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Water
Be a Water Saver
When it comes to global warming, our personal actions can make a big difference—if millions of people do it! Together, we can lower carbon dioxide emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change .
Here are some things that you and your family can do to save energy.
Post this list on a refrigerator or bulletin board as a reminder of what you can do to save energy.
I COULD
DO THIS
I AM
DOING THIS
Drink tap water instead of bottled water
It takes a lot of energy to produce and ship bottled water. And most plastic bottles are not recycled. Besides, most tap water is just as safe and clean! If you want to carry water with you, get a reusable bottle and fill it with tap water.
Turn off faucets
When you're brushing your teeth or washing your hands or dishes, keep the water off until it's time to rinse.
Take shorter showers
Cutting your daily shower time by just one minute can save 3,000 liters (800 gallons) of water a year!
Reuse and recycle water
Use a bucket to collect water while you're rinsing vegetables or waiting for the shower to warm up. Then use it to water your plants or for cleaning.
Do full loads of laundry and dishes
Look for the recycle logo on the things you buy, like paper, tissues, and paper towels.
Fix leaks
Ask your parents to fix dripping faucets or running toilets. Leaks are the biggest water waster. Thirty drips per minute wastes 9.1 liters (2.4 gallons) of water each day!
Cool off with spray bottles or super soakers
On a hot summer day, play with spray bottles or super soakers instead of using sprinklers. Using a sprinkler for a half an hour takes 270 liters (70 gallons) of water. If you really want to play with the hose or sprinklers, do it on a dry part of the lawn.
Sweep, not wash, your driveway and sidewalks
Instead of using a hose, pick up a broom!
Don't pour grease or chemicals down the drains
They can pollute rivers and harm wildlife. Pour grease (like bacon fat) into an empty container and put it in the garbage can. Try saving unused chemicals, like paints, for another art project. Or, ask your parents to contact your local sanitation department about how to safely dispose of chemicals.
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Not only are they good for you, but they also help conserve water too! It takes a lot more water and energy to produce animal products (like meat and dairy) and processed foods (like fruit juice, soda, candies, and chips) than to grow fruits and vegetables.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
It takes water and energy to produce everything that we buy—from cotton t-shirts to video games. Reduce by buying only what you need. Reuse by using second-hand goods when possible. And donate or recycle everything that you can.