If i owned my own home I would do a dozen things different from the way I do them now. For starters I would buy all locally grown products and eat less cow products. I would also make sure all of the bathrooms in my house were water efficient so less water would be used. To save even more water I would make sure that I never used plastic water bottles and have a full stock of reusable water bottles. I would change all of my light bulbs to CFL bulbs so that I could reduce the electricity being used. I would also make sure that all of my electronics and anything that can be plugged into an outlet is unplugged to make sure that absolutely no electricity is being used when unnecessary. On top of that i would install solar panels on my house for even better savings rates on electricity. Finally I would buy an electric car so I wouldn't have to burn any fossil fuels.

I agree with you! I like how u think about your electric car, and your light bulbs and with unplugging the electronics.

I completely agree with everything you have stated Tia, we as a community need to gain control of our energy usage and decrease our carbon footprints as much as possible. Although, that is incredibly difficult since we are living under our parents rules. As you mentioned, diet takes a huge part in our carbon footprints. Like it explains in, [Refer Local,](http://referlocal.com/media/save-money/ … buy-local/)“When people buy products that are created and grown in their town, city or region, they are reducing how far those products travel before purchase. Reducing the need for transportation reduces the number of vehicles on the road and the resulting amount of pollution that is created. Pollution from vehicles is a leading cause of global warming.” Somehow, we will need to communicate to our parents the benefits of locally grown foods to save our planet. Even the foods we are purchasing are making an impact. If it was up to me, I would be living an all vegan lifestyle eating organic locally grown foods. Although, I'm not the only one living in my household, the refore it's not entirely my decision.
You also mentioned that if you could, you would ensure all of your bathrooms are water efficient. There are several ways you can save water, turn the sink off while brushing your teeth, fix all of those leaky faucets, take speedy showers. Lastly, consider installing low-flow faucet aerators in your sinks. You will save gallons of water each time you use the tap. Conventional faucets flow as high as three gallons per minute, but low-flow faucets flow at one and a half gallons per minute. This may be something that will happen once you are in charge, although a conversation with your family could never hurt. Our planet is at stake, the temperatures are rising. Our community needs to begin to take this topic more seriously.
You also suggested you will be buying solar panels once you are given the opportunity. As I found on, [3 Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy,](https://www.svssolutions.com/blog/three … lar-energy) “Solar reduces air pollution, harmful carbon dioxide and methane emissions from fossil fuels, our traditional energy source, are leading contributors to global warming and decreased air quality. But generating electricity with solar panels produces no greenhouse gasses whatsoever.” I think now that we know all the massive benefits of these steps towards a “greener” lifestyle. Us young adults need to discover ways to gain access to these resources without our parents help.

I will do the same as you do and particularly like your idea to collect reusable water bottles. For me, my family just switch to CFL bulbs like week and we are planning to renovate our pipe system so that reduced the amount of wasted water to minimum.