Article Home
 

GREEN U - Getting Greener All the Time

Help the Environment with One Million Acts of Green

 

Doing green—that is, performing green acts in your everyday life—is good for you and your family, it’s good for your neighbors, your friends, your community, your country, your continent, planet Earth and all the generations that will come.
 
When you look at it that way, it’s almost impossible NOT to act green! But the best news is that it’s easier than ever these days.
 
1. Walk or Bike to Work. When you consider that burning a gallon of gasoline in your car results in more than 19 pounds of CO2 being released into the atmosphere, you’ll begin to get the idea why biking or walking to work is such an attractive alternative. Not only are you significantly reducing your carbon footprint, you’re also giving yourself the gift of fitness while helping the environment!
 
However, if you live too far from your workplace or school to make biking or walking the entire distance feasible, consider combining your bike ride with public transportation. Many cities have bike racks installed on public transit buses, and most cities allow bikes on subways during off-peak hours.
 
2. Take Public Transit Instead of Driving. If biking isn’t part of your transportation repertoire, take a tip from the Europeans, leave your car at home and take public transportation instead. According to the American Public Transportation Association, if Americans used public transportation instead of driving for about 10 percent of their travel U.S. dependence on foreign oil would be reduced by as much as 40 percent.
 
In addition, if you exclusively use public transport to get to school or work, you can cut your carbon emissions by as much as 4,800 lbs. per year, which is more than if you weatherized your home, converted to fluorescent bulbs and replaced an old refrigerator, combined.
 
3. Plant a Tree at Home. One of the most effective acts you can take to offset your carbon emissions is to plant a tree. Often referred to as “the lungs of the earth,” trees take carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into oxygen. According to the Conservation Fund—a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve our natural resources including forests, wildlife and natural waterways—a single tree can remove as much as a ton (2000 pounds) of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over its lifetime.
 
The shade provided by a mature tree can also help cool your house, reducing your energy use by as much as 10 percent in the warmer months. In cooler months, trees and shrubbery function as a wind block, which helps keep your home warmer. 
 
By making green acts a part of your daily routine, you’re not just helping the planet; you’re acting as a great environmental role model for those around you. So talk about it! Blog about it! Record your acts of green here and share those acts with your friends on Facebook! And then take a moment to be proud of yourself for helping the environment and keeping the Earth green and clean!
 
One Million Acts of Green Important Links
 
Other GREEN U Articles: