Written by Teniola Ayoola, a Junior at Bowie High School in Bowie, Maryland.

Summer is in full session, and from grilling those burgers to taking a dip in the pool, and also handling other personal business, it sure is super easy to get distracted, and lose focus on taking care of our environment, but, thanks to ACE for saving the day- or the summer- here are tips on staying GREEN this Summer, and making a big difference without losing your cool.

1. Don’t start your Summer without picking up one of these super-cool-totally-awesome solar charging devices. Save green and BE green with a solar device or backpack such as The Lenmar or plug into the sun with the The Solio, so that whether you’re heading to the beach, or going camping, you would be equipped to power up portable devices on solar power- free of charge!

2. It is Summer! Which means for a lot of people, time to hit the grill. This year, why not try something that will contribute positive changes to the environment and also your health? According to Earthsave.org, for every pound of beef NOT consumed, 2,500- 5,000 gallons of water is saved! Crazy, huh? So, for your next cookout, instead of firing up a hamburger, try a better alternative or find recipes at Allrecipes.com. Also, while you’re busy green-grilling, try propane which burns much more cleaner than wood or charcoal briquettes.

3. Sure, it is very hot out there; which means that you and your A.C are probably on very good terms right now. However wonderful that might be, there are better alternatives to keep cool, and be green! For one, during the cool evenings or at night, crack your windows to let fresh air circulate, cool your house, and give you a wonderful experience of Nature’s cool breeze. The best part? It is free! So, you’re conserving energy and also money. For extremely hot and humid days, try using a fan, turning the thermostat up, or switching to Energy Star for heating and cooling efficiency.

4. In the midst of this hot season, taking a cold shower or a dip in the pool sure seems like a bright idea, but try developing a sense of your water use this Summer. Cover your pool when not in use to reduce evaporation; Keep the faucet off when not in use, and also cut your shower time a minute or two, and save up to 50 gallons of water per month. Got a lot of ice left over from that drink? Don’t throw it away or dump it down the sink! Dump it on a plant or on the grass. Cheers! to starting your Summer Wet & Wise.

5. Last and most definitely not the least, stand out this Summer in a collection of different trends and styles of eco-friendly products, which are products that don’t harm the environment. So, next time you hit the grocery store or go shopping, look at products for eco-friendly labels such as Green Seal or  Energy Star.

Check out some more green tips here.