Help Mother Nature

1. Part - 1 : Ways you can help Mother Nature
   
   

   Conserve Energy: Most electricity comes from hydel/water power or burning fossil fuels—the less we use, the less demand on the environment:

   • Turn off all unnecessary lights and appliances when not in use—50% of all electricity demand is for lighting.
   • Change to tube lights and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)—regular bulbs lose 90% of their electricity through heat; CFLs/tube lights reduce load by 30 to 40%. If every household in India changed the 5 most frequently used light fixtures with energy-saving bulbs, we would prevent more than 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
   • Use renewable and passive energy sources like solar, wind, and biogas—install solar hot water heaters and solar lights.
   • Clean air filters regularly. Tune heating and cooling equipment annually by a licensed contractor. Replace old equipment with high efficiency, properly sized and installed
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2. Part - 2 : Ways you can help Mother Nature
   
   

   The Recycling Process

   Collecting and processing secondary materials, manufacturing recycled-content products, and then purchasing recycled products creates a circle or loop that ensures the overall success and value of recycling. (See note under e-waste for recyclers in Bangalore)

   Step 1. Collection and Processing:

   Collecting recyclables varies from community to community, but there are four primary methods: curbside, drop-off centers, buy-back centers, and deposit/refund programs. Regardless of the method used to collect the recyclables, the next leg of their journey is usually the same. Recyclables are sent to a materials recovery facility to be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities for manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like any other commodity, and prices for the materials change and fluctuate with the market.

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3. Part - 3 : Ways you can help Mother Nature
   
   

   ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT—COMPOST

   Basic Information

   Compost is organic material that can be used as a soil to grow plants. Mature compost is a stable material with content called humus that is dark brown or black and has a soil-like, earthy smell. It is created by combining organic wastes (e.g., yard trimmings, food wastes, manures) in proper ratios into piles, rows, or vessels, then adding bulking agents (e.g., wood chips) as necessary to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials, and allowing the finished material to fully stabilize and mature through a curing process.

   Natural composting, or biological decomposition, began with the first plants on earth and has been going on ever since. As vegetation falls to the ground, it slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed for plants, animals, and micro-organisms. Mature compost, however, includes the production of high temperatures to destroy pathogens and weed seeds that natural decomposition does not destroy.

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4. Part - 4 : Ways you can help Mother Nature
   
   

   On the Road

   The burning of gasoline and diesel fuel releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change, but these emissions can be reduced by improving your car’s fuel efficiency. You can take the following actions to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, make the air cleaner and save money.

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