Five Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

1. Recycling old electronics is the proper way to dispose of items that clog landfills and potentially leak toxic chemicals into groundwater. The Kane County Recycles program accepts electronics, entertainment and office equipment, microwave ovens, and books on the second Friday and Saturday of each month at the Kane County Clerk's office in St. Charles.

2. Drinking tap water instead of buying bottled water saves money, provides minerals important to good health,  and helps conserve landfill space. If tap water is a concern in your home, the City of St. Charles provides tips on how to ensure the safety of your home's tap water and publishes an annual water quality report. 

3. According to the government's Energy Star website, switching to compact florescent light bulbs, or CFL's, can save more than $40 during the lifetime of each bulb. Purchasing CFL's on-line, and direct from a local source, such as , of St. Charles, will further save the earth by reducing shipping emissions and excess packaging. 

4.  Shopping local farmers' markets and dining in restaurants that use area farms for food supplies cuts down the large amount of emissions released into the environment from large scale shipping operations. You can support local farming initiatives by visiting the St. Charles Farmers Market at every Friday from June through October. When dining out, seek establishments such as ,  a "green" inspired restaurant that uses local farms to grow their own produce and harvest honey. 

5. Using mass transit can save the average area motorist almost $1,200 a year, according to the Pace Suburban Bus Service. Pace offers ride share and car pool programs in addition to their fixed bus routes, which run regularly through St. Charles.