Sustainable Earth Ideas
		Keep The Earth Forever
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	The Checklist Your Home and Family ___ use cloth diapers ___ move to a smaller home ___ use renewable electricity suppliers (such as Bullfrog Power) ___ install a solar panel ___ install a wind turbine ___ change your lightbulbs to compact flourescents ___ change your roof to steel or aluminum ___ install a green roof ___ use timers on lights ___ use timers on appliances that require a bit of a power up before use (e.g. tv with a guide) ___ turn off lights as you leave rooms   Your Waste and Recycling efforts ___ limit your garbage to one bag of less than 7.5 pounds per person in your household ___ recycle all your paper possible ___ recycle all your plastic as possible ___ recycle all your glass as possible ___ recycle as much metal as possible ___ use a reuse website (Freecycle or Kijiji) or reuse centre for disposing of useable no longer needed items ___ use an artificial or a potted Christmas tree ___ buy your real Christmas tree from a certified Christmas tree farm ___ use multiple wastebins in the bathroom or kitchen to sort waste ___ use a vermi compost ___ compost as much kitchen waste as possible ___ think of other uses for "things" before disposing   Your Transportation Means ___ use a bicycle to get to work every day ___ walk to work ___ think twice about your next trip with your car ___ get a smaller car ___ buy a hybrid ___ test your tire pressure weekly and adjust if necessary   Your Eating/Cooking Habits ___ eat out less ___ when you do eat out, take home as much comostable material as possible ___ choose restaurants that are ecofriendly ___ choose clothes that are not synthetic ___ choose organic food ___ use food that is "locally grown" (within 100 miles)? ___ eat less meat ___ eat less dairy ___ use appropriately sized appliances to cook ___ eat more raw vegetables ___ use fair trade coffee   Your Shopping Habits ___ buy used ___ think before you bring anything into your house ___ buy green certified products ___ give gifts of your time with people ___ give gently used gifts ___ buy clothes made of hemp or bamboo   Your Leisure Habits ___ bring the bare minimum when going camping ___ subscribe to on-line magazines and newspapers   Your Gardening Habits ___ plant a vegetable garden ___ replace your lawn with native plants ___ stop using pesticides ___ use a manual grass mower ___ plant a tree ___ share plants with neighbors   Your Heating Habits ___ install an on-demand water heater ___ replace your furnace with a high efficiency furnace ___ install more ceiling fans ___ install a programmable thermostat ___ replace or upgrade your windows ___ improve the insulation in your home   Your Cleaning Habits ___ use a clothes line ___ use vinegar as a fabric softener ___ use a phosphate free dish soap ___ use a phosphate free laundry detergent   Water ___ use aerators on your taps ___ install a low flush toilet ___ use a rainbarrel ___ stop using bottled water ___ use a low flow shower head ___ use a bottle of sand in your toilet to reduce the water used ___ repair any leaks quickly ___ insulate your water pipes (both hot and cold) ___ take shorter showers ___ turn the water off when you brush your teeth ___ Check your water meter - if it moves when no water is being used, you have a leak ___ stop using your garbage disposal unit ___ use full loads for dishwashers ___ do not run the water as you wash your dishes, use a second sink or a rack ___ water your lawn less frequently, but with a bit more water ___ water your lawn or flowers in the morning ___ plant+A117 drought resistent plants/shrubs ___ use mulch around trees or shrubs ___ wash your car at home with a bucket ___ sweep your driveway, instead of hosing it down ___ look for water leaks on outside taps