What Does it Mean to Go Green in San Diego?

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Did you know that the typical American home uses 300 gallons of water a day? In the modern world, Americans dispose of nearly 40 billion soft drink cans and bottles each year. Visually, 40 billion cans and bottles stacked one on top of the other is enough to reach the moon and return back twenty times.

Perhaps most shocking of all, if we were to use recycled paper for one print run of the Sunday edition of the New York times, we would spare 75,000 trees.

For many Americans there is a sincere desire to go green, but a strong lacking in knowledge of how to do so. These statistics help us realize how harmful our way of living is to the environment. San Diego residents possess a particularly good understanding of the negative effects of waste and what it does to our city. Our desire for clean beaches, streets, and parks has been interfered by our own carelessness.

We must realize that we are involved in a persistent war between mankind and Mother Earth. We can't wait any longer to begin living our lives in an environmentally friendly manner. So San Diego, let's go green.

What are a few simple ways we can change our styles of living in an effort to save the planet? We can begin by recycling. Recycling is one of the most effective ways to be green. Did you know that over 75% of the things we dispose of can actually be recycled? This includes food waste, paper, cardboard, and cans. Try keeping a separate trash can next to your regular trash can that will serve as a recycling bin.

Many times, people do not recycle because they don't have a simple household system set up. If your recycling bin is right next to your trash can, you will have no excuse. Think of the impact our city could make on recycling worldwide if all of us recycled our junk mail instead of throwing it away. Not to mention, San Diego has over 55 recycling drop-off centers, keep your eye open for one in a nearby grocery store parking lot. For more information on items that can be recycled in San Diego, visit Burrtec Waste and Recycling.

It's amazing how many little things we can do to conserve energy. Replacing your light bulbs with florescent bulbs might be an initial expense, but these bulbs end up lasting three times as long as standard ones. Not only are you conserving energy by using a fluorescent bulb, but your light source will be brighter. It is also very important to turn lights off when you are not in the room. Turning them off will not only save energy but lower your energy bills.

Other ways to save energy include keeping your refrigerator closed until you know what you need from it. Never leave the door open longer than you need to. Also, abstain from keeping your heaters and air-conditioning systems on high levels while you are away from home.

You are not only wasting energy, but it's costing you a fortune! Did you know that the amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50 million homes for 20 years? Consider making a trade every year, you'll make sure you recycle all of your paper in the summer and perhaps by winter it will be reused as an energy source for your heating your home.

Water conservation is also a huge matter in the issue of going green. Shockingly, a 1/32" leak in your faucet or drain can waste 6,000 gallons of water a month and 72,000 a year. If your sink or faucet has a leak, do your best to get it fixed immediately. Avoid taking multiple long showers and never leave the shower running before you get in. Also avoid leaving the water running while you are brushing your teeth or washing your face.

When decorating your San Diego home, consider using low-emission paint. These paints are nontoxic and improve the air quality inside your home. It turns out that indoor air is three times more polluted than the air outside, largely due to toxins found in paint. Nontoxic paints will not release the negative fumes that regular paints will. For more information on which brands sell nontoxic paints visit EarthEasy.com.

Lastly, when you shop, take note of the origins of your products. Strive to buy items that are organic; produced without the use of artificial pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Try grocery shopping somewhere like Trader Joe's or Henry's. When you shop, recycle your bags. Or better yet, reuse a canvas bag during your trips to the grocery store. When you are purchasing paper products, check the packaging to see if the material you are buying is made from recycled resources. This includes recycled toilet paper, paper towels, cardboard boxes, and cereal boxes, etc.

The earth is in desperate need of our help and we, as a city, have the opportunity to make a change. By simply observing some of these simple tips, it's amazing how we can change the statistics. Green peace in San Diego will be the new lifestyle. Don't be the neighbor with mounds of trash in the can, instead spread awareness and take action.