These are just the everyday things you can do to make this world a healthy place to live.  For everything below, tell other people of what they could be doing.  Spread the word of how people can make little changes in their lives to prevent instances of pollution or waste.

Many ideas came from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation site.  

General:

• Set the refrigerator between 38ºF and 42ºF (3.3ºC and 5.6ºC).
• Set the freezer between 0ºF and 5ºF (­17.8ºC and ­15ºC).
• Microwave whenever you can (instead of using the oven).
• Don't leave the water running while washing dishes.
• Use cloth napkins instead of disposable ones.
• Use washable plates, cups, and silverware.
• Serve condiments from recyclable containers.
• Wash and dry only full loads.
• Use warm water (not hot!) when washing clothes.
• Rinse clothes with cold water (not warm!).
• Hang clothes out to dry instead of used a dryer in the summer.
• Shut off faucet while brushing your teeth.
• Shut off shower while soaping, scrubbing, or shaving.
• Install a low-flow shower head and toilet.
• Reduce the volume of water in your toilet tank.
• Switch off unnecessary lights.
• Dress warm: don't turn up the furnace.
• Dress cool: don't turn on the air conditioning.
• Raise shades on winter days; lower them in the summer.
• Drive the speed limit.
• Avoid sudden starts and stops.
• Don't top off the fuel tank.
• Change air & oil filters regularly.
• Don't buy over packaged items.
• Buy concentrated cleaners and detergents.
• Return empty cans & bottles.
• Bring your own bags to use (Cloth or mesh are best!).
• Send e-mails and electronic copies whenever possible (paperless offices!).
• Copy reports and memos double sided.
• Circulate, don't copy, paperwork.
• Reuse tubes and envelopes for mailing.
• Recycle scrap paper.
• Carry it in, Carry it out!
• Hike, row, sail, ski, or paddle - don't motor.
• Build campfires with care and make sure they are attended.
• Observe wildlife, don't disturb.
• Share books, CDs, tapes, magazines with friends, hospitals, and prisons.
• Copy bulletins and exams on both sides.
• Make notes and drafts on scrap paper.
• Reuse textbooks and school supplies.
• Serve reuseable trays, dishes, and silverware.
• Compost cafeteria vegetable waste.

Air Pollution:

• Be careful with your miles.  Watch how much you drive and try to use the minimal gas possible.  Accelerating really fast uses up a lot of gas.  You won't lose much time if you turn on to an open road and accelerate gently but firmly.  With gas prices the way they are, it will save you money too.
• Don't burn garbage.  By doing so, you create air pollution and the ashes contain a toxic resido.
• Buy in bulk so there is less packaging
• See if it can be used, if not by you, then buy someone you know, or someone who would buy it in a garage sale, or donate it to a non-profit organization.
• Always recycle when possible
• Create a compost.  You can get a compost bin and put it somewhere unimposing in your yard, such as behind the garage, or you could just have a pile where it's hardly noticeable.  Through fruit and vegetable waste and plant clippings in it.  The soil around it will also be rich in nutrients.
• Break up old would to make chips that can be used as mulch.
• If nothing else, throw it away, do not burn it.
  

Acid Rain:

• Conserve energy at home.  Make sure you have clean electric sources.  Don't leave the television on while no one's watching it, and likewise with boom boxes, lights, and radios.  Computers are usually okay because they go into a low-power state when not being used.

Pollution:

• If you change your own oil, recycle the used oil at a service station or recycling center. Many landfills also accept used oil for recycling.
• Try to by less toxic cleaning supplies.  For cleaning your drain, try mixing 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup vinegar.
• Use non-toxic glue and water-based markers.
• Use a baking soda paste as a general stain remover. Rub chalk on grease stains prior to washing. Apply butter or margarine to chocolate stains, let set at least 15 minutes and wash.
• Use herbs, set out a small dish of vanilla or leave an open box of baking soda in the room as an air freshener.
• Give leftover household hazardous products to someone who can use them (i.e., paints, pesticides, cleaning products, etc.).
• Use cedar blocks or chips instead of moth balls.
• Use red chili pepper, paprika, or dried peppermint to repel bugs and rodents (hot pepper juice seams to be most effective).
• Use cat litter or sand instead of salt on icy walks.
• Find out which companies in your area practice pollution prevention, and patronize their businesses (e.g. Strathmore Products, Passano Paints, Harden Furniture, United States Postal Service, Carrier, Garden Way [Troy-Bilt]).
• Keep your car well-tuned to conserve gas and oil.
• Walk, carpool, or ride a bike whenever possible.
• Turn off unused electricity when you leave the room, such as lighting and the TV.
• Do full loads of laundry.
• Use reusable bags for lunch instead of paper or sandwich bags.  Also try using reusable bags for shopping.
• Try buying products with less packaging that will just be thrown away.
• Buy durable appliances that will last longer in order to reduce what you throw away.  Try getting it fixed instead of replaced
• Use rechargeable batteries.  Batteries contain toxic metals that are dangerous.  Some places recycle batteries, too.
• If you're area doesn't allow the recycling of certain paper (such as magizine paper), use it as gift wrap.
• Buy products that are made from recycled material.
  

Water:

• Save water in your home by making sure you only use as much as you need.  Turn off the faucet while you shave and brush your teeth.
• Fix leaky faucets and pipes.  Astounding numbers of gallons can be wasted from a little drip in the pipes.
• Don't run too much hot water or cold water, as heating and cooling takes energy.  Find other ways to reach the desired temperature such as keeping a water jug in the refrigerator, which is running anyway.
• Us the waste basket for what it's for and don't flush things down the toilet if it was not used otherwise.  Toilets use two to six gallons of water each time it's flushed.
• When washing clothes, try to make each load as full as the washer allows.  They usually use the same amount of water no matter what the size of the load is.
• If your looking for new plumbing fixtures, consider ones that provide water saving abilities, such as a low-flow shower.
• Get things done in the shower.  Don't spend too much time in there with the water on.  If you're taking a bath, fill the tub half-way; you will still be able to rub the muck of the day off.
• Cut your grass a little higher.  Longer grass needs less water to survive.
• Cover up pools with a pool cover.  This reduces water loss by evaporation.
• Use mulch around plants in the yard.  This prevents the soil from drying out and prevents evaporation.
• Don't wash your cars with much frequency.  When your car needs a bath, try finding a car wash that recycles its water.
• Use a broom to clean off messy sidewalks and outdoor stairs instead of a hose.
• Water your plants at night, when there is less water loss by evaporation.  This could also enable you to water less often.
• Keep fire hydrants closed and save the water for emergency.

Know of some more simple things we can do day-to-day?  Send us your thoughts here, with the topic Simple Things.