Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Make EARTH DAY Significant!

Tomorrow is Earth Day... and you probably have a handful of options in your community for what you can do on this Earth Day. I am sure each of them will be beneficial to the planet and to yourself.

Most environmental organizations or activists will tell you that “every little thing counts” in order to try to get you to make enough little changes that they add up to something big. Earth Day is an especially popular time for such a motto. On Earth Day, enough people are looking to make some small effort to help the environment that it really CAN add up to something big.

The question you should ask yourself on Earth Day is:  Will I do something so spectacular on Earth Day that I can consider myself an environmentally caring person for the whole rest of the year?

The truth is, what you do on the other 364 is much more powerful than what you do on Earth Day.

If you really want to be an environmentally caring person, Earth Day should be sort of like New Year’s Day. Approaching it, you can take a good look at where your life is, you can set goals or resolutions for what you are going to change, and you can start living your life in a new "green" way on that day.

Habits are the drivers of many of our environmental problems. It takes about 30 days to change a habit... and you have to start somewhere. Here are some habits that you could change starting on Earth Day in order to make a spectacular difference for others, yourself, and the planet as a whole.

10 ACTIONS to Reduce your Impact on the Environment

1.  Smart Shopping
  • “Buy what you need, not what you want”
  • Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed
  • Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores
2.  Simple Savers
  • Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact uorescent bulbs
  • Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
  • Weatherstrip windows and doors
3.  Transportation Alternatives
  • Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
  • When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
  • Consider car sharing programs or renting
4.  Food Choices
  • Choose local and organic foods that are in season, and support local food producers
  • Eat less meat
5.  Washing and Drying
  • Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry
6.  Heating and cooling
  • For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 75°F to 77°F
  • For winter heating, set your thermostat to 66°F or 68°F
  • Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats
7.  Close to Home
  • Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible
8.  Bathroom Basics
  • Take short showers instead of baths
  • Close water taps while brushing your teeth
9.  Careful Cleaning
  • Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products
  • Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water (Click Here  for formulas to make your own cleaning products!)
10.  Do Not Discard
  • Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
  • Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers
Remember, every day is Earth Day. Find a way to make it so in your life.

"Live simply, that others may simply live"
Ghandi

:: Any other suggestions? Leave a comment to let me know! And definitely share this with your friends — social change happens when people share with and encourage others.

Sources :: greenlivingideas.com and ecoactionteams.ca

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