Earth Day 2009

Happy Earth Day Everyone!
I feel weird celebrating Earth day on one particular day! Shouldn't we be celebrating Earth Day 365 days per year. We only have one planet and while it may be here for our stay we have to look for ways to extend its life for our future families.

Here are a few "Green" tips

*Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

*Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.

*Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

*Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.

*Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

*Install a low-flow shower head. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.

*Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

*Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

*If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

*Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can.

*Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

*Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

*Skip the bottled water.

*Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

*Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

*Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

*When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.

*Borrow instead of buying.

*Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

*Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

*Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

*Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

*Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

*Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.

*Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and is a growing environmental problem.

*Recycle your cell phone.

*Make your own cleaning supplies.
The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.

(Tips taken from www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green)

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Now I'm not telling you all to go out and rearrange your whole life style to abide by each and every one of the tips above. If we all just took one of the tips and lived by it each and every day we would make a difference. All it takes is just a little consideration and respect for our Earth.