Try to find a local network where you can share some waste like organics for their compost (they might teach you as well). Try to start growing your own food. Unplug all those electronics in your bedroom that suck energy whole day long.
Whenever possible USE public transportation, carpool, or bike.
With your food start asking where does it come from, how did it grow, how many ingredients there are (more than 5 for simple things like bread should be banned). No big deal on going vegetarian if you don't feel like, but notice where your meat comes from. I try to buy the little meat I eat from a local farm that has their animals cage free. Ah the process is never ending, and you'll get to learn more and more.
Do some research and convince your parents to use LED lighting in their house. It is a good for the environment because they use only a fraction of the power that an incandescent does, and are still much more efficient than CFL bulbs (plus they don't have nasty mercury in them like CFLs). Using LEDs is a good economic decision for your parents, they are more expensive to bu the bulbs, but last several times longer and use less energy for their bill.
You will help them save money, and secretly help them save the environment too!
Take your time researching price / lumens / watts / color temperature
you can find some decently priced bulbs at wal-mart to start, then if you get really gung-ho you can search something like "LED bulub china" in google and find much cheaper bulbs online if you know what to look for, but thats harder to convince your parents about that haha
I just recently went green as well and I found this website really helpful. Its called Four Green Steps and they have tons of products you can buy and an information section on where you can learn more about the green movement and healthy living. But my favorite part is the Recipes section. There are so many great recipes, including Vegetarian and Vegan ones.
Check it out http://www.fourgreensteps.com/
you could go veg. That's one of the greenest things you can do. The amount of waste the meat factories make is out of hand. Or at least just cut back. The way PETA pitches being vegetarian isn't the best. We;re not crazy *** holes who think meat is disgusting (well at least some of us)
but I mean just for fun you could experiment with more plant foods, and reduce the amount of waste caused by the meat factories.
Orrrr. You could plant stuff
Orrr you could make a compost. I think they're a pain, but at they same time they're an easier way of helping the environment
SHORTHER showers! That's a big one!
Cleaning with products that are environmentally friendly and chemical free! Not only is it good for the environment! BUT honestly chemicals on your body just ISN'T NICE!
ummmm honestly just go day by day
My goodness hmmm. Make your own garden! :)
OOOOO Ride your bike! :) It depends on where you live, but I run a lot of errands on my bike. My friends think it's "cute", lol. But I have thighs of steel, and gas prices are ridiculous, and honestly it's just fun. I love my bike. I feel healthy and helpful all at once.
Reduce your use of aerosal cans. . . they aren't good apparently
Use less plastic!
If you drink a crap load of water. GET A water bottle and fill it up. plastic isn't good for you anyways.
hmmmm ummm idk look it up! lol There are millions of ways to help the planet!
Your intention is what's most important though,Just looking admiring and appreciating your planet makes a difference and is admirable.
That's easy. Stop shopping. Use what you already have, borrow things you need momentarily, shop in a smart way at thrift stores. Packaging is a HUGE landfill culprit. Read labels, and be a wary shopper. Pack your lunch for school. You don't need to be a vegetarian to go green. Good luck.
They're are many things that can help. A great way is to do some sort of carbon footprint calculator online, and look at the kind of inputs they ask for. That will give you an idea. As Americans, one of the biggest things we can do is change our diet. The kind of foods we eat and buy are a huge part of carbon production. A vegetarian diet is an incredible way to reduce your carbon footprint, and besides that attempt to eat local and buy from local farmers markets. I live in Hawaii and it always makes me cringe when I see the coconut water sold in stores is from South America. I always think of the millions of gallons of fuel spent shipping heavy coconut water to a place that has more coconuts than everyone living here could ever drink/eat.
Go to college. You. Will. Waste. Nothing.
sadsdasadsad
My parents don't feel as determined as I do to help the environment so I can't get things like solar panels or do anything drastic to my lifestyle. :(
But any ideas(even small ones) will help! I may be able to get my parents on the band wagon...
Thanks :)
Links are helpful as well
