How Your Family Can Help the Environment

• Set your thermostat at 68 degrees; if you’re chilly, grab a sweater.

• Look into drafty windows—replace them if you can afford it, or cover with plastic in winter.

• Make sure your home heating and cooling system is up to date—get an energy audit from your gas and electric provider.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Use reusable water bottles filled with tap water.

• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth. It can save up to eight gallons of water a day!

• Turn off the lights when you leave a room; turn off power strips at night since any electrical connection uses energy.

• Remember to recycle paper, plastics, glass, and cans.

• Bring your own bags to the store; many stores offer inexpensive, durable bags.

• Donate unwanted or outgrown items to charity.

 

How Your Children Can Help Their School Go Green

• Start a campaign to replace all light bulbs with compact fluorescents. Students can work with local businesses to get them donated or hold bake sales or car washes to raise money.

• Reduce the use of juice boxes, water bottles, and plastic bags in the school cafeteria. Work with the administration, teachers, and parent association to help educate students on cutting down on waste.

• Invite your public utility company to come in and do an energy audit of the school.

• Check to be sure the school has adequate recycling bins for plastic and paper.

• Start a global warming or green club at the school and set goals to curb the school’s energy use.

• Speak out by running for student government on a green platform.

 

Julie Mitchell is a San Francisco-based freelance writer who focuses on writing about parenting, technology, and food. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco and is the parent of two teenagers. She recently started a blog about parenting teens at http://teenqueenmom.blogspot.com/.

 

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Issue: April 2008