Communities can work on a large scale recycling effort, and re-direct the proceeds to the specific needs of those who need assistance. Sponsoring large scale recycling, and large item pick-up on a monthly basis can generate revenue to maintain community centers, parks, and common areas that all can enjoy. Businesses can further help by donating recyclables to the cause and pitching in with matching funds. Everyone can participate at this level. And for the most part, this is a free but generous exercise of social and environmental responsibility.

Businesses can direct employee incentives to do community clean-up and recycling events within the community. Businesses can raise money and donate money to goals within the community to create positive environmental space. They can donate space to those who want to create them, whether outdoors or building space, and take the proceeds to create other environmentally positive programs.

It takes both to do it all. Communities and businesses can create the space and life they want, for all.

Choose an empty piece of ground within the community and turn it into a volunteer garden to share with everyone. Hire one person as the director and over seer to prepare, help planting, and growing fresh vegetables and fruit for a low cost or no cost share program. For everyone that volunteers in the garden, they receive their own shares for free. For the rest of the community, set up a garden stand and charge a very limited amount to anyone in need.

Involve children of the community to share one day of spring clean up. Let them arrive in spring costumes and provide each with a trash bag. Take them in groups with adults to monitor the work. Let half of the group will pick up trash while the other half collects recyclables. Provide a fun time lunch and free afternoon of play for the community work they have helped to provide.

One of the most effective ways of making your business greener is through recycling, which vastly limits the amount of waste that the environment must absorb through landfills, etc. It costs business owners a hefty fee to dump their waste into landfills, and the profits that can be gained by recycling and reusing materials can far outweigh the price of dumping them into landfills. Using nonworking or spent technology items that customers return to you for reuse, can also help to make your business greener.

Business owners can plant trees and or plants around their business, which will help clean the air, as well as to beautify the area. Try to use energy efficient hybrid vehicles in the transportation of you and your employees, to and from your business. If possible, walk or ride a bike to work to eliminate emissions. Don’t dump any chemicals or all into the ground, try to recycle them whenever its humanly possible.

One of the first things you want to do is check for energy leaks. Any place in your home that allows any air to come in or out is an energy leak. Make sure that all windows and doors have a good seal to them and that your home is well insulated.

Lower your thermostats on your air conditioning and / or heating. It is recommended that you keep your heat set at 68 degrees F or lower for the winter while keeping your air conditioning thermostat set at 78 degrees F or higher in the summer.

Use the compact fluorescent bulbs throughout your home. These bulbs are not only cheaper to operate but they are much better for our environment. Make the switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs and you will see a difference in your electric bill.

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