Community Corner

12 Simple Steps for Going Green in 2012

Make it your resolution to reduce, reuse and recycle.

As we close the door on 2011, many of us are wondering what we can do in the New Year to live a little bit better.

If you've got a resolution to make the world a greener place, here's a twelve point plan to put into action in 2012, courtesy of The Worldwatch Institute:

1. Recycle

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In 2009, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to require all homes and businesses to use recycling and composting collection programs, according to the Institute. As a result, more than 75 percent of all material collected is being recycled, diverting 1.6 million tons from the landfills annually----double the weight of the Golden Gate Bridge. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for each pound of aluminum recovered, Americans save the energy resources necessary to generate roughly 7.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity----enough to power a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years!

What you can do:

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  • Put a separate container next to your trash can or printer, making it easier to recycle your bottles, cans, and paper.

2. Turn off the lights

Make an impact every day by turning off lights during bright daylight, or whenever you leave a room. On the last Saturday in March, March 31 in 2012, hundreds of people, businesses, and governments around the world turn off their lights for an hour as part of  

What you can do: 

  • Earth Hour happens only once a year, but you can make an impact every day by turning off lights during bright daylight, or whenever you will be away for an extended period of time.

3. Make the switch

In 2007, Australia became the first country to "ban the bulb," drastically reducing domestic usage of incandescent light bulbs, according to the Institute. By late 2010, incandescent bulbs had been totally phased out, and, according to the country's environment minister, this simple move has made a big difference, cutting an estimated 4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. 

A bill in Congress to eliminate incandescent in the United States failed in 2011, but you can still make the switch at home. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use only 20-30 percent of the energy required by incandescents to create the same amount of light, and LEDs use only 10 percent, helping reduce both electric bills and carbon emissions.

What you can do:

  • A bill in Congress to eliminate incandescent in the United States failed in 2011, but you can still make the switch at home. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use only 20-30 percent of the energy required by incandescents to create the same amount of light, and LEDs use only 10 percent, helping reduce both electric bills and carbon emissions.

4. Turn on the tap

The bottled water industry sold 8.8 billion gallons of water in 2010, according to Worldwatch, generating nearly $11 billion in profits. Yet plastic water bottles create huge environmental problems. “The energy required to produce and transport these bottles could fuel an estimated 1.5 million cars for a year, yet approximately 75 percent of water bottles are not recycled----they end up in landfills, litter roadsides, and pollute waterways and oceans” the Institute states in a report.

While public tap water is subject to strict safety regulations, the bottled water industry is not required to report testing results for its products. 

World Watch recommends filling up your glasses and reusable water bottles with water from the sink. The United States has more than 160,000 public water systems, and by eliminating bottled water you can help to keep nearly 1 million tons of bottles out of the landfill, as well as save money on water costs.

What you can do:

  • Fill up your glasses and reusable water bottles with water from the sink.

5. Turn down the heat

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that consumers can save up to 15 percent on heating and cooling bills just by adjusting their thermostats.

Turning down the heat by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours can result in savings of 5-15 percent on your home heating bill.

What you can do:

  • Turn down your thermostat when you leave for work, or use a programmable thermostat to control your heating settings.

6. Support food recovery programs 

Each year, roughly a third of all food produced for human consumption----approximately 1.3 billion tons----gets lost or wasted, including 34 million tons in the United States, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Grocery stores, bakeries, and other food providers throw away tons of food daily that is perfectly edible but is cosmetically imperfect or has passed its expiration date. In response, food recovery programs run by homeless shelters or food banks collect this food and use it to provide meals for the hungry, helping to divert food away from landfills and into the bellies of people who need it most.

What you can do:

  • You can go through your cabinets and shelves and donate any non-perishable canned and dried foods that you won't be using to the Samaritan Center, the local food pantry in Manalapan Township.

7. Buy local

Small Business Saturday, falling between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, was established in 2010 as a way to support small businesses during the busiest shopping time of the year. Author and consumer advocate Michael Shuman argues that local small businesses are more sustainable because they are often more accountable for their actions, have smaller environmental footprints, and innovate to meet local conditions----providing models for others to learn from.

Instead of relying exclusively on large supermarkets, consider buying produce at farmer's markets such as , or shopping at Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck - which sources fresher and more flavorful local products, and your money will be going directly to these food producers.

8. Get out and ride

We all know that carpooling and using public transportation helps cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, as well as our gas bills.

There are a few great bike shops in the area: Family Bike Shop in Manalapan has everything you need to know about biking in the area. 

Many cities and towns are incorporating bike lanes and trails making it easier and safer to use your bike for transportation and recreation.

9. Share a car 

Car sharing programs spread from Europe to the United States nearly 13 years ago and are increasingly popular, with U.S. membership jumping 117 percent between 2007 and 2009.

According to the University of California Transportation Center, each shared car replaces 15 personally owned vehicles, and roughly 80 percent of more than 6,000 car-sharing households surveyed across North America got rid of their cars after joining a sharing service. In 2009, car-sharing was credited with reducing U.S. carbon emissions by more than 482,000 tons. 

Now, car sharing isn’t always practical in the mostly suburban and high commuting area of , but NJ Transit does offer public transport trains and buses to get you where you need to go, which is cheaper and better for the environment than commuting to Manhattan with your car everyday.

10. Plant a garden

Growing your own vegetables is a simple way to bring fresh and nutritious food literally to your doorstep. Researchers at the United Nations Development Programme estimate that 200 million city dwellers around the world are already growing and selling their own food, feeding some 800 million of their neighbors, according to Worldwatch.

Growing a garden doesn't have to take up a lot of space, and in light of high food prices and recent food safety scares, even a small plot can make a big impact on your diet and wallet.

11. Compost

And what better way to fertilize your garden than . You will not only reduce costs by buying less fertilizer, but you will also help to cut down on food and other organic waste.

12. Reduce your meat consumption

Livestock production accounts for about 18 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for about 23 percent of all global water used in agriculture, according to Worldwatch. 

You don't have to become a vegetarian or vegan, but by simply cutting down on the amount of meat you consume can go a long way. Consider substituting one meal day with a vegetarian option. And if you are unable to think of how to substitute your meat-heavy diet, websites such as Meatless Monday and Eating Well offer numerous vegetarian recipes that are healthy for you and the environment.


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