that’s what today is; Earth Day. Here’s 22 good ways to celebrate April 22nd:
- shut off that water when you are brushing your teeth
- walk or bike to a friend’s house or local store (rather than drive)
- schedule errands with friends so you can carpool and have fun completing your errands together
- take a hike
- bring your own bags with you when you shop – get rid of that plastic
- switch out your light bulbs to energy-saving ones (and when it’s time to throw away the energy-saving bulbs, dispose of them properly; they contain mercury)
- plant a tree
- cover that pot you’re trying to get to boil – it’ll boil sooner and with less wasted energy
- going out with friends? carpool
- recycle those empty bottles from the Earth Day party (or do some creative recycling – use them as garden waterers or mini greenhouses)
- thinking about going out to eat? go to a local restaurant rather than a chain, particularly if that local restaurant buys local
- shut off lights and appliances you aren’t using
- you know those cell phone chargers? and the computer chord? and the printer chord? and the MP3 player charger? if they are plugged in, they are using energy, even if they aren’t actively sending power to something. put them on a surge protector strip and turn that strip off when you aren’t using those items
- consider investing some time or money in a local organization that helps with animals or conservation
- after you’ve shredded those personal documents, recycle them
- compost your food waste and start a garden
- when you are done with that milk jug, fill it with water and put it in your toilet tank – you’ll reduce the amount of water you use when you flush
- consider buying some of your clothes second-hand
- when it’s affordable, consider buying food and clothing that is fairly traded or made in America
- turn off the TV and play a board game or work on a project you’ve been putting off
- google your area to find some local farmers’ markets, then go to one to get some great, fresh produce. or you could even consider supporting a local farm by joining their co-op and getting fresh produce every week
- check out websites like coolpeoplecare.org, care2.com and pennenvironment.org (thanks for the correction, Mr. Garber!) (or your State’s version of it) for more ways to get involved in preserving our resources
added by others:
- Turn off the shower when shampooing or shaving (from: e)
- hang clothes out to dry rather than run them through the dryer (from: e)
