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community."

It works. It's the ultimate recycle. People list their unwanted furniture, computers, bicycles, etc. online and, usually within minutes, people who want these items respond. Arrangements are made for pickup (via email and phone) and unwanted items find new homes instead of ending up in a landfill.

Wasting water lets money (and a precious resource) run down the drain. Simple sensible solutions like only running the washing machine or dishwasher with a full load can easily save money, energy and resource.

The American suburban lawn takes a lot of heat as a water waster. Dr. Doug Welsh in his July, 2005 paper "Lawns Don't Waste Water, People Do!" says "The lawn has a tremendous mitigating effect on the environment, reducing heat loads, noise, and water and air pollution.

A lawn is second only to a virgin forest in the ability to harvest water and recharge groundwater resources."

Lawns get their poor reputation when people abuse irrigation resources. Proper irrigation methods, planting lower water demanding adapted turf grasses, cutting higher to shade roots, and decreased fertilization are all simple low cost methods that will save precious water and yield a better lawn that's easier and cheaper to maintain.

Small things do make a difference. How hard is it to change a light bulb, to run your washer only when full or give "good stuff" away and save it from premature burial in a landfill? The simplest solutions are often best. They are inexpensive, measurable and bring immediate benefits - one step at a time.

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"Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs : ENERGY STAR." 8 Mar 2009 <http://www.energystar.gov/inde x.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls>.

"What's In Our Trash | Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste | Wastes | US EPA." 7 Mar 2009 <http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wy cd/catbook/what.htm>.

Welsh, Dr. Doug. "Lawns Don't Waste Water, People Do!." 6 Jul 2005. 8 Mar 2009 <http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/d rought/drought2.html>.

Learn more about this author, John McDevitt.
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