As a tribute to Earth Day on Monday, April 22, The Warrior suggests easy ways to go green on a local and global scale. From everyday things teens can do to measures the government should take, here are a few tips to help move toward a healthier environment and a cleaner world.

by Vicky Florian ‘14, Tom Lee ‘14 and Mandy Stussman ‘14

How a Teen Can Go Green

– Turn off your computer: shutting off your machine before bed can save an average of $90 worth of electricity a year.

– Eat less meat: meat takes up to 5 times more water to produce than vegetarian alternatives, not to mention the various chemicals it releases into the water supply.

– Take a reusable bag to the grocery store: not using a plastic bag will save you 5 cents per bag while also reducing waste.

– Limit your use of Styrofoam: these products take one million years to decompose and are harmful to animals.

– Check your tire pressure: inflating tires to their proper pressure can improve mileage by about 3.3 percent, lowering fossil fuel consumption.

– Turn off the faucet: Running the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth wastes two gallons of water every minute.

How the Family Can Go Green

– Pay your bills online: not only is it greener, it’s easier.

– Install a low-flow showerhead: they don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.

– Buy in bulk: purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

– Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away: it reduces energy used for transportation and supports your local economy.

– Buy hybrid cars: it saves you gas money; they can get up to 50 miles/gallon!

– Switch appliances to an energy efficient model: look for the “Energy Star” label.

How the World Can Go Green

– Reduce methane emissions: make new waste prevention and recycling (including composting) programs.

– Make public transportation more prominent: by investing in new country wide systems that provide buses, trains, etc. This will mean fewer cars which will reduce air pollution.

– Embrace solar energy: and construct panels all over the world.

– Major car companies should continue to gradually shift towards producing electric cars: this will reduce the amount of fossil fuels burned every day.

– Generate electricity through hydropower: this process is commonly known as hydroelectricity. There are only 48 landlocked countries so it is very accessible to the world.

So, it’s really not that hard to be green! Every little bit counts.