Maintain tire pressure. Why? Because this action improves vehicle mileage and reduces emissions.
Invest in a re-usable mug. Why? Because this action will save countless number of disposable cups, and lowers energy use.
Unplug appliances like radios, phone chargers, and TVs when not in use. Why? Because this action will save 4-13% of your electricity per year.
When printing large text files, reduce font size to save paper and ink. Why? Because this saves energy and valuable resources.
Put your computer to sleep when not in use, and turn it off when you go home. Why? Because this action saves energy. Turning it off saves even MORE energy than putting it to sleep.
Visit farmer's markets May-October. Why? Because your purchase supports organic food, farmers, and locally grown products.
Care for a plant in your classroom or office. Why? Because many indoor plants absorb air pollutants through their leaves and roots, and convert them into breathable air.
For multiple copies of a document, copy rather than print. Why? Because copying uses less energy, materials, and ink.
Turn off all non-essential lights. Why? Because doing so reduces energy and therefore carbon dioxide emissions from electrical power plants.
Pick one day this week to travel to work or school via sustainable transportation. *Bike, walk, carpool, or use public transportation. Why? Because sustainable modes of transportation require little or no energy, reducing our District's carbon footprint.
Turn off your computer when you leave for the day. Why? Because completely shutting down saves the most energy. Do not waste energy by leaving your computer on or in sleep mode overnight.
Change your margins. Why? Because changing the margins on your documents can save paper, energy, and resources. How? If you use a PC, go to "Page Layout" and "Change Margins." If you use a Mac, go to "Format" and "Change Margins."
Carpool, bike, walk, or use public transportation to get to work. Why? Because roughly 19.4 pounds of CO2 per gallon of gasoline is produced when driving.
Source: EPA
Re-use interoffice envelopes. Why? ...Because using an interoffice envelope 1 time wastes paper, but re-using it many times over extends the lifecycle of the envelope, and saves paper, energy, and money.
Turn off or "sleep" overhead projectors and SmartBoards. For classrooms that have ceiling-mounted projectors and/or All-in-one SmartBoards, remember to use the video "mute" button on your remote to put it to "sleep" when not in use during the day. At the end of the day, turn it off. Leaving projectors and SmartBoards on overnight uses energy, makes for a greater carbon footprint, and burns out the bulbs.
Unplug appliances when not in use. In your classroom, office (and at home) appliances such as televisions, computers, printers, radios, cell phone chargers, lamps, and fans (anything that is plugged in) uses energy even if it is "turned off." The way to stop this energy loss, save money, and reduce carbon consumption is to unplug the appliance altogether, or to plug it into a powerstrip. When a powerstrip is turned off it cuts energy to the appliance. You can unplug appliances when not in use during the day, and definitely when you leave the classroom/office for the night.
Conserve water by using water only when necessary. Why? Because water is a natural resource, and water-conserving measures also save energy.