Earth Day - April 22nd

April 22nd I have my surgery, but its also Earth Day. I figured I would use this blog to ask what changes will you make?

Simple things anyone can do to save money and the environment!

1) Use reusable grocery bags instead of plastic bags. The raw material of plastic bags is oil. Therefore, the more we use plastic bags, the more we waste oil - a non-renewable energy source. The petroleum-based plastic bags take decades to break down.
The Air Force base grocery store sells reusable bags for 50 cents. These bags are great, very sturdy and holds quite a bit. If anyone wants me to mail they some just let me know!

2) Install energy saving devices. When incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with longer-lasting, low-energy compact fluorescent bulbs. Wash clothes in cold water. Install low-flow shower heads and take shorter showers to save water and the energy used to heat it. About 42 percent of your household energy costs go toward just two things - heating and cooling. Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can translate to substantial savings on your utility bills.

3) Skip the bottled water. Filter your tap water for drinking rather than using bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of waste. Check out this recent update and life cycle analysis for the latest on bottled water trends.

4) Use your local library and other public amenities.
Borrowing from libraries, instead of buying personal books and movies, saves money and printing resources.

5) End the Junk Mail. Save trees and the energy used in paper production by taking your name off mailing lists. Register for online delivery where possible. Register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service and your address will be removed from advertising mailing lists for three years. And go to Catalogchoice.org to cancel catalogs you no longer wish to receive.

6) Buy local Produce. Shop at your local farmer's market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on a higher quality product—and the entire purchase price goes directly to the farmer. On the average, produce grown in the U.S. travels 1500 miles to reach grocery store shelves. Save on fuel by buying from local farmers.

7) Plant Trees. Planting trees helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean pollution, secure soil in place to prevent erosion, and provide shade for homes. The weather is perfect out right now to be playing in your garden.

Remember: Every day is Earth Day! Anything to help our environment is a perfect thing to do on Earth Day and every day. Don't restrict yourself to just one day a year; learn about how you can make a difference to environmental protection all the time. And put it into practice - every day!