Celebration on 2012 World Environmental Day: Green Economy, Does it include you?

According to the UNEP, World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated every year on 5^th June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the UNEP. This year’s theme for WED is that Green Economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

Here are 10 tips for greener planet. (Source from: http://www.unep.org/wed/greeneconomy/10sectors.asp)

1. Change your light
Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent one saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

2. Be a wise consumer
Support local businesses that have sustainability plans, use eco- labels, and invest in renewable energy. Research eco-labels in your area and buy local products that have been harvested sustainably. Additionally, when you buy local, organic, and sustainable food products, you send a message to producers that you support a Green Economy for agriculture.

3. Reduce shower time
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the amount used means big savings in not only your energy bills, but also in carbon dioxide emissions.

4. Turn off electronic devices when not in use
Simply turning off your TV, VCR, computer and other electronic devices can save each household thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

5. Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk makes sense for a variety of reasons. You’ll save money over the long-haul. You will not only make fewer trips to the office supply store, but cut down on packaging such as plastic bags.

6.  Save a cup
Carry your own mug with you whenever you go for beverages. According to a study conducted by Starbucks and the Alliance for the Environmental Innovation, each paper cup manufactured is responsible for 0.24 lbs of CO2 emission. In this regards, carrying your own cup save lots of trees and green planet.  

7. Grow your own veggies
As well as being delicious, growing your own fruit and vegetables, and eating other locally-grown good is good for the environment, because it cuts down the emissions produced when goods are transported from one place to another. Grow your own veggies, eat in-season, and shop local farmers’ markets.

8. Manage your own Climate
In winter make sure you are wearing warm clothes in order to reduce electricity bills and power consumption. This helps to save the earth as well as electricity.

9. Join Green Swap
Instead of throwing no longer wanted stuffs out, donate them to a library or charity instead. Recycling stops re-usable items form ending up in landfills

10. Plant Trees
A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime