{what can you do?}

This week is Earth Week...did ya know?

We here at Dejah Quinn Photography believe in doing everything possible to reduce our stress impact on the earth. We are of course doing the simple things like turning off the lights...and power strips to the computers etc....Using non chemical cleaning products. we even ride together to work every day to cut down on emissions (not to mention ummm...the GAS)...but we want to really do our part.... For example...have you noticed our business cards are no longer UV coated?? While we loved the high gloss look we know that the non coated ones decompose much easier and faster. Also, we are turning a lot of our informational materials into pdf's or moving them to parts of our website so that we can cut down on the amount of paper our studio uses. Of course we will still mail to those who request it.

Below.....are some ideas that you might can incorporate to help make our planet a safer better place for our children and children's children....

{Save energy}
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

-Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.

-Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.

-Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

-Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time. These are really better for you...(plus...did you know know that most dryer sheets are made of animal fat....eww...I don't want to be wearing that around!!)

{Save water}
-Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.

-Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high. (and they feel sooooo good!!! oooohhh...bubbles!!)

-Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

{Less gas = more money}
-Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

-Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term. (or share a ride with a friend neighbor or spouse).

-Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

{Eat smart}
-If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

-Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy. (not to mention the food is fresher and tastes so much better. (Try Benedict street if you are in Shawnee...they have awesome meat products, teas etc.)

{Skip the bottled water}
-Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

-Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

(Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.)

{Think before you buy}
-Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.

-Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items. (I am all about the junk sales!!!)

-When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
(Watch this video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.)

{Borrow instead of buying}
-Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

-Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

{Buy smart}
-Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

-Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

-Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

{Keep electronics out of the trash}
-Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.

Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and is a growing environmental problem.
-Recycle your cell phone.
Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

{Watch out for cleaning supplies}
-The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Or at least choose green ones that are toxic free....there are plenty of earth friendly items available out there for the same cost.

ANY effort you make is progress.....People let's work smart so our future generations have the quality of life that we wish them to!!!!\

information was found at: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3915