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On April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day! While every day is an opportunity to be kind to our planet, this day serves as an extra reminder to be mindful in our day-to-day lives. The best way to celebrate and protect our planet is by adopting more “green” habits. So in celebration of Earth Day, here are 7 ways to get started.
Find car-free alternatives to get around.
By using transportation other than your car, you can reduce your carbon footprint. Fewer cars on the road leads to less carbon emissions polluting our air and contributing to global warming. Riding your bike or walking to your destination are great ways to stay active while also saving the planet. If these aren’t an option, carpooling or taking public transportation are other great alternatives.
Clean up plastic in your neighborhood.
This is one of the best ways to spread awareness about Earth Day to others in your community. Go on a walk with a trash bag and pick up any plastic you find. If there’s a specific area in your community that is typically polluted with trash, give it a spring cleaning! Make sure to recycle all the plastic you find.
Upgrade your household products.
Many household products found in stores are riddled with chemicals and ingredients that are harmful to the environment. When searching for new products, look for terms like “safe,” “non-toxic” and “biodegradable ingredients.” Not only do these types of products do a great job of cleaning your home, but you’ll be doing your part in using cleaners that help fight climate change and ozone depletion. Plus, using these types of products are better for you and your family to breathe in over toxic chemicals!
Conserve water.
It’s so easy to overuse water in your home. Water use contributes to energy use, water shortages, preserving our environment and more. Instead of hand-washing your dishes, use the dishwasher. Dishwashers are designed to be more efficient and can save over 100 gallons of water a week over hand-washing. Taking shorter showers is another easy way to conserve water use and will help save you some time as well. When doing laundry, make sure to only run full loads to get the most out of your water and keep it on a cold setting to save some energy.
Buy smarter.
Buy produce from a local farmer’s market, like the Dane County Farmers' Market or the Southside Farmers' Market. When you buy locally, your food is transported shorter distances, helping to reduce pollution through shipping. If you want a new outfit, you can also purchase second-hand items or host a clothing swap with friends to give old items a fresh, new life and reduce clothing waste.
Invest in reusable items.
Americans use about 100 billion plastic bags a year, and producing these requires about 12 million barrels of oil. These bags take up space in landfills and can be harmful to marine wildlife. Instead, buy reusable bags to use when going to the grocery store. Additionally, dining items like straws, forks, spoons, knives and water bottles can be reused to reduce waste and landfill space.
Enjoy the great outdoors!
Earth Day is an invitation to admire how beautiful our planet is. Spend the afternoon outside reading, having lunch, or doing some yoga. If you live somewhere where it’s hard to find much outdoor space, try going for a walk when the streets are quieter or open your window and take in a few deep breaths of fresh air.
These habits are easy to incorporate into your lifestyle and will greatly benefit the planet. Which are you going to try first?