Ramadan
20
10
30
Climate change is in the news. It seems like every-
one's "going green." Luckily, many of the steps we
can take to stop climate change can make our lives
better. Our grandchildren — and their children —
will thank us for living more sustainably.
Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do
today to help reduce your environmental impact,
save money, and live a happier, healthier life.
1. Save energy to save money.
• Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the win-
ter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save
on heating and cooling costs.
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
• Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or,
use a "smart" power strip that senses when appli-
ances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" en-
ergy use.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As
much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-
wash clothes goes to heating the water.
• Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy
otherwise used during machine drying.
2. Save water to save money.
• Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will
lower your water and heating bills too.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost
much, and the water and energy savings can quickly
pay back your investment.
• Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet.
These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and
water, while keeping water pressure high.
• Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your gar-
den. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out
which occur naturally in your area.
3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).
• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking
costs while improving your cardiovascular health
and reducing your risk of obesity.
• Consider telecommuting if you live far from your
work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying
more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
• Lobby your local government to increase spending
on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these
improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering
your health and reducing traffic.
4. Eat smart.
• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week.
• Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more ex-
pensive when you consider the related environmen-
tal and health costs.
• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat,
eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from
local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
• Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This
is especially true for seafood.
5. Skip the bottled water.
• Use a water filter to purify
tap water instead of buying
bottled water. Not only is
bottled water expensive,
but it generates large
amounts of container
waste.
• Bring a reusable water
bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with
you when traveling or at work.
6. Think before you buy.
• Go online to find new or gently used secondhand
products. Whether you've just moved or are looking
to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or
FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and
other items cheaply or for free.
• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consign-
ment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
When making purchases, make sure you know
what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
7. Borrow instead of buying.
• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal
books and movies. This saves money, not to mention
the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
• Share power tools and other appliances. Get to
know your neighbors while cutting down on the
number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
8. Buy smart.
• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can
save money and packaging.
• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned.
This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical
use.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You
might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you
don't have to replace items as frequently (and this
means less waste!).
9. Keep electronics out of the trash.
• Keep your cell phones, computers, and other elec-
tronics as long as possible.
• Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time
comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics
and is a growing environmental problem.
• Recycle your cell phone.
• Ask your local government to set up an electronics
recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
10. Make your own cleaning supplies.
• The big secret: you can make very effective, non-
toxic cleaning products whenever you need them.
• All you need are a few simple ingredients like bak-
ing soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
• Making your own cleaning products saves money,
time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air
quality.
10 ways to go green
and save green
How can we live lightly on the Earth and
save money at the same time?
ISLAM & THE
ENVIRONMENT:
God compels Muslims in the Qur'an
to respect and revere the environ-
ment when He says,
"Greater indeed than the creation
of man is the creation
of the heavens and
the earth."
(40:57)
The Prophet Muham-
mad told his followers
they would be re-
warded by God for tak-
ing care of the Earth:
"If any Muslim plants any plant and
a human being or an animal eats of
it, he will be rewarded as if he had
given that much in charity."
(Sahih
Al-Bukhari, 8:41)
The Prophet Muhammad also com-
pared Muslims to a:
"Fresh tender plant" that bends,
but does not break, when afflicted
with life's inevitable calamities.
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, 7:547)
Another tradition (or hadith) of the
Prophet Muhammad quotes him as
saying:
"If the Hour (Judgment Day) is
about to be established and one of
you is holding a palm shoot, let
him take advantage of even one
second before the Hour is estab-
lished to plant it."
$
