Ask If You Can Work From Home': EPA Releases 'Tips' on Living Green for Earth Day

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly trying to make every day "Earth Day," and is providing Americans countless "environmental tips" to facilitate the transition.

The official "Earth Day" website reads: "Today, instead of having only 17 thousand EPA employees working to protect the environment, we now have over 300 million Americans as environmental partners making environmentally protective choices. By equipping this growing army of environmental stewards with the tools they need to meet today’s challenges, [the] EPA is helping America shift into a green culture."

Some of the "tips"?

...If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money. Reduce greenhouse gases on the road.

Don't idle! Remind your school system to turn off bus engines when buses are parked. Exhaust from idling school buses can pollute air in and around the bus, and can enter school buildings through air intakes, doors, and open windows. Constant idling also wastes fuel and money, and school bus engines really need only a few minutes to warm up. More about reducing engine idling.

It's electric! You can check how much of your electricity comes from renewable "green" power sources, such as wind or solar...

Make your home an Energy Star! When you do home maintenance, also do a home energy audit to find out how you can save money by making your home more energy efficiency. And if every American home replaced just one conventional light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes a year. Find more energy savings.

Everyone can make a difference! High school students can study links between everyday actions at their high school, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Become a "climate ambassador" leader in your school or neighborhood and motivate friends, schools, and community leaders. Talk to you friends - help spread the word! Learn more at school.

The EPA also had abundant tips on "using water efficiently," with suggestions like, "don't pre-rinse dishes," and, "put a little timer or clock near your shower so you can see how fast you are" (they recommend 5 minutes, and discourage baths altogether).

The report comes as EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson meets with the leaders of more than 40 nations in Paris (not exactly 'working from home') on the issue of sustainability.

(H/T: CSN News)