Earth Day Is More Than A Single Action - Work Smart. Live Smart.

Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22. I am very glad that the snow is gone and that my flowers are trying hard to poke their heads up to the sun. Several years ago we celebrated Earth Day while we were on vacation. My boys were looking forward to the release of the movie ‘Earth’, while we were at Disney. It inspired them to do our annual clean up of the roadside where we live. They learned that each of us can do a little and we can all have an impact.

Instead of Beverly’s Hot Tips this week, I am going to share some Earth Day tips from the EarthDay.ca site that my family and I are trying to do.

Earth Day Canada’s Top 10 Actions Celebrating Every Day:

1. Smart shopping

X Buy what you need, not what you want
X Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed
Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores
X Instead of single-use, disposable items, look for “green” products that are reusable
X Go paperless for bank statements and bills
Use reusable shopping bags

2. Simple savers

X Replace light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs
X Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
X Weatherstrip windows and doors
Unplug appliances and lamps when not in use
Shut down and unplug computers and electronic devices at night
X Replace your regular single use plastic bottles with some of plastic, glass, and stainless steel reusable water bottles
X Turn off your lights when you leave the room

3. Transportation alternatives

Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
X When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
Consider car sharing programs or renting
Take the stairs instead of the elevator

4. Food choices

X Choose local and organic foods that are in season and support local food producers
Eat less meat (sorry folks, I grew up on a dairy farm)
Replace your plastic straws with resuable ones
Cook more at home and eat out less
Compost food waste

5. Washing and drying

X Wash full loads of clothes
X Use cold water to wash clothes
Hang clothes to air dry
X Uses the air-dry cycle on your dishwasher

6. Heating and cooling

X Set your air conditioner to 24°C or 25°C ( or better yet, no air conditioning)
X For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C
X Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats
X Add plants to your home

7. Close to home

Vacation locally
X Work as close to home as possible

8. Bathroom basics

X Take short showers instead of baths
X Close water taps while brushing your teeth

9. Careful cleaning

X Choose more natural, non-toxic cleaning products
X Use a Cloth Towel Instead of a Paper Towel
Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

10. Don’t discard

X Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
X Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers
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Taking Action

Earth Day isn’t just about planting a tree or a single action you can do to support a healthier environment. Instead, Earth Day is seen as a day to renew a personal commitment to support a healthier environment. Though my family and I have a long way to go, every little bit helps as we move to live more responsibly with the environment.

If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!