12 eco-tips for teens
Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 2:00 PM EST
Read more: GREEN KIDS
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Join your favorite eco-organization, such as the Sierra Club, The Natural Resource Defense Council, or the Humane Society to support their efforts and stay informed about their latest campaigns. -
Give back to the planet by donating time or money to a charity that helps to protect the environment. Sponsor a local eco-club or check out the Charity Navigator or Idealist to find a green campaign that interests you.
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Get involved in the green issues that affect your family, your community and your planet. Organize a park clean-up or a recycling event or write a letter to your local paper that highlights the importance of a particular environmental issue.
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Want to land a green job? Talk to experts in your field and think about how you can use your passions, talents, interests and experiences to save the planet.
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Eat less meat. It takes lots of energy, water, chemicals and grain to make a burger. Even if you don’t want to go completely veggie, try eating a few meat-free meals each week.
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Talk to your school about starting a “giveaway” table where kids can share their untouched, leftover food, (such as whole fruit, packaged snacks and unopened drinks) rather than toss it.
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Need to raise some funds for your school or club? Keep it green by selling eco-friendly products, hosting a green event, or collecting pledges for green tasks like planting trees.
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At the end of the school year, sell or donate your extra school supplies, equipment and books to reduce the clutter in your home and maybe add a little green to your wallet.
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Join forces with other eco-teens to form a Green Team for your school that evaluates eco-programs and looks for ways to improve them. Your Green Team can initiate a school recycling program, teach eco-classes or lobby the school board to replace existing light bulbs with energy-saving CFLs.
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Does your school use a bucket-load of chemical cleaners to clean and disinfect classrooms? If so, ask them to make a switch to eco-friendly cleaners that are better for the environment and nontoxic for the students, teachers and staff at the school.
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Instead of tossing your old books, sports equipment and art supplies, host a swap meet where students can drop off stuff they don’t want or need and pick up stuff they do. Leftover materials can be donated to a needy organization such as a library, a homeless shelter, hospital or a children’s museum.
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Talk to your teachers about starting a class tree planting project. The trees can help reduce the school’s energy costs and provide a more appealing place for students to hang out.
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