Don't Be Greedy, Save The World

World leaders will meet in Copenhagen this December to negotiate a global response to the greatest threat to our future. Its effects are already bearing down on us and their impact will only get worse. Global warming is here and it brings with it disaterous climate change. There are some things you can do on your own that can make a difference.

Be conservative. Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Shower instead of taking baths to conserve hot water. In general, don't be greedy; only use what you need. Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth. Unplug energy leaching electronics when not in use and replace high-energy drain devices with Energy Star approved products.

Recycle! Save that forest you used to play in as a kid and that rather large rainy one in South America too. Not only does recycling keep our land from getting polluted it also allows us to reuse our resources instead of plundering for more.

Trash talk. The breakdown of materials in landfills produces methane, which is "25 times more potnent in terms of warming potential than CO₂". Cutting back on the waste you produce will help prevent this. You can do this by avoiding products with unnecessary packaging and buying your vegetables and fruits from the produce section.

Shorten your commune. Every gallon of gas you use releases 20 pounds of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Check the air in your tires; under-inflated tires can cause your car to be less efficient and use more gas as well as being less safe. Think about moving closer to your work or using public transportation. Purchasing local products means they don't have to be shipped to you saving the ozone and supporting your local businesses.

Invest in the future. Purchase solar panels and wind turbines to tap into free & clean energy, which you can potentially make money from. Many power plants burn coal to produce the power you use. Using new technology you can grab the energy produced by Mother Nature for free and stop the power plants from emitting that much more CO₂ into the atmosphere. Septic tanks also produce methane gases, invest in a household treatment system.

Make some noise. Bring attention to this issue in your local community. Write your local representatives to ensure they know that this is an important issue to you. Ensure that your local recycling center recycles as many components as possible.

This post is part of the Blog Action Day movement which is participated in by bloggers all over the web to bring attention to a specific cause. This particular cause seemed to suit my interests quite well. Read more about your environment here.