Go Green!

Its World Environment day today & though we hear about it everywhere...possibly read up numerous articles on it - there are very few of us who actually practice Environment conservation in our daily lives.

As we are moving into a more & more busy world, we tend to overlook some of the very basic things that we can follow in our daily lives at home & contribute our little share in making the planet a little less overloaded.
I am sharing a few of the simplest things that I do follow...& trust me, it does make me feel a responsible citizen of Planet Earth. :)

To begin with my favourite - Plant greenery/preserve greenery; wherever possible! - No greater service than this to mother Earth.

• The most simplest of things are often the most overlooked. ~Most of us are ignorant to the wastage of water in running taps while brushing, shaving, washing utensils, face etc. Just paying a little attention to these by using mugs instead of running taps DOES make a difference.
• When it comes time to buy new appliances, look for those that are energy savers with the star ratings.... they help the environment as well your wallet in the long run. :)
• If you are thinking about upgrading your computer between a desktop or a laptop, choose laptop. Not only do laptop computers draw just 15 to 25 watts during regular use, compared to the 150 watts used by conventional computers...desktop/ monitors ...laptops also draws just a fraction of a watt when in sleep mode.
• Using Blackle.com instead of the regular google search page would open up a black search page. Black screens eat up a lot less energy compared to the white ones. [Any surprise why this page is black? :)]
• Compact fluorescent light [CFL's] bulbs use 25% of the energy of standard incandescent bulbs and they last much longer. Use them.
• Don't use a hose to clean the car or the bike. Vehicles can be efficiently cleaned with a bucket & a mug too... it sure saves lots of Water!
• A single dripping tap can waste far more water in a single day than one person needs for drinking in an entire week. Don't wait to fix a drip. Do it now!
• Turn things off when you leave the house. Lights/wall unit appliances etc. Don’t leave your TV/computer on sleep mode, as well as unplug chargers/tape recorders...as they continue to consume even if they are not in use; ...& placing lamps or TV sets near air-conditioners only causes the air-conditioner to run longer than necessary due to the heat emitted, thus eating into more energy than required.

While stepping out of home, a few easy things which if followed, go a long way are:

• Don’t go anywhere without your cloth bag so you can just say no to plastic whenever you shop. Plastics are the bane to the Environment. Say NO to plastics. I Know it isn't easier to start this one...but small steps do become big steps eventually! :)
• Consider turning your engine if waiting in big traffic snarls or prefer using nuetral control. Also, keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure when driving. These will decrease the amount of fuel used as well as your carbon footprint.

A few things that can be followed inside the office are:

• Using a washable mug is an environmentally-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable styrofoam or plastic cups. Leaving one of your own cup or bottle at the workplace can eliminate use of those cups.
• Use handkerchiefs or hand towels for drying your face and hands instead of tissues that are used and thrown away. [Just because they're for free - FOR YOU- doesn't mean they don't cost the environment.]
• Re-use papers efficiently. Turn over an old document or unwanted print-outs and write on the plain backsides for small notes, messages etc.
• When you must have a paper copy, make sure you default your printer option to use both sides.
• The most important according to me: Many of us spend so much time on our computers, that we never turn the things off. Even if it takes a few extra moments, switch them off when you wind off for the day. It goes without saying how much energy could be saved if even a small group practises this daily. It will also reduce wear and tear on hardware, extending its life. Also, turn off lights, fans wherever unnecessary.
• Shut off your monitor if you aren't going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you're not going to use it for more than two hours. (Though don't overdo it. Very frequent cycling of power switch does result in added wear.)

Finally, I'll also list my another favourite before I end this small preach about nature conservation. :D - & those are the 3 R's ~ Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Reduce, Reuse & Re-cycle whatever you can...whatever you are aware of. The more we conserve now - means the more we save...& more resources we leave for our children. & not forgetting- a more better world to live in. Saving energy but also helps in reducing air pollution.

To end with, I'll leave with a few lines of Michael Jackson's, 'Heal the world', words which are quite applicable here:

"Heal the world...make it a better place...a better place for you & for me..." :)