By Tita Dulce Festin-Baybay

That’s right, Kidsters! We are now into the love month, February, which is being celebrated with Valentine’s Day on February 14. Now, if we truly love our Earth, the planet we are in, then let’s all help save it together.

I am attended the Earth Summit in Manila, organized by the government’s Department of Energy.     After we registered, I was given a simple canvas bag and in it was a poster calendar with the theme: Save Our Energy, Save Our Planet.

Kidsters, all of us must do our share, even if you are only 8 or 10 or 15 years old and regularly reading your Tita Dulce’s column.Since I was given only one calendar, let me share with you what is written on it. It says here there are 12 tips on how to do your share in the fight against global warming.

Global warming means the gradual melting down of the ice caps and the rising of sea level, as well as the warming of our weather due to pollution. Ask your teacher for more details.

Now here are some tips:

1.)Change your light bulbs. Ask your parents to use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent lights. The first uses up 75% less electricity and last up to 13 times longer.

2.) Open a window instead of using air conditioners.

3.)Ask your helpers to wash clothes in bulk to save on water.

4.)Unplug appliances or your TV sets when you can.

5.) Tell your parents to always take care of your car, to drive carefully, or ride the bus, or better yet, join a carpool.

6.)So there is less solid waste, avoid using paper when you can. Don’t get addicted to your computer. Turn off your computer more often.By keeping it on for only four instead of 24 hours a day, you reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 83%.

7.) Do not use anymore plastic bags. Bring cloth bags or used boxes to the supermarket because less plastic bags means no more landfills and thus, less greenhouse gases.

8.)Finally, use recycled paper since recycling paper requires 60% less energy than producing new paper. Every ton would save 4,400kwh of energy, 30,000 liters of water and 19 trees!

There you are, Kidsters! Now you can help save our energy and our planet for a better future for everyone.