I’m excited about the Mars mission planned for 2030, aren’t you?  But, we’re not there yet.  For now, we still have only one home.  Your assignment for this week is perform at least one action that will reduce pollution, waste or atmospheric CO2, so that this beautiful planet will be livable for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

Reduce Waste:

1. Take your lunch to work in reusable containers.
2. Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
3. Start a compost bin.
4. Recycle plastic & newspaper.
5. Buy less.  Seriously, any American with an average income has too much stuff already.  Our grandparents used to say “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
6. Or buy used.  Or borrow.

Reduce your carbon footprint:

1. If you’re going less than 1 mile, walk instead of driving.  Good for your health, too.
2. At least one day each week, ride public transportation, bike or carpool to work, or work from home.  Just one day per week saves 20% your work-related carbon emissions.
3. Install a programmable thermostat.  Your house doesn’t have to be warmed or cooled to a comfortable level when you’re at work during the day, and you actually sleep better if the house is cool at night.
4. Use CFL or LED light bulbs instead of incandescent.  CFLs use only about 2/3 the energy of incandescent, and will save you about $40 over their life.  LEDs use only 15% as much power as incandescent
5. Eat less meat.  On average, a meat-eater’s carbon footprint is 3000 pounds heavier per year than a vegetarian’s.  Go meatless just one day per week and reduce your carbon footprint by 430 pounds per year.