Wondering about our 5 featured DOTs?

Fun fact: each of these DOTs will SAVE you money, while cooling the climate
Choosing a DOT is a great way to get started - simple actions, big impact. Once you choose a DOT, think about making your DOT a project for your entire school or geting connected with organizations in your area that are making a difference!

1. Recycle

DOT: Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum.

Connect the DOTs: if every American recycled twice as much as they do now (currently 30% of waste), it would be like taking 11 million cars off the road each year.

Rock a recycling project in your school!

 2. Unplug Gadgets (a.k.a. "Slay Vampires")

DOT: Unplug your gadgets and appliances when not in use.

Connect the DOTs: If Americans slayed all of their energy vampires, it would be the equivalent of saving the amount of energy used to power 16 million homes.

Rock an energy-shredding (and money-saving) project in your school!

 3. Drive less, bike (walk) more

DOT: Ride a bike or walk distances less than 2 miles.

Connect the DOTs: if 1% of Americans replaced a two mile trip just once a week with a bike ride or walk, it would be like taking 34,000 cars off the road each year.

Rock a project like this in your school!

 4. Grab a Reusable Bottle/Mug

DOT: Carry a reusable bottle.

Connect the DOTs: if one in three Americans ditched disposable bottles for a reusable one, it would be like taking 1 million cars off the road each year.

Reduce the amount of waste on your school's campus!

 5. Buy Smart

DOT: Buy stuff that lasts and support eco-friendly businesses

Connect the DOTs: Teenagers in the US have over $200 billion in purchasing power, so every time we buy quality items, it sends a huge message to businesses.

Buying vintage threads will always have less impact, but if youre going to buy new, there are ways to be smart - like buying organic and supporting eco-friendly businesses. Learn more by checking out Climate Counts or Better World Shopper to see how your products score for the environment.

These are just five simple DOTs - if you want some more ideas, check out Brighter Planet's suggestions.

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Citations:

1. Recycling: National Recycling Coalition

2. Vampires: 75% of electronics' energy is used when off, 20% of electricty to power electronics, American house energy use

3. Biking: Clif Bar's 2 Mile Challenge - Get the facts, CAFE standards and Equivalence conversions

4. Bottle Habit: Pacific Institution Research Institution

5. Buy Smart: 1,800 Gallons of Water for 1 pair of jeans, 2/3 lb of fertilizer for 1 pair of jeans