Earth Hour 2010

Last night, me and my mom turned off all the lights & switched off all our appliances as our small contribution for our planet. Some of our neighbors too. I just stayed outside and did stargazing which I really enjoyed.

Even the simplest everyday activities can make a real difference to the environment. We can make a big difference in our homes simply by making a few small adjustments to our routines. I've been trying to conserve water and energy, not burning plastic/styro/packaging, recycle what can be recycled and telling my friends to do the same thing.

I would like to share the following tips I read from world wide fund philippines

Save energy

• Switch off all lights and electrical appliances when not in use – your TV left on standby can still use a quarter of full power
• Choose energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs
• Let clothes dry naturally rather than using a tumble drier
• Keep lids on pans when cooking to prevent your cooker having to work extra hard
• On average using a gas oven costs a quarter of the price of running an electric one. Switch to gas if you have the option

Save water

• Fix dripping taps – they can waste up to 13 litres of water a day
• Don’t leave the tap running while you clean your teeth
• Take a shower instead of a bath

Save wood and paper

• Return unwanted mail and ask for your name to be removed from the mailing list
• Always use both sides of a sheet of paper
• Use e-mail to stay in touch, including cards, rather than faxing or writing. Re-use envelopes
• Always recycle paper after use
• Share magazines with friends and pass them on to the doctor, dentist or local hospital for their waiting rooms

Reuse and recycle

• Use washable diapers instead of disposables if you can
• Recycle as much as you can – if there are no recycling facilities near you, contact your local council
• Give unwanted clothes, toys and books to charity shops or garage sales
• Use main electricity rather than batteries if possible. If not, use rechargeable batteries
• Use a solar-powered calculator instead of one with a battery
• Instead of a plastic ballpoint, use a fountain pen with bottled ink, not plastic cartridges
• Store food and other products in ceramic containers rather than foil and plastic wrap

Reduce waste and pollution

• Dispose of old appliances – particularly refrigerators with units containing CFCs – responsibly. You may check envirocycle for more information on e-wastes.
• Choose environmentally friendly cleaning products containing plant extracts that degrade quickly when washed down the drain
• Put sanitary waste and wrappings in the dustbin, not down the toilet.

Source:
http://www.wwf.org.ph