the green dream

Welcome to the Take Action section of the Green Dream Initiative.

AT HOME

1.) Lighting and electricity.- By switching to compact-florescent lighting, instead of the traditional incadesent lightbulbs, it uses 60% less energy. Even though it's more expensive, it actually saves you money. Also, try to buy solar panels to have your whole house electric gadgets running with solar energy; non-pollutant at all.

2.) Thermostat.- Move your thermostat down 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the winter. Why? Almost half of the energy we use in our homes comes from heating and cooling. Or, even better, wear a sweater instead.

3.) Plant lots of trees!.- You will feel good watching them grow over the years and contributing with oxygen production.

4.) The “off switch”.- If you are leaving a room at night, switch the lights off. The same thing should be done with your PC, TV, radio, etc. It is even better to unplug equipments when they are not needed, and a good habit before going to sleep.

5.) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.- Try to buy reusable products and that are not packaged or wrapped with many plastics. Concerning electric products, buy energy-efficient ones. Recycle paper, plastics, newspapers, glass and aluminium cans. Composting will also help your garden or community!

ON THE MOVE

Drive Less.- WALK, CARPOOL or BIKE! These are some of the best ways you can get involved! Avoiding 10 miles a week can eliminate 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Drive less and avoid flying too many times a year, because it is also harmful to the environment.

Hybrid technologies.- Buy a hybrid car! It will benefit you and others now. However, if you do not have enough money, use natural gas for your car.

WATER

This is the compound that is becoming scarce on our planet. Save it wherever you can, by:

- Employing less time to brush your teeth while using a glass.

- Urging others to follow your lead.

- Using less hot water while bathing. Try soaking yourself, closing the tap, using the soap all over your body and then soaking again with water.

COMMUNITY

Encourage others! Sign petitions, join or create campaigns and more. Start by sharing this Webpage with your family and friends.

Find more tips at: http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?source=cfls&tagID=135

à Print in the two sides of your paper and try to use recycled paper.

à Kick the plastic water bottle habit and drink from a glass whenever you can or a refillable, stainless steel bottle. Why? Because plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a petroleum product that is a nonrenewable energy source and increases CO₂ emissions.

à Don’t smoke! It is bad for your health AND for the environment.

à Read “The Ecologist”, the world’s longest ecological magazine.

à Exercise by walking, meditating or walking your dog. Don’t use the car so often.

à Buy more tofu and green plants. The surface area employed to harvest them is way smaller than the space needed for herding cattle (common meat). However, it is necessary to consume a small portion of meat for a healthy diet. (More info)

à Fix the leak, your toilet (especially check its water consumption) and reaplace your light bulbs.

à Find eco-friendly recipes here: www.thedailygreen.com/c/food

à Sign petitions in your community to stop deforestation, now! 

From Recycle City:

à Mix vinegar and salt instead of heavy cleaners for cleaning surfaces.

à Use 4 teaspoons of baking soda in warm water instead of commercial cleaners.

à For furniture polishing: mix 1 teaspoon of olive oil with juice of one lemon and one teaspoon of water.

Compost is a natural fertilizer you can make with some of the waste you see in your kitchen. It is simple and easy, fun to do and not expensive at all! As a plus, you are helping your environment by not using harmful cleaning products or gardening supplies. Here is how to do it:

à Buy a bin.

à Choose an area where there’s partial sunlight.

à Pile about a four-inch layer of the following:

-leaves

-loose soil

-grass clipings

-egg shells

-coffee grounds

-tea bags

-apple and potato peels

-old bread (with nothing inside!)

-NO fats, greases, diary foods, meat or poops.

à Water the pile just a bit in dry weather.

à Every few weeks, turn the pile with a pitchfork to let air circulate, and add some carboard if it is too moist.

à After 6 to 9 months, it will look dark brown and crumbly. That is when it is ready to be spread in the garden!

Sources: Recycle City and http://www.recyclenow.com

This activity is fun to do, especially with friends that are interested on the idea! Are you ready to make your own paper and reduce deforestation? If that is so, following these steps:

à Get used paper and newspapers.

à Tear the scrap paper into small pieces.

à Put the small pieces in large buckets, filled with warm water and one tablespoon of bleach. Make sure to cover the paper completely.

à Add colored paper, scents and colorants if you like.

à Let the paper soak at least half an hour.

à Place some of the soaked paper into the blender, adding more of the water and bleach mix. Voila! Now you have some slurry.

à Repeat the last step.

à Now, use the large embroidery hoops with nylon netting. If you cannot find this, try bending a used coat hanger into a square shape, take one leg of a panty hose and stretch it carefully over the frame. This will drain excess water.

à Dip your hoop into the bucket and lift it up slowly.

à Press the excess water out of the slurry with your hand.

à Place the damp slurry on layers of newspapers.

à Let it dry for about four days (depends on your location), and then take your paper out of the frame.

à There you go. Recycled paper!