Media reports detail the need for local residents to start
living more environmentally friendly lifestyles. Major lifestyle
changes aside, here are a few simple little ways you can take
advantage of local resources to get a little more green in your
life! 1. Calculate the energy you can save by doing things like
unplugging your microwave when not in use, using energy
efficient light bulbs, or installing a top-loading washing
machine. Online tools such as Stony Brook University's energy
savings calculator can help. 2. Know what to recycle and when it
gets picked up. The Town of Islip's Recycling Page features
types of trash and recyclables, and describes what should be
done with them. The site also offers PDF downloads of local
recycling schedules. 3. Grab some reusable shopping bags for 99
cents at local supermarkets, and to put all those plastic bags
sitting around your house into their plastic bag recycling bins.
A recent report on plastic bag usage by a local nonprofit group
says Americans use on average b