Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Save water
• Method 2 of 5: Maintain air quality
• Method 3 of 5: Protect the health of the land
• Method 4 of 5: Help protect animals
• Method 5 of 5: Save energy
• Tips

Are you concerned about the health of our planet and willing to do what you can to save it? With the bad news flooding us every day about global warming, dying ocean life, and endangered animals, it's hard to know where to start. It may seem like one person's actions don't make a difference, but there are, in fact, many ways you can help. See Step 1 to learn how changing your personal habits and teaching others can impact.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Save water

1. Save water at home. Water wastage is one of the greatest ways individuals impact the health of the planet. Taking steps to use less water is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with little water, this is even more important to the health of the environment in your area. Try to check off as many items as possible from this list:
   • Check for and repair leaks. A leaking tap can waste a lot of water.
   • Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. An economical shower head can be a good start.
   • Do not run the tap all the time when you are doing the dishes. Use a method that requires less water to get the dishes clean.
   • Turn off the tap for the washing machine to prevent leaks. This does not have to be open all the time.
   • Replace old toilets with new ones that use less water.
   • Only wash and dry when the (dishwasher) washing machine is full. You waste water with half a wash.
   • Don't use too much water to water your lawn.
   • Do not run the faucet while brushing your teeth.
2. Use less chemicals. Chemicals used to wash our bodies, homes, cars, and other things get flushed down the drain or absorbed by the grass, eventually ending up in the water supply. Since most people use harsh chemicals for all sorts of things, chemicals really do damage to waterways and animals in the water. The chemicals aren't good for humans either, so do your best to limit their use. That's how you do that:
   • Learn about alternatives to household cleaning products without harmful chemicals. For example, use a solution of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water, which works just as well as most store-bought detergents for basic cleaning jobs. Baking soda and baking soda are also cheap, non-toxic cleaning products.
   • If you don't have good alternatives to a toxic agent, make sure to use as little as possible to get an effective and clean result.
   • Instead of using shampoo and soap full of chemicals, try making your own.
   • Instead of using pesticides and weed killers, find natural ways to get rid of weeds and pests.
3. Dispose of toxic waste properly. Paint, engine oil, ammonia and many other chemicals should not be thrown down the drain or on the grass. They end up in the ground and eventually in the groundwater. Contact your local waste disposal service to find out where the nearest recycling center is.
4. Help identify water contaminants. To some extent, individuals can help keep the water clean. Companies and factories are often the culprit when it comes to water pollution. To protect the Earth's water, concerned citizens must speak up and seek ways to avoid pollution.
   • Join a local environmental club that makes the water in your area cleaner, be it a river, lake, or sea.
   • Reach out to local politicians to discuss how you think the water can be kept chemical-free.
   • Volunteer to help clean up beaches or river banks.
   • Help others get involved in efforts to clean up the water in your area.

Method 2 of 5: Maintain air quality

1. Use less electricity. Coal and natural gas are the most commonly used energy sources for electricity. Combustion of these substances is an important factor in global air pollution. Reducing your dependence on electricity is a great way to help save the planet. This is what you can do:
   • Use solar energy to heat your house and the water.
   • Turn off electrical equipment at night when you go home from work.
   • If you have central air conditioning, don't block vents in unused rooms.
   • Lower the thermostat on your water boiler to 49 degrees.
   • Lower your boiler or switch it off if you are away for a longer period of time.
   • Turn off lights you don't need, even if you just step out of a room.
   • Set the temperature of your refrigerator to 2 to 4 degrees and your freezer to -18 to -15 degrees.
   • If you are using an oven, keep the door open as little as possible when it is on; the oven temperature drops significantly every time you open the door.
   • Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every use, so that less energy is used.
   • Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot water.
   • Turn off lights, computers and other devices when not in use.
   • Use energy-saving lamps to save money and energy.
   • Plant trees for shade in your home.
   • Replace old windows with new, energy-efficient ones.
   • In winter, lower the thermostat while you are away.
   • Insulate your home as best you can.
2. Drive and fly less often. A major source of air pollution that has led to global warming is emissions from cars, trucks, planes and other vehicles. The production of the vehicles, the fuel they require, the chemicals they burn and the construction of roads all play a part. If you can drive and fly less, you will do a lot to help save the planet.
   • Walk or cycle instead of driving, if possible. Look up bike paths where you live and use them!
   • Carpool to work if cycling or walking isn't an option.
   • Report cars that produce a lot of smoke to the environmental department.
   • Maintain your car well. Buy radial tires and keep the air in them good. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of aerosols to reduce harmful emissions.
3. Buy local stuff. Buying locally helps combat air pollution in two ways. You don't have to travel that far to buy what you need, and products don't have to travel that far to get to you. Making smart choices about where to buy food, clothing and other items can help combat air pollution.
   • Shop at farmers' markets and buy food produced as close to your home as possible.
   • When buying online, pay attention to how far the items you order have to travel before they arrive. Try to find things that don't have to travel long distances.
   • Pay attention to where your clothes, electronics, household items, and other belongings were made. Buy as many items made in your area as possible.
4. Eat local vegetables and meat. Industrial farming is not only harmful to individual animals, it is also unsafe for the planet. The bio-industry causes a lot of air and water pollution. You can personally address this issue by doing the following:
   • Eat more vegetables. This simple change is one way of turning our backs on factory farming.
   • Wonder where your meat comes from.
   • Only buy meat away from a small farm.
5. Take action against air pollution. Look up nearby groups that fight air pollution and find a way to get involved. Educating yourself and others about the problem will make a bigger impact than just adjusting your own lifestyle.
   • Join a group that plants trees for cleaner air.
   • Become a bicycle activist. Strive to build safe cycle paths in your city.
   • Reach out to local politicians to discuss issues in your area. For example, if a factory throws pollutants into the air, get politically active to stop it.

Method 3 of 5: Protect the health of the land

1. Produce less waste. Everything you throw in the trash is eventually collected to end up in a landfill. In addition, all that waste - plastic, paper, metal and whatever - was probably not produced sustainably, in ways that are harmful to the land. By producing less waste, you can reduce your impact. Try making these changes:
   • Buy products that you can reuse. For example, buy glass containers instead of plastic, which break quickly.
   • Do not use plastic bags, but fabrics.
   • Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
   • Avoid products with different packaging layers, when one layer is sufficient. About 33% of what we throw away is packaging material.
   • Use reusable plates and cutlery instead of disposable cutlery. Use reusable containers to hold food, instead of aluminum foil and plastic wrap.
   • Buy rechargeable batteries for devices you use often.
   • Copy and print on both sides of the paper.
   • Reuse items such as envelopes, folders and paper clips.
   • Use e-mail instead of paper letters.
   • Use recycled paper.
   • Repair clothes instead of buying new ones.
   • Buy second-hand furniture - it is in surplus, and much cheaper than new furniture.
2. Make your own stuff. If you cook your own dinner or make your own cleaning products, you automatically generate less waste. Ready meals, shampoo bottles and so on can fill a lot of garbage bags together! These are a few things you can make yourself:
   • Food. If you are really ambitious, grow your own food! Otherwise, do your best to make as many meals as possible yourself. Buy ingredients in bulk to save on packaging materials.
   • Products for body care. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste - you name it, you can make it! Try replacing a few things first, and eventually aim to make almost everything yourself. Tip: coconut oil is an excellent substitute for lotion, deep conditioner and facial soap.
   • Cleaning products. Everything from glass cleaners to bathroom cleaners to oven cleaner can be made with natural substances.
3. Use compost. This is an excellent way to reduce waste while improving the health of the land you live in. Instead of throwing your food scraps in the container, let them compost in a bin or in a heap. After a few weeks you will have so rich soil that you can spread out on your lawn or create a lovely vegetable garden. The land around you will be healthier and more vibrant through your efforts.
4. Plant trees, don't cut them down. Trees prevent land from eroding, and they are an integral part of the ecosystem. By saving trees you not only protect the land, but also water and air. If you have space in your yard, consider planting a few trees to invest in the future of your neighborhood.
   • Do research to find out which trees are most beneficial for the environment where you live. Plant trees that grow naturally.
   • Plant trees that grow tall and provide shade.
5. Fight against logging and mining. This depletes the land so that it is no longer healthy enough for plants and animals to live. Join a group that works to protect your environment from industrial practices that harm the land.

Method 4 of 5: Help protect animals

1. Make your land a safe haven for wildlife. Animals of all kinds, from birds to deer and insects, have lost some of their habitat to humans. You've probably seen birds covered in oil, and deer roaming the outskirts of town because they have nowhere else to go. If you have the space, try to welcome animals that could use a little help. You can make your country hospitable in the following ways:
   • Plant shrubs, flowers, and trees that attract wildlife.
   • Set up a food bowl and bird bath with clean food and water.
   • Keep snakes, spiders, bees, bats and other animals alive. The presence of these animals is a sign of a healthy ecosystem.
   • Install a hive if you have room for it.
   • Instead of mothballs, use cedar chips or aromatic herbs.
   • Do not use chemical pesticides.
   • Instead of rat and mouse poison and insecticides, use cruelty-free traps.
   • Use an electric or manual lawn mower instead of one that runs on fuel.
2. Eat sustainably caught fish. The oceans are losing large fish populations due to overfishing and pollution. Up to 90 percent of the large ocean fish have now disappeared. You can do your part to protect marine life by eating only seasonal fish, caught sustainably.
3. Respect animals. Many animals that are considered pests are not really harmful. Other animals that live in wild places are usually out of sight of humans, so we usually forget about their needs. With dozens of animal species dying out every day, they need all the help they can get. Try to be more thoughtful in the following ways:
   • Instead of trapping and killing animals like moles and squirrels, let them live. They may cause some discomfort in your yard, but they play a role in the local ecosystem.
   • Do not disturb wild places such as forests, beaches, swamps and other places where animals live. When visiting such areas, stay on the trails so you don't accidentally damage an animal habitat.
4. Work to protect the habitat of animals. Whether there is a specific animal you want to help save, or you want to commit to the health of all endangered animals, there is always an animal rights club that can use your energy and time.

Method 5 of 5: Save energy

1. Use a solar powered outdoor light. These lamps come with rechargeable batteries that are charged by the sun during the day.
2. Use the sun to heat your hot water. Look up a solar panel supplier in your area, there are more than you might think.
3. Install a low wattage night light with motion sensor near the toilet. Too bright light is not good when you have just woken up, and with the low wattage you also save energy.
4. Install a shower water recycling device. This is filtered and fills your toilet before flushing.

Tips

• Depending on your age and experience, you can ask an adult for help with recycling. Make it a family project.
• By recycling you help save humanity.
• You can make beautiful things out of old stuff when you recycle, if you are creative.
• You can make money from recycling by collecting cans and returning them, if available in your area.
• Take your lemonade bottles to a collection point. You will receive a deposit, and you will be surprised how quickly 5-10 cents add up.
• Take bottles to the bottle machine, use garden waste for compost, recycle paper and have everyone (friends and family) help!