What can I do to help protect the environment?

Reducing energy use, packing waste-free lunches, and using safer cleaning products, public transportation, and “green landscaping” techniques are some great ways to help protect the environment.

EPA provides these and many more tips on the following Web pages.

For Adults:

Protect the Environment: At Home and in the Garden:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/home.htm
Tips for home safety, avoiding potential risks, and preventing pollution by recycling and conserving water and energy.

Protect the Environment: At Work:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/workplac.htm
Information about preventing pollution in your workplace, and raising awareness of health and safety issues.

Protect the Environment: On the Road:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/trans.htm
Consumer information about the environmental impacts of transportation plus tips on cleaner cars, saving gas and improving mileage, boating pollution prevention tips, and more.

Protect the Environment: While Shopping:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/shopping.htm
Find helpful information on how to choose purchases that will reduce pollution, save energy and money.

Protect the Environment: In Your Community:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/community.htm
Learn how to protect your neighborhood's natural resources, and get information on air and water quality in your community.

For Kids:

Protect the Environment: At School:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/school.htm
Whether you are a student or a teacher in a class about the environment, EPA has lots of educational resources to offer you.

EPA Students for the Environment page:
http://www.epa.gov/students/

Ozone Depletion: Fun Stuff
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/puzzles/index.html

A Student's Guide to Global Climate Change:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html

The Life Cycle of a Cell Phone (PDF):
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/pdfs/life-cell.pdf (PDF, 2 pp, About PDF)

Pesticides Information for Students and Teachers:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/kids/

Wastes: Planet Protectors Club for Kids:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/kids/planetprotectors/index.htm

Wastes – Educational Materials:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/index.htm

Water Science and Technology for Students and Educators:
http://water.epa.gov/learn/resources/index.cfm

Pack a Waste-Free Lunch:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/lunch.htm

Here are some tips from the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/the12.htm

•     Consider reusable products
•     Borrow, rent, or share items used infrequently
•     Reuse bags, containers, and other items
•     Sell or donate goods instead of throwing them out
•     Select products made from recycled materials
•     Reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging

Here are even more tips from the Office of Air:
http://www.epa.gov/air/actions/at_home.html

•     Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
•     Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
•     Reuse materials like paper bags and boxes when you can.
•     Turn thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer.
•     Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go in.

You may also be interested in these frequently asked questions.

How can I help to protect the environment during the winter months? http://publicaccess.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23012&task=knowledge&questionID=16351

How I can help protect the environment during the summer months? http://publicaccess.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23012&task=knowledge&questionID=17342

Where can I get publications? http://publicaccess.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23012&task=knowledge&questionID=24333

Does EPA have coloring books or activity books available for kids? http://publicaccess.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23012&task=knowledge&questionID=15453

Do you have resources to help me teach my class about the environment? http://publicaccess.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23012&task=knowledge&questionID=15335

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What can I do to help protect the environment?

Frequent Questions