"I try to carpool as much as possible," said senior Megan Gillis, who added that carpooling saves gas and helps reduce carbon emissions.
Andrew Stilwell, a junior, said that he avoids the use of aerosol cans that release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Other students said it's important to stay aware of current environmental issues, like pollution reduction and recycling.
Mary Vess, a senior, drives a white Toyota Prius to school every day. She says that she enjoys the benefits of driving a hybrid vehicle, and she feels good about the fact that she doesn't contribute as much to air pollution. She saves a lot of money on gas.
"I make an effort not to litter and to pick up trash if I come across it," Vess said.
Vess thinks it's crucial that teenagers realize they have to invest in the environment for the future.
"We're going to have to make a commitment," she said, "and realize that this is not just a political issue."
Karen Vinson, who teaches Advanced Placement Environmental Science at Pinecrest, wants to make sure that the school does its part in the race to save the planet. She has instituted a plastics recycling program for students there.
"The environment first became an important issue when I was a teenager," she said. "'Save the Earth' became a big thing."
Through the recycling program, Vinson hopes to make students aware of how much waste they are producing.
"We fill a 50-gallon container with plastic bottles every week," she said. "Seventy-five percent of the waste found in landfills is reusable, so it's important that we recycle the things we can."
Global warming may seem like a huge problem, but there are many small things anyone can do to make a difference.
Vinson had these suggestions for anyone wanting to live a little greener:
-- Make sure to buy appliances with the energy star label. This indicates they're energy efficient and use less electricity.
-- Change light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs that last longer.
-- Turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth.
-- Also, walk into fast food restaurants instead of driving through. Cars release a lot of fumes into the atmosphere when they're idling in the drive-through line.
Global warming is a serious problem, but this evidence suggests that this generation is up to the challenge.
Student Josh Warthen said: "It's something that we're going to have to deal with for the sake of future generations."
