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WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP PIKAS

Pikas are vanishing because of climate change. You can help pikas from your own home by simply following steps to live a more sustainable life.

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Here are some easy tips you can try today!

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IN YOUR HOME:

 

• Lower your water heater thermostat. This helps lower energy consumption and saves water, too. The hotter the water comes out of your tap, the more cold water you have to add to it in order to wash your face or wash dishes. Lowering the water heater thermostat means the water won't be so unnecessarily piping hot, and you won't have to add as much cold water to temper it.

Put a blanket over your water heater. This will help insulate it and will require less energy to keep the water hot inside.

Replace incandescent light bulbs in your house with LED bulbs.

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Unplug devices when not in use. Many electrical devices consume energy even when they are not on. Simply being plugged in allows them to draw energy. Get a surge protector with an on/off switch, and cutting off the power to these devices becomes very simple. These kinds of devices include TVs, gaming consoles, and computers, and more.

 

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AT THE DINNER TABLE::

 

•  Eat less meat.  Eating less meat is one of the most powerful steps you can take to combating climate change and reducing your carbon footprint. Consider having a few meatless dinners during the week. Many kinds of plant-based meats are now available.

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•  Cut back on dairyConsuming less dairy can also have a very powerful effect in reducing your own carbon footprint. Plenty of delicious dairy alternatives are available now, such as oat milk, almond milk, and dairy-free ice cream and yogurt.

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IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM:


• Buy Energy Star-rated appliances


•  Avoid the dryer. Dry your clothes on a line instead of in the clothes dryer


•  Do one larger load. Wait until you have a very large load instead of washing multiple smaller loads.

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IN THE BATHROOM:

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  Take shorter showers 


  Turn water off while shaving or otherwise not actively using the water, like brushing your teeth and lathering hands


  Pee in the shower. This may sound gross, but gallons of water can be conserved if you do this.


 Replace your shower heads with low flow heads


  Replace or improve your toilets with water-saving toilets or fill up some sealable bottles with water and place them in your toilet's water tank. This way, when you flush, less water will be required to fill the reservoir.
 

•  Use recycled or bamboo toilet paper


•  Avoid palm oil! Many shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers contain palm oil. Palm oil plantations have led to rainforest destruction. Rainforests are a vital carbon sink we cannot afford to lose. Almost any kind of facial or body cleanser that foams will contain sodium laureth sulfate, which is derived from palm oil. Avoid products containing these ingredients:


Cetyl Alcohol
Fatty alcohol sulphates
Isopropyl or Isopropyl Palmitate
Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)
Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylaye
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

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IN THE KITCHEN
•  Buy Energy Star-rated appliances
•  Use eco-friendly cleaning supplies
•  Use eco-friendly dish soap
(see above "Avoid palm oil!")
•  Use recycled paper towels or washable cloth towels

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AT THE BALLOT BOX:

•  Vote for representatives who support wildlife protections and a shift to renewable energy sources

•  Write to your representatives. Encourage them to support climate change legislation and thank them when they do.

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VOLUNTEER:

•  Get out into the field. If you're interested in contributing to community science, there are a few programs looking for volunteers to record where they've seen and heard pikas. Check out the Volunteer page here for more information.

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Just exactly what are these ridiculously cute creatures, and where do they live?

Pikas are disappearing across the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin. Why is this happening?

Follow these easy steps to live a greener life and help pikas and the climate!

Have a minute to write a letter?

 

Or want to get out in the field?

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