Many of us live our daily lives in a blur, running from one place to the next and then back again, only to discover that we have another chore to do or meeting to attend. Very rarely do we take the time to stop and enjoy nature, let alone really think about how we affect it.
Sure, we all impact the environment but it's the way we choose to impact the environment that makes our individual “ecological footprint” large or small.
So, what size is your footprint? Take a few minutes and think of your lifestyle. Do you eat locally grown food? How much waste do you generate? How much energy do you use? Do you carpool or have a fuel efficient car?
These are just a few questions that can make a big difference. Below are few suggestions to help you and your family lessen their impact on the environment and reduce the size of their ecological footprint.
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. A compact fluorescent light lasts 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb and use two-thirds less energy.
If every U.S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.
• Turn off your lights when you leave a room, and use only as much light as you need.
Remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them.
• Use appliances less often by running the dishwasher only when its full, only running full loads of wash, and use a clothes line or rack to dry clothes.
• Use less hot water by lowering your hot water heater to 120 degrees and using cold water instead of hot or warm to wash laundry.
Conserve the amount of water you use by turning the water off while brushing your teeth, fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, using a water efficient showerhead and collecting rain water to water plants.
These steps could save a household 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
• Buy energy efficient products. When it comes to purchasing a new dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, washing machine or dryer buy an energy efficient model.
This can significantly lower your energy bill and could help you save more than 1,000 pounds of carbon a year. If you are looking for a new car, choose one that is great on gas mileage.
• Recycle glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum with your town or village.
Participate in local recycling events such as the household hazardous waste drop off day, tire recycling event and electronics and propane tank event.
If you are not sure what items can be recycled in your area or when a recycling event will take place call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
To see your footprint, take the quiz at http://www.myfootprint.org
Renee Jensen is a community educator of environmental issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
So, what size is your footprint? Take a few minutes and think of your lifestyle. Do you eat locally grown food? How much waste do you generate? How much energy do you use? Do you carpool or have a fuel efficient car?
These are just a few questions that can make a big difference. Below are few suggestions to help you and your family lessen their impact on the environment and reduce the size of their ecological footprint.
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. A compact fluorescent light lasts 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb and use two-thirds less energy.
If every U.S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.
• Turn off your lights when you leave a room, and use only as much light as you need.
Remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them.
• Use appliances less often by running the dishwasher only when its full, only running full loads of wash, and use a clothes line or rack to dry clothes.
• Use less hot water by lowering your hot water heater to 120 degrees and using cold water instead of hot or warm to wash laundry.
Conserve the amount of water you use by turning the water off while brushing your teeth, fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, using a water efficient showerhead and collecting rain water to water plants.
These steps could save a household 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
• Buy energy efficient products. When it comes to purchasing a new dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, washing machine or dryer buy an energy efficient model.
This can significantly lower your energy bill and could help you save more than 1,000 pounds of carbon a year. If you are looking for a new car, choose one that is great on gas mileage.
• Recycle glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum with your town or village.
Participate in local recycling events such as the household hazardous waste drop off day, tire recycling event and electronics and propane tank event.
If you are not sure what items can be recycled in your area or when a recycling event will take place call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
To see your footprint, take the quiz at http://www.myfootprint.org
Renee Jensen is a community educator of environmental issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
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