Get Involved

In your home
In your yard
At your workplace
Getting around town
When you’re shopping
On vacation
Personal efforts

In your home

• Recycle everything you can.  Check with the company that picks up your recycling to find out which items they accept.
• Investigate local recycling centers that take items your garbage and recycling hauler doesn’t – for example, electronics. 
• Try making cleaners at home using natural products, such as vinegar and water for windows.  Try to stay away from toxic cleaning products.
• Change your lightbulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs.  The higher cost of these bulbs pays for itself by reducing your electricity bill.  Some local electricity companies also offer rebates if you keep your receipt.
• Use cold water in the washer whenever possible.  Heating water uses a lot of energy.
• Use washable rags, not paper towels, for cleaning up spills and other household chores.
• Don’t put hazardous substances down your drain or in your trash (paint thinner, furniture polish, etc.).  Dispose of them on designated hazardous waste days.
• Write to companies that send unwanted junk mail and ask them to take you off their list.
• Take unwanted, reusable items to a charitable organization or thrift shop.
• Don’t leave water running needlessly.
• Turn off lights as you leave the room.
• Weatherstrip your doors and windows to prevent air leaks and save energy.  Your local home improvement store can provide helpful information.
• Install a programmable thermostat to control heating and cooling in your home.  In the winter, set the temperature lower (and in the summer, set it higher) for times you will be asleep or away from your home.

In your yard

• Start a compost pile.  Start first by researching how to do this.
• Plant shrubs and trees in your yard that provide food and shelter for birds and other animals.
• Use native plants in your yard – they require less water.
• Pull weeds instead of using herbicides and search for alternatives to pesticides.
• Use organic fertilizers.
• Plant short, dense shrubs close to your home’s foundation to help insulate against cold.
• Know where your food comes from – plant a vegetable garden.

At your workplace

• If you don’t have one already, start an office recycling program for office paper, cardboard, cans, etc.
• Reuse scrap paper for informal notes.
• Purchase office paper with recycled content.
• Print and copy two-sided.
• Reuse manila envelopes and file folders.
• Use a mug instead of disposable cups.
• Send documents by email instead of printing them.
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator.

Getting around town

• Sign up for a carpool list.
• Use public transit, ride a bike, or walk when possible.
• Buy a fuel efficient vehicle.
• Keep your tires properly inflated to save gas.
• Keep your wheels in alignment to save your tires.
• Don’t litter.

When you’re shopping

• Avoid buying disposable items, such as paper plates and styrofoam cups. If you must buy disposables, buy paper products rather than plastics or styrofoam.
• Avoid buying household items in packaging that cannot be recycled, and items with excess packaging. 
• Buying in bulk reduces pollution that comes from the manufacture and disposal of many small packages.
• When buying appliances and electronics, look for brands and models that use less energy – look for the “Energy Star” label.
• Buy durable products and keep them a little longer.  Cheap furniture, clothes, and appliances often have short life spans.
• Read labels and buy the least toxic product available for cleaning, pest control, and other jobs.
• Purchase reusable bags and use them for all of your shopping needs.
• Ask questions – don’t buy products that are hazardous to the environment or that were manufactured at the expense of important animal habitat.
• Consider buying used furniture, such as an item from an antique shop.  Otherwise, search for eco-friendly furniture.  Ask for wood that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified (look for the FSC label).
• Buy locally grown food and locally made products when possible.
• Carry a Seafood Watch Card in your wallet and use it to help guide your seafood purchases.
• Don’t buy products that come from endangered animals.
• Don’t keep exotic pets – especially threatened or endangered species.

On vacation

• Turn down the heat or turn off your air conditioner, and turn off the water heater before you go.
• Make sure your plastic trash doesn’t end up in the ocean.
• Carry a Seafood Watch Card with you when you go out to eat – it can help you make seafood choices.
• Don’t pick flowers or collect wild animals for pets – leave animals and plants where you find them.
• Don’t buy souvenirs made from wild animals.
• Watch out for wildfire – give consideration to all living things you see crossing the road.
• Be careful with campfires.
• Staying on the trail does less damage to natural habitats.

Personal efforts

• Join a conservation organization.
• Volunteer your time to conservation projects.
• Give money to worthy conservation/environmental causes.
• Check your lifestyle – think about the effects of your daily actions on the environment.
• Read books and articles about wildlife and environmental issues.
• Teach children respect for nature and the environment.
• Spread the word to family members, friends, companies, and legislators.