Conservation isn’t really that hard to do. It’s a matter of getting the right kind of information and executing it whether it’s changing that leaking faucet or using less electricity. I know because I have given it a try and it’s great when you also encourage your family to participate. My 5-year-old daughter is now like a mini conservationist at home, picking up used paper for recycling and donating old toys to orphanages. It’s amazing how their tiny little minds can absorb the logic of conservation with such ease, compared to adults.

Fret not though because we have included some really easy stuff you can easily do over the weekend, whether you are at home or stuck in the office.

AT HOME:

A Brighter Idea

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs and use only a fraction of the energy, saving you money over their lifespan.

Dig This

By planting trees, you can reduce home cooling costs by as much as 50%and grow yourself a little shade on a warm summer day.

Trash Impact-or

If just 1 million people cut down their trash by 10%, we could reduce our yearly CO2 emissions by as much as 50,000 tons.

What a Simple Switch!

If a million people each replaced just 1 incandescent bulb with a Compact Fluorescent (CFL), we could eliminate more than 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

You CAN do this

You can make 20 new cans from recycled material with the same energy it takes to make 1 from scratch.

Dial it Up

Turning up your thermostat just 1 degree can reduce your air conditioning costs by 3%.

STALK UP

Consider bamboo the next time you’re landscaping your yard; bamboo stores more CO2 and generates 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Plus, bamboo trees, if planted on the East side of the garden brings good feng shui! So you have two good reasons to stalk up!

AT WORK:

Rock-a-bye-baby

Computers use up to 70% less electricity when you put them to sleep instead of using a screensaver. It’s just a matter of making this a habit. If just 1 million people shut down their office PCs overnight, we could eliminate up to 45,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Double Down

Paper represents more than 70% of office waste. Print and copy on both sides of the page before taking it to the recycling bin.

Baby, Light My Way

Motion sensor lighting can reduce your average energy consumption by as much as 33%. Get your group together and promote this idea to your boss.

Green Your Cube

Bring a plant to work. Plants absorb CO2 and release O2 and are also pleasant items when placed next to your desk. Yes, a cactus would be great too because you don’t need much water for it.

Play Eco Detective

Find and report ways to reduce waste and inefficiencies in your job, whether you work in a restaurant, factory, farm, or office. Back yourself up with some facts and solutions and don’t just tatter tale.

AT THE MALL:

Green you Diet

The international meat industry generates roughly 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not a funny matter but livestock fart a.k.a methane could be rather detrimental for the environment. So choose a green diet and by consuming less meat, you are helping by reducing the global demand for meat.

Bag the Habit

Globally, we use as many as 1 million new plastic bags every MINUTE at a cost of 69.3 million tonnes of oil a year. Go reusable whenever, wherever.

Pack it Down Dude!

Over 25% of your daily household waste consists of excessive packaging used to ship your purchases to the shelf. Next time you’re at the market, shop around for less packaging. And if you are looking for hassle-free furniture with minimal packaging, IKEA would be a great start!

Paper Weight-Less

Purchasing 100% post-consumer recycled paper lightens your carbon footprint by 5 pounds of CO2 per ream.

Cover Your Tracks

By purchasing digital music online you can help conserve the oil consumed in transporting CDs to and from the store. We don’t suggest ripping songs off the Net because singers and song writers need to earn a living too.

Towel Off

A 100-guestroom hotel can save an estimated 372 cubic meters of water a year through a linen and towel reuse program. You don’t wash your towel everyday at home, do you?

Power with the Sun

For only GBP6.99 (pounds) you can purchase a portable solar charger from ebay.com for your phone/mp3 player to juice up your next playlist.