Earth Day is a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment.
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Earth Day is an Annual Event
Celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
The event was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network,[1] and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.[2]
Simple, every day things can be important in caring for our planet.
Also, “going green” really isn’t all that hard.
The best thing about practicing green alternatives in my home is that nine times out of ten, they are the more frugal option. And who doesn’t enjoy saving money?
There are so many little things we can do in our homes to play a small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape.
But we double our efforts when we get our kids involved. When our kids get it, it’ll become second nature to them when they’re adults and they will pass it down to their children.
Here are some simple ways to Go Green. Choose 3 that you aren’t already doing and help make a difference.
* Recycle — all the cool kids are doing it these days! Not sure what is recyclable? Check out this recycle chart.
* Stop throwing away your dryer lint! Put it in the backyard for the birds — they use it to feather their nests.
* Buy a new houseplant. For a greener home, read 10 Eco-friendly ways to green your home and family.
* Don’t heat an empty house! During the winter, turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees F when you’re home and 55 degrees F at night and while you’re away.
* Get a clothesline or rack to dry your clothes by the air. So your wardrobe will maintain color and fit, and you’ll save money. The favorite t-shirt will last longer too.
* The computer may go to sleep, but it’s still sucking up energy. Turn your computer off at the end of the day.
* Clean your refrigerator coils — vacuum out the dust and wipe with a damp cloth. You’ll be surprised at how much nasty stuff accumulates down there!
* Look into carpooling. Need convincing? Read why your green commute will save you money.
* Taking a road trip? Rent a hybrid car. Here are a few more eco-friendly travel tips.
* Take the stairs instead of the elevator (great for the environment and your health).
* Pay your bills online (and opt for paperless billing) to reduce paper usage and postage costs.
* Switch to a manual can opener. It’s really not that complicated!
* Wear an extra sweater or use a blanket before you resort to turning on (or up) the heat.
* Use compact fluorescent, LED or halogen bulbs instead of conventional incandescents.
* Join Freecycle to find items you need or get rid of items you don’t. Here are few things you can do with your old clothing and linens.
* If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange!
* Each year the U.S. uses 84 billion plastic bags, a significant portion of the 500 billion used worldwide. They are not biodegradable, and are making their way into our oceans, and subsequently, the food chain. Stronger, reusable bags are an inexpensive and readily available option.
* By the time a child is toilet trained, a parent will change between 5,000 and 8,000 diapers, adding up to approximately 3.5 million tons of waste in U.S. landfills each year. Whether you choose cloth or a more environmentally-friendly disposable, you’re making a choice that has a much gentler impact on our planet.
Reuse Gift Bags, Bows and Event Paper
Make something unique by using old maps, cloth or even newspaper. Flip a paper grocery bag inside out and give your child stamps or markers to create their own wrapping paper that’s environmentally friendly and extra special for the recipient.
* You’ve heard this one before, but maybe you still do it. You’ll conserve up to five gallons per day if you stop. Daily savings in the U.S. alone could add up to 1.5 billion gallons–more water than folks use in the Big Apple.
There are SO many more things we can do to help preserve the environment. These are just a few. What do YOU do to be eco-friendly ?
Related reading; A different Way of Buying Children’s Clothes, Easy Ways to Compost and keep your Trash out of Landfills, What Toilet Paper Should I Use with a Septic System? and 12 Resolutions to Make Anytime.
I live in a small rural community & the litter is dreadful. I’m going to try to organize a community clean up for earth day. not sure how to go about it, but I guess I’ll figure that out as I go!!!!
That’s an awesome thing to do for Earth day, Paula !! You can Google how to go about getting started, but here’s a link to start :
http://www.happynews.com/living/cleaningtips/organizing-community-cleanup.htm
Very good article. Our family has been working on going green. You are so right when you say it can even save you money. Keep up the good work