Alone

Spend a few minutes before class explaining to a group how to recognize and purchase energy-efficient light bulbs.

Sometimes people won't recycle because they simply don't see the bin or they don't know what goes in it. Encourage proper recycling by painting bins to make the process easier.

People like to chow down at the mall or in the park, and that waste usually gets trashed incorrectly. Start a recycling program at a popular hangout in the following ways:

Contact the Central Office

• Commercial areas like malls have a central office that a security officer can direct you to. Parks and other government spaces are run out of city hall. Call these places and let them know you and friends are volunteering to set up their recycling program.

Walk, bike, carpool, or take mass transit; you save money on gas and don't have to worry about being frustrated in traffic. Plus you'll save one pound of CO2 for every mile you don't drive! It's a win-win for you and the environment.

When your computer is so hot it burns your legs, it's time to let the poor thing take a rest. Turn it off or put it in sleep mode. Either will let it cool down and conserve energy.

You might think you'll be right back when you leave your room with the lights, computer, and fan on, but who knows what kind of distractions are waiting outside your door? If you get sucked into a movie marathon with your sister you could forget all about the energy the lights and other electronics in your room are using. Even if you're positive you'll BRB, flick the switch. It's easy enough to turn back on.

If you're 13 or older, go to the ENERGY STAR website and sign the pledge. You can convince your family and friends to pledge, too.

You and your classmates have a lot on your mind at school: test, homework, whether you'll be crushed by the last bell wave of students. Shutting off the lights when you leave a class room might seem like a simple step towards energy conservation but it's easy to slip your mind. Motion sensor lights in your school would automatically turn off if the room is empty for long enough. It's one less thing to think about.

A drippy faucet or leaky toilet in a school bathroom might seem like a small problem, but if ignored long enough the girls' room could turn into a swamp, and no one wants that. In addition to the general nastiness of a flooded bathroom, restroom leaks are wasting water every minute their fixed. Tell a administrator or janitor about the problem right away to conserve water and avoid a disaster.

Vampire energy might sound like one of the Cullens' superpowers, but it's actually what's drained when a fully charged electronics charger stays plugged in. If your battery is full it's not getting any more charge, but it's still sucking energy. Cut off that greedy charger's supply by unplugging it and encouraging your teachers and classmates to do the same.