Saving the environment is a hot topic these days and for good reason. It's no secret that our environment is suffering. We pollute, cut down trees, and live in an ever-increasing state of consumerism. With so many people out there preaching to us about what we should do, it's often hard to know where to start or how to change our daily habits to make a difference.
If you're a teen (or parent of one) and care about the environment, by making small changes in your daily lives, we can help to save the planet. Here are five eco-friendly steps teens can take now that will make a huge difference later.
Ditch the single-use bottled water and use a reusable water bottle
According to Green America, Americans tossed 38 billion plastic water bottles in 2010 alone. The process of making so many plastic bottles for just one use leaves a massive carbon footprint, which can cause climate change. Using your own reusable bottle will help reduce the number of water bottles we produce and waste each year.
Take shorter showers.
By taking shorter showers, you'll save money on utilities and help conserve energy at the same time. According to the EPA, if you shave one minute off your shower time every day, you'll save $170 per year on utilities and save a whopping 2,900 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year — as much as planting 100 trees!
Turn off the lights when you leave your room.
It's an easy thing to forget sometimes, but turning off lights when you leave your room can save energy and money. If everyone turned off their lights when they weren't in their rooms or offices, it could reduce the amount
Stop using plastic straws.
The plastic doesn't break down and it ends up in the oceans and other places where it hurts wildlife and gets into the food chain. If you must use a straw, you can get reusable metal or glass ones, or ones made from paper that decompose.
Don't litter.
Make sure everything goes into the trash instead of on the ground — cigarette butts, water bottles, and food wrappers add up over time. As you're walking around outdoors, pick up anything you see on the ground that shouldn't be there — it will make your community look better as well as help the environment.
Conclusion
It’s important to educate yourself about the environment and make small changes that can make a big difference. Choosing ways that you can limit your impact is going to make the biggest difference in how much you improve our environment. So what are you waiting for? There are lots of ways you can make a positive change in your community. Get started today and share your progress with us. kidscrafts crafts for girls/kids craft boxes for kids ds crafts kidscraft