Eco-Friendly Tasks for the Eco-Friendly Teen To Do

As anybody living in today's era knows, the earth is slowly succumbing to the long-term effects of global warming, and in upcoming decades, life may change in ways that we can barely imagine today - that is, if we do not pitch in and do our part to care for our lovely earth.

Protecting the earth and maintaining a clean and livable environment is not always as difficult and hopeless as many would believe it to be. Below are 7 easy things (of many, countless “green” activities that you can do) that will benefit you economically, personally, and socially, and will also benefit the earth, making good use of the earth's materials and releasing less emissions.

1. Turn off the lights when you aren't using them.
2. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
3. Take shorter showers (is it really necessary to take 1 hour long showers daily?)
4. Carpool, walk, ride the bus, or ride your bike more.
   If you want to go somewhere less than 10-15 minutes away from your home, walking or riding your bike is easy, and it benefits you, because it is fun and easy exercise.
5. Tending to and expanding your garden.
   If you can, take care and work on making your garden bigger. Add more vegetable plants! Plant more flowers! Why? It beautifies the landscape, all plants absorb carbon dioxide to produce fresh oxygen for animals to breathe, and the fruits (literally) of your labor will bring you organic, delicious meals.
6. Reuse materials like cardboard, printer paper, fabric, etc. if possible.
7. Donate clothes that you don't want anymore to donation boxes, clothing drives, etc.
   Some stores will take your old clothes and give you a discount on your next purchase, or other useful benefits for you. You can also clear out closet space, and help someone else. This way, the materials and energy that went into creating your unworn clothing will not be wasted.
   
   
   
   
   

Because the earth is such a big place with a constantly growing population and so few people who truly have enough power to make sweeping improvements to environmental policies, it may seem like it is impossible that one seemingly insignificant person who did one seemingly insignificant task would affect anything. However, this is definitely not the case, if everyone contributed in the movement to greener earth. The earth can still be protected and nurtured to a healthy state that will let our future selves and future generations enjoy it as we do today.

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