Read the article below to learn about reducing!

Reduce your energy consumption. Which of these ideas do you think you and your group could do at home or school? Create a log that shows how you reduced your energy use in 1 week.

Make the most of the paper you buy. Click here to see ideas of how to reduce your paper use.

Make your own canvas tote to use rather than plastic bags! (You will need an adult's help with this project.)

If you have found another activity, other than those listed above, please post the activity here.

How often does your family reduce or conserve resources at home?

What does your family do to reduce or conserve resources?

Reduce

Reducing the amount of waste you produce is the best way to help the environment. There are lots of ways to do this. For example:

• Buy products that don't have a lot of packaging.
  
• Instead of buying something you're not going to use very often, see if you can borrow it from someone you know.
• Cars use up energy and cause pollution. Try carpooling with friends, walking, taking the bus, or riding your bike instead of driving.
• Start a compost bin. Some people set aside a place in their yard where they can dispose of certain food and plant materials. Over time, the materials will break down through a natural process called decomposition. The compost is good for the soil in your yard and means that less garbage will go to the landfill.
• You can reduce waste by using a computer! Many newspapers and magazines are online now. Instead of buying the paper versions, you can find them on the Internet. Also remember that you should print out only what you need. Everything you print that you don't really need is a waste of paper.
• Save energy by turning off lights that you are not using.
• Save water by turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
• Lots of families receive a large amount of advertisements and other junk mail that they do not want. You can stop the mailings and reduce waste by writing to the following address and requesting that they take your name off of their distribution list:

  Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service
  P.O. Box 9008
  Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

This information is from http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0775891.html.