There have been a lot of attention lately about the depleting energy recourses of the world. The crisis has effected all of us and with growing global demand of fossil fuels from developing countries has the potential to send gas prices soaring once again, along with the cost of natural gas and coal. As a result of our so called progress there has been a great deal of
environmental damage done, and to add insult to injury the world in struggling with a financial crisis, people without work can’t afford soaring energy prices.

I have wondered what we could be doing as individuals to reduce our use of the worlds resources and give our environment a helping hand in the process. As individuals we are not powerless collectively we have caused the crisis and I believe collectively we’ll we can create a huge positive impact, by making some very simple lifestyle changes. We can reduce the amount of fossil fuels needed to produce food and transportation, forest degradation, coal mining, pollution, just to name a few. Take a look at what you can be doing right now.

1. As much as I hate to say newspapers are not only old fashion but they are a huge waste of resources from millions of trees to the toxic chemicals and aluminum plates used to produce them the fuel and air pollution of delivery. All this can be eliminated by subscribing to your favorite post on line. And you don’t have piles of newspapers to haul to the Recycling Bin .

2. The average produce at a supermarket will have traveled 1500 miles to your table. By starting a small organic garden, it’s easy to grow more than you can use, maybe try to coordinate with your neighbors gardening, growing produce to
share with each other, or learn to preserve by freezing and can the extra produce. If this isn’t possible try to purchase from a local farmers market, purchase only what’s in season. Buy extra and preserve it for the winter months.

3. Adjust your thermostat heating and cooling your home responsibly will save on the amount of coal and natural gas needed to generate electricity as well as the pollution involved in mining and transporting Setting your thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 72 degrees in the summer, open the windows as much as possible to passively cool your home.

4. Today there are many tax incentives for upgrading your homes efficacy, upgrade old outdated appliances with new energy star rated appliances, and plenty of insulation, install new windows, replace the furnace and water heater, or simply installing Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulbs will save a minimum of 47 watts per bulb.

5. Stop using your garbage disposal, garbage disposals waste water, electricity and tax your cities water treatment system or shorten the life of the septic systems drain field. Try a Garden Composter or a Spinning Composter
for your vegetable and fruit scraps creates rich organic compost for your garden and you can also add earth worms in a special compositor box called Can-O-Worms to speed up the composting and create a compost tea that can be drain off and used to fertilize your garden and the worms will add to the fertilizing properties of the compost. This will also help reduce the amount of waste going to land fills.

6.Recycling : Most of the paper, glass, cans, and plastic that makes it’s way in to your home can be recycled, these materials are not biodegradable and will sit in a land fill for ever. By recycling collectively we can save and reuse materials, decreasing the need to mine and create replacements. I have been composting and recycling for the past 4 years and have eliminated the garbage
disposal service, nothing goes to a land fill. Even electronic are recyclable.

7. Use environmentally friendly products, Support companies that use recycled materials, organically grown fibers and always strive to reduce their impact on the environment.

8. Mellow out behind the wheel of your vehicle, Think of the story of the tortes and the hare. believe it or not the tortes rules, by gradually getting up to speed from a stop or coasting to a stop and driving 55 miles an hour will save up to 40% of your fuel costs. And at $4 a gallon, well you do the math.

9. Ask your friends, family and coworkers what their doing to conserve on our natural recources, and don’t forget to brag about your accomplishments!