I recently volunteered at the Texas Tree Foundation with my fellow interns, and it really reaffirmed for me how important it is to be aware of the world around us and the importance of our natural resources … like trees! According to Urban Forestry Network, a single acre of a forest absorbs up to 2.5 tons of carbon every year. I had the opportunity to help care for young trees, and I learned that a single tree can provide oxygen for two people. Volunteering at a local nonprofit like the Texas Trees Foundation, the Student Conservation Association, or with your local park is a great way to make a difference and protect the Planet. Another way is to reduce your impact. Here are a few suggestions:
- Cutting Energy in the Kitchen: We use kitchen appliances every day, and they can make your energy bill skyrocket. Using the microwave more often actually uses less energy compared to your conventional oven. Did you know food cooks faster in the microwave when it’s placed on the outer edges of the rotating tray instead of the middle? Your typical meal can take 15 minutes in the microwave versus one hour in the oven. The microwave is an efficient and quick way to reduce energy in the kitchen.
- How You Read Your Daily News: Today, most everyone reads the news on the internet opposed to reading newspapers, but which uses more energy? If you’re more a newspaper reader, make sure you recycle after you’re finished. Instead of reading your daily news on a desktop, read your daily headlines on a tablet or laptop. You’ll be saving energy by not being hooked up to an outlet.
- Drink Filtered Water: Driving to the store to pick up water bottles sure wastes a lot of energy, why not invest in a filtration pitcher? If you own a filter, you’re saving the planet from the millions of water bottles that are thrown away every year in the U.S.