Earth Day is a great opportunity to appreciate the planet that provides for us all year long. Sierra Club Green Home has seven simple things you can do for the environment this weekend, and hopefully you will incorporate them into your daily life as well! (Photo by Lorraine Elder, Flickr)
[nggallery id=169 template=carousel images=4][imagebrowser id=169] By Kara A. DiCamillio April 21, 2012
Earth Day is a great opportunity to appreciate the planet that provides for us all year long. Sierra Club Green Home has seven simple things you can do for the environment this weekend, and hopefully you will incorporate them into your daily life as well!
1) Attend a clean-up in your community. This weekend there are clean-ups going on all around the country. A simple Web search can help you find one in your city or town. If by chance you cannot find one, don’t hesitate to pick up that stray piece of trash that might be blowing down the road.
2) Conserve water. We use a good amount of water through simple everyday tasks such as brushing our teeth, taking showers, and washing the dishes. There is also the amount of water used to produce our food and other products. Try to track how much water you use in one day, and look for areas where you can reduce your water footprint.
3) Green your transportation. Do you live in a community where you could walk or ride your bike for some of your commuting and errands? This weekend, try at least once to make use your bike, your feet, or public transit. In fact, you can earn some bucks by skipping driving some days and renting your car out using GetAround or RelayRides.
4) Hang your laundry out to dry. While washing machines and dryers are now being manufactured to conserve energy, they are still to blame for high energy bills. Hanging your laundry on the line as opposed to tossing it in the dryer can conserve a huge amount of energy. Besides, there is nothing like the smell of freshly laundered sheets that have been hanging on the line for the day.
5) Purchase local food. With the warm weather setting in, there are tons of vegetables available at farmers markets around the country. At some farmers markets, you can even find meat, cheese, honey, and just about anything else you need for a delicious, local meal. This weekend, try and support your farmers by purchasing food grown in your area. Even some grocery stores carry local goods, so ask around and see what you can find.
6) Bring your own mug. Are you the person that hits up the local coffee shop each day? Next time, bring your own mug and prevent some waste. If you keep it in the car (or bike basket) along with your reusable bags, you will not have a problem remembering it. Many coffee shops also offer a discount if you bring your own mug.
7) Get outside. What better way to appreciate your surroundings than to get outside? This weekend is the perfect time to start a garden for the summer months. Or maybe take your family hiking, biking, or bird-watching to breathe some fresh air!
For related article, see: Five Tips for Living Local
© 2012 SCGH, LLC.
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