Conserving Resources

The Earth gets more and more crowded every day. In 2011, the world’s population reached 7 billion, and there’s no sign we’ll be letting up any time soon. Such a huge number of people is bound to put a strain on the environment since, at the end of the day, all of our resources – from the water we drink to the food we eat to the gas we put in our cars – has to be taken from the natural systems around us. So Green Home wants to help you focus on using less, not just to conserve the things we need, but also to minimize the damage we do the environment we all share.

Did you know?

Gard'n Gro Filter

• The U.S. is the world’s second largest energy consumer; only China uses more.
• Recycling a ton of mixed paper saves the energy equivalent of 165 gallons of gasoline.
• 37% of U.S. energy comes from petroleum, 25% from natural gas, 21% from coal, and 9% from nuclear plants. Only 8% comes from renewable sources like hydroelectric dams, solar, and wind farms.
• Transportation accounts for 28% of all energy used in the U.S.
• The average American uses 176 gallons of water a day.

Bagasse Tree Free Dinner Napkins

• 30% of water used in homes goes onto lawns and gardens.
• The amount of energy in the sunlight that hits the earth in a hour could power the whole planet for a year.
• One ton of paper requires 250 cubic feet of wood, 55,000 gallons of water, and 112 kWh of energy to produce.
• A compact fluorescent light bulb produces five times as much light per watt as an incandescent bulb.
• It takes 30% less energy to make a product from recycled glass than from new materials.

5 Easy Ways to Conserve Resources Every Day

1. Dial back the thermostat – every 1° change will reduce your home energy use by 1%.

2. Switch out your lights – compact fluorescent light bulbs use less energy and last longer than other bulbs.

3. Be smart with printer paper – get the most out of your office supplies by only printing when you need to and by using both sides of the paper

4. Turn off the water – never leave water running when you’re brushing your teeth, soaping your hands, or scrubbing the dishes.

5. Use those leftovers – find creative ways to turn leftovers into tasty meals so you never have to throw away food.

http://greenblog.greenhome.com/2012/04/11/conserving-resources/