| With all the talk today about global warming, | | | | going to feel just as helpless as that author |
| pollution and going green, most people are | | | | caught at sea with no water to drink. So wait until |
| becoming overwhelmed with the vast amount of | | | | your washer and dryer are full to run them, and |
| information out there about how to reduce what | | | | only fill water glasses with as much as you are |
| is known as your "carbon footprint." Well, it's not | | | | going to drink. Turn the water off when you're |
| as complicated as one might think. First, let's start | | | | brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers, and |
| by defining just exactly what a carbon footprint is. | | | | stop flushing tissues; use the wastebasket instead |
| A carbon footprint is a calculated figure that is | | | | of the water it takes to flush the toilet for no |
| determined by various factors in which one might | | | | reason. |
| be impacting the environment. Factors include how | | | | We all know that smog is unsightly and unhealthy, |
| often you drive an automobile, what you do for a | | | | but smog is just a visible representation of the |
| living and how your home is heated. When | | | | much deeper damage caused by CO2 emissions. |
| individuals take proactive steps to reduce their | | | | So try to do a weekly trip to the grocery store |
| carbon footprints, the effects are collectively felt. | | | | instead of many short trips. If you're in the |
| Here are some simple ways to reduce your | | | | market for a new car, consider a hybrid model. |
| carbon footprint! | | | | Take public transportation when you can, or try |
| First, look around you, right now. Are there | | | | to cycle and walk if you're going a short distance. |
| appliances on that you aren't specifically using, for | | | | The benefits of this will help you as well as the |
| example, the television buzzing in the background? | | | | environment. |
| Turn these appliances off. You won't miss | | | | Another way is to register a website with a .eco |
| anything, and you'll even save a few cents here | | | | extension when it comes available. The concept |
| and there on your electric bill. | | | | behind the establishment of this new dot eco top |
| No matter where you are in the world, there's a | | | | level domain is that Dot Eco LLC will donate over |
| good chance you have either your heat or central | | | | 50% of domain registration proceeds back to |
| air running. If it's the air conditioning, turn up the | | | | fund scientific initiatives and research in climate |
| temperature a degree or two. If it's the heat, | | | | change, ocean analysis, economic policy, and other |
| turn it down a few degrees. If your systems | | | | environmentally-related areas. Also, remember to |
| have timers, use them because unless you're at | | | | host your website with a green hosting company. |
| home, it's not necessary to heat or cool your | | | | These are all small steps you can take |
| home as much. | | | | immediately to reduce your carbon footprint. |
| Water, water everywhere... so the old verse | | | | Make these small changes in your daily lives and |
| goes. Unless we conserve water, however, we're | | | | you too will officially be green. |