I Will Green My Block Pledge
I pledge to follow the "green my block" steps (below) to create a better future for my family and community, and I am urging our leaders in Washington D.C. to take action that will help move us toward the creation of a green economy and a better future for America.
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1. I will unplug my electronics. I will shut down and unplug my Playstation, Xbox, computer, cell phone charger, and other electrical appliances when I am not using them, so they don’t continue to drain energy. By doing this I will save $$$ on energy bills and our environment! 2. I will use less water. I will take shorter showers and wash clothes in cold water. I will not let the water run while washing dishes, shaving or brushing my teeth. I will do this because the water heater is second only to the heating system in home energy usage. 3. I will change a light bulb. I will use a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) and save about $30 over the lifetime of the bulb, which will pay for itself in about 6 months. CFL’s use 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. 4. I will recycle whatever I can and use recycled goods whenever I can! Recycling Tips. 5. I will ride with the people. I will use shared and public transportation, walk or ride my bike, because it lowers my carbon footprint and can build community at the same time. 6. I will sign up for Clean Energy. If my utility company offers "green energy," I will sign up. It creates green jobs and it provides for healthy clean energy sources that are renewable. If my utility doesn’t have a green energy option, I will call them and ask for one. 7. I will eat green. I recognize that low-income communities of color have higher rates of heart disease along with other preventable illnesses that can be mitigated with a healthier diet. I will choose healthy, organic and locally made foods. It's friendly on the earth and my body. 8. I will use reusable water bottles and bags. They are a better value, more eco-friendly, and studies show that bottled water isn't any safer than tap water. I will use reusable bags instead of plastic bags when I am grocery shopping, because plastic bags account for a large portion of what goes into our landfills. 9. I will think before I buy. When shopping today, I will look online first to find new or gently used secondhand products. I'll consider a service like craigslist or freesharing to track down furniture, appliances, electronics and other items that may be available cheaply or for free. I'll check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items. 10. I will buy products with less packaging. I will look for products with less packaging because if they are giving careful thought to their packaging, they are probably more considerate of other aspects of being sustainable. |
