Carbon Footprint

• Go to EPA’s online calculator to obtain an estimate of your personal greenhouse gas emissions or your family’s greenhouse gas emissions: Climate Change

Ecological Footprint Quiz

• Take this quiz and see the impact you are having on the plant

Home Energy Saver

• Find resources to make your home more energy efficient including a do-it-yourself home energy audit.

Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle
The four R’s include Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle. Incorporating these principles into our daily lives reduces the waste going to landfills, protects our natural resources and will make a lasting difference in the quality of life we leave for future generations.

Reduce

• Reduce the amount of garbage you generate by purchasing products with less packaging. Purchase items in bulk, family size, or in condensed form. Avoid packaging made with two or more materials such as juice containers made from paper laminated onto plastic or foil. Avoid all products that have unnecessary packaging.
  
• Use canvas or string bags when shopping. Recycle Plastic Bags! To find the nearest location click here!
  
• Use cloth rags, napkins, and handkerchiefs instead of paper towels and tissues.
  
• Remove your name from direct marketing mailing lists to reduce junk mail.
  
• Compost to reduce yard waste.
  
• Whenever possible, use double sided printing.
  
• Use cloth diapers when possible. Landfills are not designed to accept human waste products. Diapers can create a health hazard.
  
• Never release balloons into the environment. They are hazardous to wildlife.

Reuse

• Reuse what you can. Every time you buy something, think of ways to reuse it instead of throwing it away. An important way to reduce the amount of waste you and your family generate is to reuse a product as many times as you can. Water bottles, cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, plastic, and paper bags can all be reused.
  
• Use rechargeable batteries.
  
• Reuse containers for storage.
  
• Reuse plastic margarine tubs and yogurt containers for leftovers.
  
• Return your hangers and plastic garment bags to your local dry cleaner.
  
• Give your old magazines to local senior centers, churches, or hospitals.
  
• Reuse foam peanuts for packaging.
  
• Donate unneeded items to a local thrift shop or charitable organization.

Repair

• Repair electric and electronic products whenever possible. When purchasing these items, buy durable, long lasting products with long-term warranties. These products may cost a bit more at first, but they will save you money in the long run. Durable products need fewer repairs over time.
  
• Please call your local appliance repair shop instead of disposing of broken appliances. It may save you money and it will definitely save valuable landfill space.

Tips for Reducing Solid Waste
EPA’s site describes how people can help solve a growing problem...garbage!