in one trip, and save gas.

:] thats all i got. have fun with it!!

Answer 13

Hi, first glad you're thinking in this direction. I would suggest trying not to buy new things, if you go to a thrift store in an expensive neighborhood you can get great designer clothes that you'll be reusing and they're almost new. As the mother of two teenage girls I understand that fashion is important, but you can do it on a budget and help the environment. I would also say to buy natural beauty products; this is good for your health and the planet's health. One last suggestion, that also helps your health is to eat as much organic food as possible, at least fruits and vegetables. The amount of pesticides built up in your system and in the water runoff is enormous. Good luck with your mission, it's a lifelong goal and so worth it!! Get your friends in on it too, positive peer pressure will make a difference!

Answer 14

well...

1) take less time in the shower. the avergae teenager takes 45 minutes in the shower!! (and most of this is American Idol practice) and while waiting for the water to heat up, save the cold water in a bucket and use that to water ur plants.

2) try using towels more often than paper towels. this will save a LOT of tree.

3) try to remember to take your canvas bag to the store every time.

4) RECYCLE (of course!)

5) if u drive, drive a little slower and less aggressively. open the windows on small streets to avoid using the A/C, but close the windows on highways because then they can actually reduce your fuel econmomy.

6) SPREAD THE WORD! <3

=D

Answer 15

-You should Reduce and Reuse too, that's the major thing we're trying to do. REDUCE our impact.

-Buy vintage clothes from thrift store, better deals and even cooler more unique cloths!

-Try not to buy online when buying clothes, especially if you have store close to where you live.

-Take the bus, you dont' need to drive to school everyday.

-Or carpool with friends to school, that way you can all save on gas money by splitting it everytime. And it's funner!

-When you do your laundry, you should be using some green products. And encourage your mom or dad to by green cleaning supplies. My favorites are Seventh Generation, Method, and Green works (by clorox) you can find these at any local Target or store like that.

-Buy organic makeup. Here a website for a good brand: http://www.organicwearmakeup.com/en-us/d...

-Use a reusable shopping when you go shopping. And local store should have some cute ones, or just use a big purse if you have one.

-Instead of using google, use the site goodsearch. Everytime you seach a penny is donated to a charity of your choice, so you could choose a charity such as carbonfund.org, so you would be searching and offsetting your carbon emissions at the same time.

-Start a green club at your school where you can organize environmentally friendly events to help the earth.

-Encourage your famliy to buy local and organic foods as much as possible. Refuse to eat anything else!

-Plant some trees, they suck up that bad CO2.

-Start a compost bin.-

-Go outside more, and get away from the energy sucking T.V.s

-And finally, get all your friends to go green! Have parties where you make reusable dish rags,or napkins. Watch An Inconvient Truth together. And do your best to help the planet!

Good luck!