CONSERVE WATER

HOW:  Maintain all plumbing to prevent drips and leaks.  Install low-flow/high-pressure faucets, toilets and spigots throughout your home.  Limit your shower time to 6 minutes or less.  Unless you're using the water at each moment, shut it off.   For instance:  While you have your toothbrush in your mouth brushing your teeth, shut the water off; while you're lathering your hair with shampoo or conditioner, or washing yourself, shut the water off until you're ready to rinse.    Use the water only as you need it.    For more information about water flow standards for residential and commercial, click here.

WHY:  One dripping faucet can waste 2,000 gallons a year.  The Environmental Protection Agency reports that at least 36 of the 50 states will experience local, regional or statewide water shortage by 2013. Each day the average American spends 100 to 176 gallons of water.  In many countries people survive on less than 5 gallons per day.  Look for all of the ways you can conserve this precious natural resource at home, at work or when you're out and about.  

USE NO OR LOW CO2 TRANSPORTATION

HOW:   When getting around town, consider biking, walking or using public transportation when available.  If you do need to use a car, consider car-pooling and/or choosing a low CO2 vehicle if possible.  Also, telecommuting (aka working from home) is also a great way to reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions and often reduces traffic and commuting-related stress; if possible, ask your employer if it is possible to work from home.  To compare low CO2 transportation options, click here.  

WHY:   The Department of Health, Education and Welfare has estimated that automobiles account for approximately 48% of the carbon monoxide, 32% of the nitrogen oxides, and 59% of the hydrocarbons in the atmosphere.  None of which are good for our environment or our health.  A bus with as few as seven passengers is more fuel efficient than the average automobile used for commuting. The fuel efficiency of a fully-occupied bus is six times greater than that of the average commuter's automobile, while the fuel efficiency of a fully-occupied rail car is fifteen times greater than that of the average commuter's automobile. A single person who commutes via a transit system instead of driving alone will save 200 gallons of gasoline per year. A 10% nationwide increase in transit ridership would save 135 million gallons of gasoline per year. This fuel efficiency results in personal savings and in a cleaner environment for all.  

A car occupied by one person produces on average 2.06 grams/passenger-mile (g/pm) of nitrogen oxides for work trips. A fully occupied transit bus on the other hand, produces approximately 1.54 g/pm, while a fully occupied rail transit system produces only .47 g/pm for the same distance. Similarly, the car occupied by one person produces 15.06 g/pm of carbon monoxide and 2.09 g/pm of hydrocarbons. The bus produces 3.05 g/pm and .2 g/pm of the same pollutants, respectively. From an environmental point of view, trains and electric powered mass-transit is the best form of motorized transportation.  While of course, walking and biking are the ultimate forms of transportation for our health and our environment.

Choosing fuel efficient cars ... If each car in the U.S. had improved mileage by 2.7 mpg, we would eliminate our dependency entirely from Persian Gulf oil.

Each moment we interact with people and the world around us we have an opportunity to create a positive, simple, selfless experience that can have exponential effects, often leaving others elevated and conduits to "pass it on".  Simple acts of respect, courtesy, compassion and integrity practiced daily with your family, your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers and strangers, can go a long way and has the ability to change the world in bite-size pieces.  These simple acts are often under-valued and forgotten about.  In other words, you don't always have to take out the checkbook or donate your time in order to make a difference.  If each of us made a conscious effort to apply the golden rule without condition, and to break hurtful and harmful habits, improvement will come quickly.  And the beauty is ... when you begin to consistently apply the golden rule with others (even strangers) those actions have just as much positive impact on you, your day and your life as it does on the benefactor.  With the golden rule, don't pick an audience ... apply it to everyone, even those that you have preconceived notions about.  Live it, display it and teach it to your children. 

For those who can afford the time and/or money to go above and beyond that daily code of conduct, there are many options for giving. Pick your passion ... focus on the category of life you'd like to improve and go for it, using whatever means you can afford. Use the Charity guides to learn how about all of your choices and determine which organization is best to help you achieve your "giving goals".