Conservation is the protection and careful management of the environment and natural resources. Because of the limited amount of nonrenewable resources on Earth, it is important to conserve the current supply or to use renewable sources wisely so that we can limit further negative impact on the environment and so our natural resources will be available for future generations.

The major components of conservation include reducing, reusing and recycling, which are all keys to protecting our environment as well as saving money.

Reducing your energy consumption doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the comfort and convenience of your current lifestyle. The key is energy efficiency, in other words, using less energy more productively. By using energy more efficiently, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for fossil fuels and reduce your impact on the environment.

There are many ways to improve your home or business’ energy efficiency without large financial outlays. The following are a few examples of improvements within reach of practically every homeowner and business.

• Install/use high efficiency lighting, lighting controls, and appliances instead of standard incandescent, older fluorescent or non-Energy Star^® models.
• Improve the insulation levels in walls, ceilings and floors so heating and cooling equipment doesn’t have to run as frequently to condition indoor spaces.
• Seal air leaks in ducts, walls, ceilings and floors, so cold air doesn’t infiltrate conditioned spaces as quickly.
• Install high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment that uses less electricity or natural gas.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust temperatures automatically so you only comfortably heat or cool the space when you are there.
• Change the filters on your heating and air conditioning equipment regularly, according to manufacturer instructions.

For other tips to increase your energy efficiency and to get a personalized home energy-use report, use the online Energy Profile.

In the United States alone, 80 to 100 gallons of water is used per person per day. This is the highest personal water consumption rate in the world. A few small, simple changes can help reduce water use, leaving more water in the rivers, lakes and other freshwater sources.

• When renovating your home, invest in low-flow and water-efficient appliances, which will save you money in the long run. A front-loading washing machine, for example, uses 40-60% less water than top-loading machines.
• A new toilet can save water too, but if you can't install a low-flow toilet, reduce the amount of water used by placing a jar or other closed container full of water into your toilet tank.
• Install low-flow shower heads and sink spigots, which can be purchased at your local hardware store. Or contact your water utility company to find out if they distribute them for free.
• Check for, and quickly repair, leaky pipes and faucets. The tiniest leak has far greater impact than you'd think.
• Don't use your sinks and drains as trash cans, and dispose of oil and other toxic materials properly. Just one gallon of oil reaching the sewer can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.

First, let’s define what "carbon footprint" means. It’s the impact of the activities a person or business has on the environment, measured in pounds of carbon dioxide produced. The smaller your carbon footprint, the less harmful impact you have on the environment. Calculate your home’s impact on the environment by conducting an online Energy Profile, which creates a personalized energy-use and carbon emissions report for your home. Or for a quick look at carbon emissions for each of your home’s major appliances, use the Energy Calculator.

The generation of electricity is one of the biggest producers of carbon emissions, so using electricity from renewable sources and reducing your energy consumption will go a long way in decreasing your carbon footprint.

Another large contributor of carbon emissions is travel. On average, every gallon of gasoline burned emits about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, which adds up to several times your car’s weight in carbon dioxide every year. Changing a few of your traveling habits can significantly reduce your vehicle’s environmental impact.

• Cut down on unnecessary travel. Try carpooling to work, using public transportation or walking.
• Don't idle; turn off your car even while doing quick errands. Likewise, skip the drive-through; park and go inside instead.
• Have your vehicle inspected and serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency.
• When buying a new car, consider a hybrid vehicle, or at least one that gets more than 30 miles per gallon.

Visit our sections on reusing and recycling for more easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Did you know that America’s total yearly waste could fill a convoy of garbage trucks long enough to wrap around the Earth six times and reach halfway to the moon? That converts to about 56 tons of trash per year for the average person!

Instead of throwing items away, try to reuse them. Reuse in the broadest sense means any activity that lengthens the life of an item. Some examples include using tires as boat fenders, plastic grocery bags as trash can liners and worn out clothing as rags.

Reuse conserves valuable natural resources, reduces the amount of water and air pollution and is a means for getting materials to disadvantaged people and organizations. If you don’t have a way to reuse some of your old items, visit Web sites such as www.reuseitnetwork.org and www.freecycle.org to donate them to others in your area who can use them.

Only about one-tenth of U.S. garbage actually gets recycled every year, when in reality over half of it can be recycled into new products. Recycling is one of the most important habits to incorporate in your daily life to reduce the amount of waste in landfills, sustain natural resources and provide better air and water quality.

While most natural trash items like food can break down and decompose in a matter of weeks, man-made products like glass, plastic bags and aluminum cans may take months or years to break down. Here are some averages for how long it takes some common items to biodegrade in the earth:

• Plastic soda bottles: 1 million years
• Glass: 1 million years
• Aluminum cans: 50 to 200 years
• Paper: 1 to 5 months
• Disposable diapers: 500 years
• Batteries: 100 years

Thousands of items can be recycled and re-formed into new products. Glass, plastic, metal and paper are the most commonly known recyclables, but did you know that computers, cell phones, ink cartridges and tires can be recycled, too? Check your city’s waste and recycling policies to find out what can be recycled in your area.