Four Ways To Be Green

You and Your Environment

What is ‘the environment’? It’s everything around you. The earth, the trees, the sky and the air we breathe. It’s important to look after the environment. If we don’t, some say we won’t have anywhere to live anymore, and lots of beautiful places and animals will eventually disappear.

Many things we do every day are said to harm the environment. Watching TV, playing computer games and using mobile phones all use electricity, which may damage the planet we live on. Buying sweets and fast food wrapped in plastic is also said to be bad for the environment.

The good news is that there are many ways in which you can help to look after the environment. Doing things to look after our planet is called ‘being green’.

Four Ways To Be Green

1. In the supermarket, help choose food with less packaging.

2. Keep your clothes clean so they don’t need to be put into the washing machine so often.

3. Don’t leave the tap running when brushing your teeth. Don’t leave the tap running when brushing your teeth.

4. Take your own shopping bag with you when you go shopping and remind those with you to do the same. Using the same shopping bag means using fewer plastic carrier bags.

Green Dictionary

You may have heard these phrases about the environment, but do you know what they mean?

Fossil Fuels Some fuels, like petrol, gas and oil, come from the ground. These fuels are known as ‘fossil fuels’.

Some fuels, like petrol, gas and oil, come from the ground. These fuels are known as ‘fossil fuels’. They are said to be bad for the environment because when we use them, they may send smoke up into the sky. This smoke may make the planet hotter, which means all sorts of birds and animals may die.

Carbon Footprint

Many of the things we do every day make something called ‘carbon’. Whenever you do things such as using a shower or turning on lights, you make carbon and this is said to be bad for the environment. How much carbon you make is called your ‘carbon footprint’. Many people therefore like to make their ‘carbon footprint’ as small as possible. You can do this by taking less time in the shower and turning off lights when you're the last person to leave a room.

Recycling

Recycling means instead of throwing things away, you can use them again or in a different way. You can recycle things such as plastic water bottles, comics and carrier bags, by putting them in special recycling bins. Your old plastic and paper will them be turned into new things. This may help the environment. You can recycle things such as plastic water bottles, comics and carrier bags, by putting them in special recycling bins!

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is held every summer on the 5th of June. This year, World Environment Day is all about looking after our forests. Trees give us the air we breathe, so it’s very important to take care of them.

Why not help save forests on World Environment Day? You and your friends could hunt out old newspapers, magazines and other paper rubbish in your homes and make sure they go into a paper recycling bin. Paper comes from trees, so by recycling paper you will stop trees being cut down and help save forests.