The Telescope

Issue Date: 5/11/09

Changing your lifestyle to help the environment

By Graianne Ward

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of NASA This photo of Earth is from 2002.

Icebergs are melting and smog is on the horizon. Since the early 1970s, biologists have said that civilization is destroying the o-zone layer and should take better care of our environment.

The "how-to" of solving this problem has always been a little blurry. Awareness through Web sites and books has cleared the issue up a little bit, but there are at least three changes that individuals can that factor into their daily lives: eating, commuting, and working.

Here are some simple ways to help eat greener, travel greener, get green at work and help save the planet.

Eat Your Greens

Eat Organic: Farmers don't have to be exposed to chemicals, and neither does the land, food, water and air.

• Buy seasonal food locally. It's less effected by climate change, there's less packaging and refrigeration for local farmers and is fresher and generally considered tastier.

• Feed the Plants! Plan to make enough food for your family, but if it spoils fast and you can't give it away, turn your leftovers into compost for your yard. It keeps your kitchen smelling nice and leaves you with great soil.

• Grow it yourself. With gardens, greenhouses and window boxes there are plenty of places to grow your own garden.

• Go easy on the meat. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water, grain and land. The farmers inject hormones and antibiotics, which leads to pollution of soil, air and water. A pound of beef requires 12,000 gallons of water. Potatoes only need 60 gallons. If giving up the meat is too painful, cut the meat down by at least one serving a week and an individual can still make a significant impact.

From Here to There

• Walking is the number one way to be environmentally friendly. Walk to work or school if possible, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Not only do you help the earth, you get to exercise.

• Use public transportation. It saves money and avoids traffic. Aim to take it once a week. Car-pooling is one of the biggest things that someone can do to save the o-zone. The fewer cars on the road, the better.

• Work from home. Remember to bring paperwork back to your pad, schedule phone conferences instead of face-to-face meetings and take online classes.

• Switch to a 10-hour, 4-day work. It reduces your commute by 20 percent.

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