Make a Difference This Earth Day
In 2010, Earth Day celebrated its 40th birthday. Originally the brainchild of United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day began as an environmental teach-in but has since grown into a global day meant to inspire awareness and appreciation of the environment.
This year, Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22. Because it’s right in the heart of the spring season, when many people feel rejuvenated after a long winter, Earth Day is the ideal time for men, women and children to take that extra energy they have in the spring and channel it into eco-friendly behaviors that benefit the environment. To do just that this Earth Day, consider the following tips.
Take a walk! Or a jog or a bike ride. Men and women can help reduce air pollution by walking, jogging or riding a bike to get from place to place. While this might not be doable across the board, particularly for men and women with long commutes, when running errands around town on the weekends dust off your bicycle instead of gassing up the car. If you’re taking kids to the park on the weekend, walk or bike to the park. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors and benefit the environment at the same time.
Plant a tree. Spring is a time of year when many homeowners get back to working on their yards. When cultivating your green thumb this spring, plant a tree or several trees around the yard. Also, when working outdoors, lessen your reliance on pesticides. It might be difficult to eliminate pesticide use entirely, but whenever possible look for more natural, eco-friendly alternatives to keep your lawn looking lush.
Turn off the lights! Daylight Savings Time now starts earlier than it did in years past. The reason for that is to reduce energy use, which only works when people actually reduce their daily energy usage. If it’s still light outside, turn the lights off inside and enjoy a warm spring evening outdoors.
Go paperless. Many banks and credit card companies now encourage consumers to go paperless with their statements as a means to becoming more eco-friendly. Some banks even offer incentives to choose online statements over traditional paper statements. When possible, reduce waste by going paperless with bank and credit card statements.
Use eco-friendly cleaning products. Many household cleaning products pose a threat to the environment by leaking harmful toxins into the air. When spring cleaning this year, choose non-toxic eco-friendly cleaning products that help reduce both air and water pollution. TF114592