must read and save (health&environment)

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1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Do

your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of

disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the

economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste.

And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminium cans. If there isn't a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 2. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning Adding

insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or

caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more

than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and

cool your home. Turn down the heat while you’re sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. Setting

your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer

could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. 3. Change a Light Bulb Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. If every

U.S.

family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate

90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million

cars off the road. 4. Drive Less and Drive Smart Less

driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and

biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass

transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

When you do drive, make sure

your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires

properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. 5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products When

it's time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage.

Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and

compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking

light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can't be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 6. Use Less Hot Water Set

your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an

insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow

showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide

yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of

hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can

save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households.

Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and

let the dishes air-dry. 7. Use the "Off" Switch Save

electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you

leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them. It's also a good idea to turn off the water when you're not using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog

or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You'll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource. 8. Plant a Tree If

you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During

photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give

off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric

exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully

counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic,

manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. 9. Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company Many

utility companies provide free home energy audits to help consumers

identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In

addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for

the cost of energy-efficient upgrades. 10. Encourage Others to Conserve Share

information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends,

neighbours and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public

officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the

environment. These

10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and

your monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the

fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global

warming. s.m.anasresearch scholar u.kacademic consultant/health co ordinator.institute safety management(chennai)

..T.M.Khaleel batcha

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