1) Try buying things that could be recycled. For example, buy recyclable pens that could be filled with ink rather than pens that get thrown away after being used. If you have papers, bottles or whatsoever, don't throw them away. Instead, send them to the recycling company in your district.
2) Reduce the amount you use and try to reuse existing items instead of buying new ones . One great idea is to buy clothes second-hand (lots of clothes are thrown/ given away that are barely a year old and have hardly been worn) and to customize old clothes instead of buying new ones.
3) Try to make your purchase decisions from companies that support sustainable production, fair trade, or organics . If you don't know all about how something is made, look it up!
4) Turn off all the upstairs lights (and downstairs if your parents are already upstairs) before you go to bed each night. If you leave phone or i-pod chargers plugged into the main power source then it uses electricity even if it's not connected in your phone/i-pod.
5) Don't leave the T.V. on in the background. Even if you're watching it but you're not very interested in the program - consider if there is something that you'll find more enjoyable and also doesn't use so much energy. Playing outdoors for example. Remind yourself of childhood hobbies, Lego and board games can still be enjoyable in your teens.
6) Haven't got any ideas for your birthday presents ? Suggest a green theme. Energy efficient light bulbs for your lamps, recycled notebooks/stationary, sponsor a green charity in your name, solar powered chargers. There are lots of things you can buy that will be useful and enjoyable. Plus there will be an added warm feeling on your birthday.
7)You may have heard on the news about a website which is Google - but in black, blackle .com. The theory being on some older computers (monitors that
aren't flat screen) it takes less energy to show black than white. If you have one of these monitors change your background to black. For all computers lowering settings such as brightness and contrast will reduce the energy you use.
8) If you are on the computer just to talk to your friends - you don't need your printer/scanner/speakers switched on too. Try to turn on only what you need.
9) Remember that appliances on standby are still using energy. When you turn something off - really turn it off!
10) Save paper in school. Think twice before you throw away that old sheet of scratch or note paper. See if you can still use it for something.
11) Take a shower instead of a bath. When taking a shower, try to keep it below 10 minutes. Don't turn the heat all the way up, either. Make it a kind of game,trying to beat your old 'score' every time you take a shower.
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