Do you think that our actions can influence environmental sustainability? How?

1. Do you think that our actions can influence environmental sustainability? How? Stephanie, Oana, Trina

2. Question 1: • What is something small that you can do everyday to be more environmentally friendly?

3. Answer: • Simple things can be done to make a difference. • -Change your light • If every household in the United State replaced one regular light bulb with one of those new compact fluorescent bulbs, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road. • -Turn off computers at night • -Don’t rinse dishes • -Recycle glass • -Go vegetarian once a week • -Use one less paper napkin • -Use both sides of paper • -Ban bath time! • -Take a shorter shower • -Plant a tree • -Turn off lightshttp://www.50waystohelp.com/

4. Question 2: • How can we minimize our garbage production?

5. Answer: • Ways to minimize garbage production are:-No more paper towels-Take reusable bags to the store-Buy in bulk-Pack a smart lunch-Get reusable coffee filters-Buy a travel mug-Start sending eCards-Switch to rechargeable batteries-Purchase durable products* Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are key words to remember when trying to prevent the amount of garbage used. *http://www.divine.ca/en/articles/c_17_i_3261/10-ways-to-reduce-waste-1.html

6. Question 3: What are some ways we can reduce pollution?

7. Answer: • do not idle- never leave car running when it doesn't have to be. • type of car- think smart and drive energy efficient vehicles • run to places, ride a bike or use public transportation to reduce air pollution and gas consumption • reduce use of paper and natural materials, reuse plastic bags, recycle paper and plastics • use Eco-green materials and stay away from chemical agents/soaps and chemical fertilizers

8. Question 4: • As one person, do you believe you can impact our overall environmental sustainability?

9. Answer: • It only takes one person to create a large amount of pollution and garbage. • In Canada the garbage footprint is 7.6 hectares. • If one person has that footprint, than millions of people all around the world could majorly affect environmental sustainability. (www.ecovoyageurs.ca). • On average, each Canadian household has an average of 1.3 cars per household. • http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource/pub/energy_use/NAPVUS/index.cfm

10. Question 5: • What are some or fundraisers you can volunteer at, that would help the environment?

11. Answer: • There are many global charities that serve the purpose of improving our environment. They are large corporations like: -The Oak Ridges Moraine Society -The Ontario Forestry Association -The Windfall Ecology Association http://www.moraineforlife.org/about/index.php • Local charities in your community can allow you to get involved as well. • For example: The town of Newmarket has a program called Enviro days which holds events like: -Tree planting days -garbage pick-up days -Compost awareness days -The annual Holland river clean up http://www.newmarket.ca/en/townhall/resourcelibrary/EnviroDaysCommunityEventListing-Final.pdf

12. Question 6: • What are our main problems that we have to solve regarding environmental sustainability?

13. Answer: • Some of our main problems that we have regarding the environment are: -air pollution • People use their cars and trucks to get to work and school every day. -garbage production • The Environmental Protection Agency says, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of garbage a day. • http://www.wisegeek.com/how-much-garbage-does-a-person-create-in-one-year.htm -the usage of our non renewable resources. • For example: People are cutting down a very large number of trees on a daily basis.