For Parents & Teachers

Small Steps You Can Take Right Now for a Greener Tomorrow

by Cynthia Reeg

Eco-friendliness needs to become a way of life for all of us. The time is now, and together we can make a big difference in preserving a world worthy of our children and grandchildren. Although the earth-in-jeopardy news can seem rather daunting, take comfort in action. Small changes by many can lead to enormous benefits for all. Below I’ve listed a number of ideas to get you started—whether you are in the classroom or at home. Plus, I’ve also included some book titles and websites for further reading and research.

Use recycled paper whenever possible—and make sure you recycle paper as well. Many schools have a recycle bin on their grounds and use this as a source of additional income.

Avoid junk catalog mailings by nixing unwanted catalogs from your mailbox at www.catalogchoice.com

Refill pencils—this saves money and trees, and make sure to avoid pens with PVC plastic (a toxin)

Reuse plastic bags—these take hundreds of years to break down

Recycle bottles—help reduce landfill waste

Avoid bottled water—use refillable bottles when you need water on-the-go

Skip the soda—drink water, tea, or fruit juice for a healthier alternative and try to lessen the number of bottles and cans in our world

Wash clothes with cold water and do only full loads to reduce water waste

Air dry clothes whenever possible—string a line for hanging clothes in the basement or backyard

Buy local food to lessen packaging and fuel consumption—encourage local food at your child’s school cafeteria as well

Make double portions of meals when possible—freeze the extra and reduce travel expenses to the grocery store, packaging materials, preservatives in commercial food--and a full freezer is more cost efficient

Send organic snacks with your children to school rather than letting them buy vending machine snacks—this is a healthier alternative and it saves money by avoiding packaging and refrigeration of vending foods

Skip meat at some meals—this will not only save money but will keep added antibiotics from your child’s diet. Substitute vegetable protein (beans, lentils, nuts, etc.) instead.

Plant butterfly and bee friendly plants in your garden

Grow your own tomatoes and other vegetables in pots—if you don’t have garden space

BOOKS with more green ideas for you and your family:

True Green at Work: 100 Ways You Can Make the Environment Your Business
By Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin with Tim Wallace (National Geographic Society)

The Environment Equation: 100 Factors That Can Add to or Subtract from Your Total Carbon Footprint
By Alex Shimo-Barry with Christopher J. Maron (Adams Media)

Earth Matters
By David de Rothschild (DK Publishing)

The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
By Elizabeth Rogers (Three Rivers Press)

My Space/Our Planet: Change Is Possible
By Myspace Community and Jeca Taudte (HarperTeen)

Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself
By Kathleen Reilly (Nomad Press)

WEBSITES:

Freecycle (www.freecycle.org)

TreeHugger (www.treehugger.com)

GreenYour (www.greenyour.com)

Our Favorite Environmental Websites (http://www.epa.state.oh.us/oeef/Websites-favorites.pdf)
Compiled by the Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education

Sierra Club Environmental Education Websites (http://www.sierraclub.org/education/websites.asp)

MAGAZINES:

The Green Guide (a newsletter from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC www.thegreenguide.com)