WHATS YOUR 1 THING?

I use a bicycle instead of the car for meetings and minor errands such as going to the post office, bank or grocery store.  -Doug, Seattle
Air-dry my laundry.  -Kristine, Seattle
I've given up plastic grocery bags altogether. I have about 7 reuseable ones which can fit just about everything I need.  -JenF, West Seattle
I hang my clothes to dry.  -Christy, Seattle
Alot of people forget about being green at work, put an extra garbage can next to your desk for recyclables.  -Tim, Seattle
I use the new mesh grocery bags instead of paper or plastic  -Danica, Seattle
Receive bills online, cancelled junk mail and pay approx $10 a month to purchase all of my KWh through renewable energy sources  -anne, kent
I use a skim of toothpaste on my toothbrush. My teeth get just as clean and less pollutants go down the drain.  -Susanne , Bellevue
COMPOST  -Katie, Kelowna
My one thing is to walk more and drive less.  -Nikki, Seattle
we raise quarter horses and one thing we do is catch rain water and use it to spray down the arena.  -Leah, Freeland
Make sure the car is running as efficiently as possible  -Laura, seattle
I bring my own mug instead of getting a papercup from the Coffee Shop!  -Sarah , Seattle
I switch OFF the print option on my calculator at work. Eliminating the register tape on 99% of the caluations I do.  -Dawn, Marysville
Go Solar!!!! Yes it works here!  -Kate, Seattle
I live in the community I work in.  -Kara, Olympia
I refill four, one gallon, water bottles for work. I am a May truck driver. I hope all trucks get APU's to stop useless idling.  -Richard Carstens, Carson
I only drive when absolutely necessary. Biking, walking or busing is 1Thing I do to help reduce my impact on our planet.  -Jenny Konway, Seattle
Ive switched jobs in construction to a company that builds green homes!They can save ya hella cash-ola!  -JD, seattle
We've changed nearly all our ligh bulbs to the new compact type..they may not look beautiful but it's worth the savings!  -Angela, Black Diamond
I use my own coffee mug and water bottle at work instead of the paper cups  -Priya, Bellevue
I turn of the water while brushing my teeth and doing dishes  -michela, vancouver
Only printing when I absolutely have to. Take advantage of technology and use less paper, save it online!  -Aileen H., Seattle
Buy Local  -Sue, Seattle
I started a blog to help green parents reduce their energy use and exposure to toxins.  -Kathleen R., Seattle
Use a commercial car wash - like Brown Bear, that recycles their waste water instead of washing your car at home.  -Janet, Seattle
Whenever I find it on, I turn off the light in my company's conference room.  -Jill, Seattle
I don't drive anywhere one day a week and one weekend a month.  -Charlotte, Vashon Island
I Carry a travel mug with me for coffee.  -Katie, Kelowna
I recycle my old printed documents by using the clean side as scratch paper before I recycle them in the WOW bin.  -Joanne, Everett
I have a beautiful, locally made coffee mug I use every day at work instead of paper or Styrofoam.  -Michelle, Redmond
I buy as much as I can from local farmers and practice being a 'locavore' as much as possible.  -Sean, Camden, SC
I take keep my reusable grocery bags in my car so I always have them available when I go to the store.  -Cherel, Washougal
I check my tire pressure once a month to improve the efficiency of my gas and reduce the amount CO2 into the air.  -Terra Moreland, Tacoma
I use biodegradable bags for my dog's waste.  -Monica, Seattle
I use a drying rack for my thinner clothing instead of the dryer. Cuts my elec bill and drying time!  -Erin, West Seattle
Buy "green" products and try to gradually influence as many of my friends as possible. It's working so far!  -Marian, Lacey
Eating raw food.  -Sadee, Seattle
I purposely keep all my receipts in my purse and then clean through my purse with a recycling bin by my side :)  -Cassi, Seattle
I educate my neighbors about surface water run off to the Puget Sound and encourage them to properly dispose of pet waste.  -Jacqui, Snohomish
I re-use my travel mug instead of accepting disposable coffee cups. Some places even offer a discount when I do this.  -Bill, Issaquah
When I see a light turn yellow, I turn off the ignition and coast up to it.  -Erin, West Seattle
Whenever possible, I try to buy personal care products that are botanical and not tested on animals.  -Donna, Seattle
When washing your hands, turn off the faucet while lathering and scrubbing, then turn the water on again to rinse.  -DeDe, Seattle
Turn off water while washing my hair in the shower and between hand washed dishes.  -Mila, Seattle
Turn off the water heater if away for a few days. Use dimmers on our lights. Use motion lights outside for security.  -Michelle, Redmond
I use phosphate free, all natural detergent and softner when I do laundry.  -Kaitlin, Tacoma
wearing flip flops. (no socks to wash!)  -S, Renton
I only use naturally derived cleaning products in my home. No chemcals. They smell fantastic!  -Mina, Kirkland
I have compact florescent bulbs in most of my light fixtures at home  -Anne, Seattle
 

DID YOU KNOW?

Composting does more than save water it also binds itself to polluting metals, pesticides and other contaminants to prevent them from washing into waterways or being absorbed by plants.

Native plant landscapes do not need pesticides or fertilizers better for kids and pets.

In one year, an average tree is able to absorb 10 pounds of pollutants from the air and convert 330 pounds of carbon dioxide into oxygen. So go plant some trees!

The Water Smart Technology Program (WSTP) provides financial incentives and technical assistance to help commercial, industrial, and institutional customers upgrade operations and equipment.

Pesticides and herbicides damage soil and lawn health and pollute our waterways.

The King county Wastemobile travels to many communities providing household hazardous waste disposal services for King County residents.

EarthCorps provides volunteer opportunities for individuals and/or groups to work on trails, remove invasive plants, and plant native species.

More than 118,000 acres of agricultural land in Washington State were lost to development between 1992 and 1997.

26 out of 52 salmon and steelhead populations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California are either threatened or endangered.

For every ton of wood that is reused in construction or remodeling, we avoid creating 60 pounds of greenhouse gasses.

The average shower or bath uses 45-50 gallons of water.

If you replace toilets installed before 1994 you can save more than $1,000 in water and sewer charges over the next 10 years.

Setting your thermostat two degrees lower than you normally would in winter and two degrees higher in the summer will save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and around $98 a year.

Native plants are great for creating drought-tolerant yards.

A running faucet leaks up to 3 gallons per minute.

Native plants control erosion by holding the soil with their roots

CFL light bulbs use 75% less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs.

Reusing just one computer with a standard CRT monitor prevents emission of over 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide

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