101 ways for GOING GREEN

Today is a typical day on Planet Earth. People are commuting to and from work, traveling on vacation, relaxing in their air-conditioned homes, and producing goods we need or simply must have, engaging in outdoor activities, playing with electronic toys and gadgets, and using personal computers to communicate, browse and stay informed.

But it won't be a good day for the Earth.

By day's end, the 6.6 billion people that inhabit the planet will have:
. destroyed 115 square miles
of tropical rainforest;
. created 72 square miles of
desert;
. added 15 million tons of
carbon to the atmosphere;
. eliminated more than 40
species;
. added to the stratosphere
2,700 tons of
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC),
The chemical compound
found in many manufacturing
processes and aerosol
products that is thought to be
responsible for depleting the
ozone layer and we'll do it again
tomorrow.

Study after study has shown that we are destroying the planet as we pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which in turn traps heat from the sun and raises temperatures around the world. Global warming, experts say, is having dire consequences on the earth: hurricanes are more dangerous, fires are increasingly destructive,

Heat waves and droughts are more extensive, all while melting glaciers raise see levels and icebergs the size of small states break away from ice caps.

Experts say that humans are primarily responsible for the potentially catastrophic effects.
If we continue, experts warn, the planet will reach a point of no return -where it is not a question of catastrophe will occur, but when.

Still, if such potential devastation lies within our power, reversing it is also within our grasp. There are ways we can help the Earth and make a difference.

We've complied 101 ways that you can go green, from tips available on a variety of Web sites, including: www.thesimpledollar.com, www.lifestyle.msn.com, www.worldwatch.org, www.goodhousekeeping.com and www.bankrate.com.

Whether you're motivated by the environment or your pocket book, going green can also help you save a little green.

At home

1.Higher in summer and lower in winter.
Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees lower in the winter. In summer, every degree you raise the thermostat can reduce air-conditioning costs by 2 percent. In winter, you can save 3 percent off tour heating bills for every degree you lower the thermostat.


2 . Off peak hours.
Check with your utility company to see if they offer discounted rates for electricity use during off peak hours, generally from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

3 GET A HVAC TUNE-UP.
Give your HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) a tune- up every two or three years. This will help it operate more efficiently, thus saving you energy and money.

4.Attention to filters.
Replace the HVAC's air filters every month. Or, buy a permanent filter that can be washed and then re-used.

5. Use a programmable thermostat.
It can cut your utility bill by 10 percent. These thermostats are great for families who spend a large part of the day away from home.

6. Open up.
Open those windows and let the fresh air in-and save money, too. A little lees than 45 percent of a typical home energy bill goes toward heating and cooling costs.

7. Change your light bulbs.
Throughout your home, use compact fluorescent light bulbs
(CFLs). These bulbs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. Though they are more expensive, they last up to 10 times longer and reduce the electricity bill, because they use less energy. CFLs are available at most home and hardware stores. To save even more money, install dimmer switches.

8. Look for the Energy Star.
Choose home appliances or electronics with the Energy Star
Seal of approval. For more information, visit www.energystar.com. These products help Americans save $14 billions a year on their utility bills.

9. Embrace the cold.
About 90 percent of the energy used in washing clothes goes to heating the water. Wash clothes in cold water when possible, and use a clothesline or drying rack instead of the dryer.

10. Go green with your laundry.
Bleaches, detergents and fabric softeners can be toxic to the environment. Use eco-friendly cleaners and non-chlorine bleaches instead.

11.LOWER THE THERMOSTAT ON THE WATER HEATER.
Consider dropping it from 145 degrees to 120, whether the heater is gas or electric, you will save money.

12. Slay the vampire.
Many appliances use electricity even when not in use. It's called "vampire electricity' or " a phantom load." It has been estimated that 75 percent of the power used for small appliances and home electronics occurs when they are turned off. Unplug them when they are not in use. Or plug them into a power strip and turn off the power strip when appliances are idle.

13. Blanket your water heater.
Insulating your water filter is an expensive way to reduce energy costs. It is recommended that you use a water- heater "blanket" with an insulating value of at least R-8

14. Remember: Ten and out.
If your air conditioner, furnace or other major appliance is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more energy efficient model.

15. Embrace the audit.
An energy audit will help find ways to improve your home's energy efficiency. Check to see if your utility company offers energy audits.

16. Double-pane it.
Replace old windows with more energy-efficient, double pane windows.

17. Install water- efficient showerheads.
They use as little as 2.5 gallons of water each minute. By using low-flow models, a family of four can reduce water usage by as much as 280 gallons a month. These low-flow devices can be found at home-improvement stores.

18. Stop running while
You brush.
Turning off the water while you brush your teeth can save as much as 5 gallons of water a day.

19. Adjust your fridge and freezer temperatures.
These appliances eat up the most electricity in the household. The most efficient settings are 37 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator and 0 for the freezer.

In the kitchen

20. Wait until your full.
Don't run the dishwasher until you have a full load. Doing so can save as more than 7,000 gallons of water a year.

21.Paper's out.
Reusable is in. Replace those paper filters in the coffee maker with reusable filters.

22 Zap it.
Using a microwave instead of a traditional electric oven can reduce cooking-related energy used by 70 percent.

The home office

23.Get off junk mail lists.
Americans get roughly 400 million tons of junk mail each year. That requires cutting down 100 million trees. Register at www.dmaconsumers.org (the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service) to have your name removed from direct mail lists.

24. Buy a laptop.
It uses less power than a desktop computer.

25. Consider telecommuting.
If you live a long distance from work, investigate the possibility of telecommuting.

26. Take your storage digital.
Instead of using paper files, consider digital storages such as USB drives. This reduces the amount of paper and space needed for filing.