Yes, April 22 is Earth Day, but what we do every day is what really makes a cumulative
difference.
Launched in 1970, Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22.
From New York to New Dehli, Earth Day events are held worldwide to demonstrate support
for our planet and to advocate for environmental action and protection.
Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than
192 countries.
The inspirational lyrics to the Earth Day Anthem below help to convey the spirit of Earth Day:
“Joyful joyful we adore our Earth in all its wonderment
Simple gifts of nature that all join into a paradise
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world.”
Each year, Earth Day events and campaigns help to raise environmental awareness, spur activism,
support green education, the green cities movement and inspire more than a “billion acts of green”
worldwide throughout the year.
By now, most of us are aware of the fact that our environment faces a multitude of critical challenges.
From climate change to species extinction, the earth and its inhabitants are continually facing
man-made threats that must be dealt with now.
Earth Day Network has initiated numerous, targeted campaigns to help us work toward a
sustainable future as well as an Ecological Footprint quiz to help us assess and reduce our individual
footprint by taking the right steps to make a difference.
According to Earth Day Network:
“Humans are consuming natural resources at an alarming rate.
For the past couple of decades we have consumed more resources
annually than the Earth can replenish.
Today humans consume the equivalent of 1.5 planets’ worth of resources
every year and, unless something changes, we are expected to
consume 2 planets’ worth of resources by 2050!
If we don’t act now to reduce this unsustainable behavior,
we will cripple the planet and threaten the
living conditions of future generations.”
Did you know that:
*Nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions in the US come from the energy we use to power our
homes and our cars.
*Billions of kilowatt hours of electricity in homes are wasted by appliances that aren’t on but are still
consuming energy each year.
*The average water heater wastes energy heating water to temperatures that are too hot for human use
*Every year, thousands of old electronic devices are thrown into landfills, polluting the environment,
when they can be recycled.
*Automobiles are one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the world.
*The meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Many of us want to know how to get started–which basic steps we can take to live greener, healthier,
save energy, reduce carbon emissions, conserve resources, protect the planet and also save money.
So let’s keep it simple.
Let’s start where we live.
Here are 21 easy-to-implement steps to help you live greener–and also save some green–
on a daily basis.
#1. Reduce Water Usage
Reduce your water usage – and your water bill.
Time your showers.
Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes.
Install aerators on your faucets and, if your budget permits, low-flow shower heads and toilets.
If possible, set up a rain barrel to have free water available for plants and other non-drinking
applications.
#2. Watch How You Wash
When you wash dishes, don’t leave the water running while you scrub the dishes.
Put dirty dishes into a sink or dishpan full of soapy water, scrub them, then dip them into a sink
or tub of rinse water.
If you are concerned about germs, boil a couple of cups of water in the microwave and pour
the hot water over the rinsed dishes to sterilize them (the hot dishes will dry faster too).
#3. Flush Less Often
Don’t flush the toilet after every visit.
Liquid waste does not have to be flushed away each time.
Every flush uses about 1.6 gallons of water.
So each time you refrain from flushing, you’re saving 1.6 gallons.
That can add up over the course of the month.
#4. Choose Organic
Organic food is preferable to conventionally-grown food.
Organic food is grown in a sustainable manner, making it a much greener choice.
#5. Buy Seasonal, Local Food
Local food means the food travels fewer miles to get to your plate or store.
Fewer miles mean fewer emissions and less fossil fuel.
This is eco-friendly because it reduces “food miles,” thus saving fuel.
It saves you money because seasonal, local produce takes less effort to grow and to transport.
(You have to pay for a lot of extra energy if you’re buying hot-house tomatoes in the middle
of January.)
So, eat local food whenever you can.
#6. Support Local Businesses
Once again, imported items use a lot of fuel.
Try to buy whatever you can from local producers, craftspeople, and so forth.
#7. Combine Shopping Trips
This will save fuel – you buy less of it, and fewer emissions go into the atmosphere.
#8. Use Less Packaging
Excessive packaging makes food more expensive and generates lots of waste.
Save yourself some money and increase your health by eating whole, fresh foods instead.
You can buy nuts, grains, beans and seeds from bulk bins.
Say no to plastic shopping bags and food storage bags.
Carry your own cloth produce bags and shopping totes.
#9. Streamline your Recycling
Most of us recycle, but you may not be recycling everything you could be.
Effective recycling goes beyond just glass, plastic, paper and metal.
For example, don’t toss out old electronics.
See if they can be donated, refurbished, or recycled. Old appliances can be donated to a
second-hand store.
#10. Reuse. Reuse. Reuse.
This is such a basic principle but it saves so much money and prevents so much waste.
Learn to make tote bags, scarves, blankets, pillow shams, and other basic items out of used
or torn clothing.
You can even cut up old t-shirts for rags, thus reducing your use of paper towels.
#11. Use LEDs or CFLs
Use LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs.
These really do cut down on your energy use. Don’t forget outdoor lighting.
Use energy-efficient floodlights if you have them, and use solar lights for your steps
and driveway.
#12. Turn Them Off
Turn lights off when you leave a room.
Turn off appliances when you aren’t using them.
Conserving electricity definitely saves you money.
And when you use less of it, that means less fossil fuel is used to produce it.
#13. Unplug
Unplug appliances and electronics so that they do not charge up all the time.
This includes laptop and cell phone adaptors.
#14. Recharge
Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
Turn lights off when you leave a room.
#15. Be Efficient
Augment your household heat with space heaters and other energy-efficient heating.
#16. Get with the Program
Install a programmable thermostat.
It is much more precise regarding temperature setting, and you don’t have to worry
about forgetting to turn the heating down when you leave the house or go to bed.
#17. Go with the Glow
Install curtains and blinds that you can open to let the sunshine in on cold, sunny days.
Then close them at night to keep cold air out.
#18. Insulate
Insulate your home and use weather stripping on your doors and windows.
#19. Minimize A/C
Use fans and open windows instead of air conditioning
#20. Drive Less
Walk, bike or use public transportation as often as possible.
It’s better for your health and for the environment.
20. Carpool or take public transport to work or school whenever you can.
You can even carpool with your neighbors or family for errand running.
#21. Maintain your Vehicle
It gets expensive to drive a poorly-maintained car; it uses more oil and gas.
Spending a little to keep it in top shape is better for the environment and will save you
money in the long run.
Make sure your tires are inflated according to your car manufacturer’s instructions, too.
This extends the life of your tires and increases the fuel efficiency of your car.
Of course, these are just a few relatively easy ways to live greener and save green as well.
One of the best things about being eco-friendly and saving money is that the two principles
go hand-in-hand.
Make a commitment to integrate these and other green living tips into your lifestyle and
you’ll benefit by living like it’s #Earth Day everyday–not just once a year!
More Green Living Tips
Want more green living ideas you can use?
Check out these posts for lots more green living tips:
*5 Easy Ways to Start Living a Little Greener
*A New Year, A New You: 25 Green Resolutions for the New Year, Pt 1
*A New Year, A New You: 25 Green Resolutions for the New Year, Pt 2
*Food for Thought: 26 Eco friendly Ways to Reduce Your Home Food Waste”
*Global Warming, Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: 8 YouTube Videos You
*Climate Change 2104: Impacts, Adaptation, Vulnerability: Findings from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control (IPCC) Report
*I Want to be Recycled Campaign Inspires Us to Recycle
*Recycle File: 5 Furnishings You Can Make from Recycled Wood
*5 Great Reasons to Get Out of That Car and Onto a Bike
*Get More Green Bang for Your Buck: Big Green Purse One in a Million Campaign
*8 Great Ways To Make Your Kitchen Greener
What green steps will you take in your world this week?
How will you honor the spirit of Earth Day in your life?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
“PIN & SHARE”
“Shared on Homestead Blog Hop #286”
“Shared on Mostly Homemade Mondays”
All great tips for loving Mother Earth! Thank you for this great list especially #20. I stopped driving years ago! Earth Day got me motivated me to start a garden!
Thanks for sharing on Mostly Homemade Mondays! I hope you join us again next week 🙂
Kelli @ The Sustainable Couple
Great list! If we just use/buy less, we make less of an impact. It’s that simple!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your thoughts regarding this post. I just visited your blog and I thoroughly enjoyed your blog post: “My Visit to the Naturopath and Why You Need to Go, Too”. I am very holistic in my approach to health and I practice a preventive lifestyle, but I have never been to a naturopath. Your post was very informative and I tweeted your helpful article. I just have to find a good one in my city. How did you choose your naturopath? By the way, I subscribed to your blog and followed you on social media to stay in touch. All the best, Deborah
Great list to save the earth one step at a time – Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board
Great tips! Combining trips so we use less gas/diesel, and minimizing the use of air conditioning are two big easy we go green – or at least save quite a bit of money. 🙂
Thanks for sharing with Waste Not Want Not Wednesday!