# Make your garden lively - plant trees and shrubs which will attract birds. You can also put p nest boxes and put food. # Try growing sturdy grass in bare patches of land , and convince people in your neighbourhood to do so too. # Put waste to work in your garden- sweep the fallen leaves and flowers into flower beds or under shrubs . This will increase soil fertility and also reduce the need for frequent watering. # If you have little space in your garden , you could make a compost pit to turn organic waste from the kitchen and garden to soil enriching manure . # Don't use chemicals in the garden - as they will eventually end up in the sea and can upset the delicate balance of lifecycles. # Organic and environmentally friendly fertilisers and pesticides are available - organic gardening reduces pollution and is better for wildlife. # Use printers that can print on both sides of the paper ; try to look into this option when replacing old printers. # Use the back of a draft or unwanted printout instead of notebooks. Even with a double-sided printer there is likely to be plenty of spare paper to use! # Always turn off your office light and computer monitor when you go out for lunch or to a meeting. # Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics. # Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. # Start a compost in your back yard or on your rooftop. # Buy foods locally. Buy locally made products and locally produced services. # Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. # Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight). # Recycle your newspapers. # Ride a cycle. # Go to your local library instead of buying new books. # At holidays and birthdays, give your family and friends the gift of saving the earth. Donate to their favorite environmental group, foundation, or organization. # Buy products that use recyclable materials whenever possible. # Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper. # Buy locally. Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food near you at Local Harvest. # Consider organic cleaning products like vinegar, borax, and baking soda. # Consider buying a fuel-efficient car or a hybrid. # Landscape with native plants. # Opt into a clean energy program. # Go paperless. Consider reading your newspaper and magazine subscriptions online. Switch to electronic banking and credit card payment, too. # Teach kids about the environment. # Take your batteries to a recycling center. # Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute. # Reuse. Plastic food containers make good crayon and marker holders. Use padded envelops more than once. Buy your toddler or preschooler’s clothes from a thrift shop and give away those that don’t fit to friends. # Limit the length of your showers. Even better, take a “navy shower,” shutting off the water while soaping up and shampooing. # Don’t run the water when brushing your teeth. Learn about water scarcity. # Wash towels after several uses. # Give away your old goods. # Recycle your technology. Dell, Hewlett Packard, Apple, and IBM, among others, offer recycling programs. # Learn about threats to ocean life and help Greenpeace take action. # Whenever you can, try using green cleaning products. Check out Cheap, Clean, and Green. # Find your local watershed and learn how to protect it. # Where possible drive with the windows up to reduce drag and make your fuel consumption more efficient. # Try not to be in a hurry. Stressed driving can be erratic and is uneconomical. Simply relax and try to enjoy the trip. # Switch off the engine if you think you will stationary for more than two minutes. # Avoid unnecessary revving or idling of the engine as this uses more fuel. # Harsh acceleration and braking can use up to 30% more fuel and can cause increased wear and tear on the vehicle. # Control your speed as travelling at less than 15mph creates the most pollution. As your speed increases up to 60mph your level of pollution decreases. Travelling over 60mph increases your level of pollution again. # Consider planning as many jobs as possible in one trip. Aim to get as much as you can out of the journey. Five jobs in one trip is better for the environment than five trips! # Do not use the car for short journeys, if your journey is less than half a mile then walk or cycle. # Avoid congested areas and so reduce travel time. # Only travel in the rush hour if you absolutely have to. # Time shift your journey, a twenty minute >delay could make all the difference to time in the car.
