I just learned that today was Blog Action Day, where bloggers around the world were encouraged to blog for the environment. Given that the Cottonwood Institute is committed to sustainability education, I had to post something! I found this post on GoodSearch.com and I wanted to spread the word about 5 things you can do to protect the planet in 5 minutes or less:

1. Change a light bulb to a compact fluorescent bulb
   If every American swapped just one bulb for an Energy Star labeled CFL,
   it would collectively save more than $8 billion in energy costs,
   prevent burning 30 billion pounds of coal and remove 2 million cars
   worth of greenhouse gas emissions from our atmosphere.
2. Use GoodSearch to search the web — www.GoodSearch.com
   This search engine, which is powered by Yahoo!, earns money for your
   favorite environmental charity, or any other cause you care about, with
   every search.
3. Adjust your thermostat by 2 degrees.
   It’s estimated that 1/6 of all energy consumed in the US is from heating and cooling.
4. Remove yourself from postal bulk mail — https://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing
   Every year, 100 million trees, 28 billion gallons of water, and $320
   million in local tax money are used for the production and disposal of
   junk mail.
5. Unplug unused electronics
   Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 per year.

Send this email to five friends (ok, that’s six things you can do!)

Source: GoodSearch.com