Our online feature "Everyday Environmentalist" — 15 science-based ways you can go green — has become the most popular feature in nature.org history!
And almost 500 of you have sent us tips on what you're doing to become an Everyday Environmentalist — tips we'll be publishing in Great Places newsletter from time to time. Read some of these great tips below — from uses for newspaper bags to an idea right out of World War II — and then send us yours if you haven’t already!
Charlotte Burke, Odessa, TX
I knot together the thin clear plastic sleeves that our newspapers are wrapped in for street delivery to make soft, durable "ropes" to tie things together.
When tape did not work to secure my hot-water-heater blanket, I knotted several bags into ropes and tied them around the blanket. I also use individual ones to quickly and easily bundle single extension cords, which are so unruly in a closet. The sleeves are long enough to tie into a soft knot, which is also easily undone. These "ropes" can be used for anything, like securing covers over fake Christmas trees. Use your imagination!
Mona Divine, Bend, OR
Reduce or eliminate newspapers and catalogs where possible. It reduces the cost and emissions associated with producing and delivering the products. Also, energy is used to get rid of them once you dispose of them.
Other alternatives are available — like online subscriptions to newspapers and merchant email flyers. Sites such as Catalog Choice make it easy to opt out of catalogs. You can always opt in later if needed.
Lee Patrizzi, Chuluota, FL
I work at a small college in Oviedo, FL. We only have two buildings at our campus. I have ordered eight large blue recycling receptacles for the campus. I make it my job twice a week to go through every garbage can (with my rubber gloves on), pull out all of the recycleables, empty out all eight of the recycle receptables, and separate out all of the aluminum cans.
I then put all other recyclables in a large recycle dumpster that gets picked up on a regular basis. I take all of the pop tops off of the aluminum cans and turn them in to Ronald McDonald House and I crush all of the cans for the environmental club to cash in for money. It's a messy job, but one that I think is well worth it.
Ranjan Chari, Fort Lee, NY
Upgrade your old CRT computer monitor for a flat-screen monitor, which typically consumes at least 50 percent less power. Use the better visibility on your LCD monitor to read electronic documents on-screen and avoid printing as much as possible.
If you like to print documents just for reading, consider printing on the reverse side of printed pages. Just read a bunch of documents and then flip them over once done.
Barbara Dorr, Orlando, FL
When I wash my hands, I turn on the water just enough to wet my hands. Turn off the water. Put soap on my hands and wash them. Turn the water back on to where it's just a stream coming out and enough to rinse my hands. Every little bit of water conservation helps. It may not sound like much but try it and see how much water you are not wasting.
Shirley Sniderman, Encino, CA
My mother starting doing this during World War II. After we finished a box of dry cereal, she found uses for the box and the wax paper inside:
1) She would ripen fruit in the box (when appropriate), and
2) She would use the wax paper to wrap sandwiches for my brother and I to take to school.
Depending on the size of the box, she could wrap three or four sandwiches. Born out of necessity, she was the first environmentalist I ever met.
At our house we reuse as many products as possible. It saves money and it's good for the environment. Hope this works for others.
Gail Caduff-Nash, Mountain Home, NC
While nearly everything I own has been free or re-used, and I compost/recycle/shut off electrics and buy local, I try at least once a week or more to contribute my voice to the organizations who are doing things through the governments to help our climate problems. There are "action" buttons on nearly every conservation website.
We have to be squeaky wheels more than ever. And our squeaks need vegetable oil, not fossil fuels, to be quieted. So my tip is to spend some time as often as possible telling our government officials to get on the stick. We have no time to waste.
Do you have a green tip?
Send it to us now, and we might print it in a future issue of Great Places newsletter!