Earth Day

Lights Out

When you leave a room, turn off the lights. You can also switch to energy-saving light bulbs. They use up to 90 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than standard light bulbs.

Unplug

Unplug appliances when they aren’t being used as they still draw power even when turned off. Around 10 percent of your energy bill comes from appliances that are turned off but still plugged in.

Shop Local

Support small businesses and shop locally. Local products don’t have to travel as far, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also supports your local community, and often the quality is better.

Embrace the Cold

Wash your laundry in cold water whenever possible. Nearly 90 percent of household energy usage comes from heating water. This will save you money and most fabric lasts longer when washed in cold water.

Get a Pet Plant

Adding plants to your home not only makes it look and smell great, but it will cut down on your energy bill. Plants placed around your home can reduce the energy required to heat or cool.

Conserve Water

Take shorter showers and turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving. A running tap uses 2 to 5 gallons of water a minute. Water conservation means less is coming out of our freshwater resources.

Skip the Elevator

Take the stairs instead of the elevator. It will get your heart pumping, and you can skip the monotonous elevator music.

Get Outside

Celebrate Earth Day by getting outside and exploring it. We are fortunate to live in a country with so many natural wonders right in our backyard.

Compost

Compost all food waste. Anything that can be eaten can be composted. There are compost containers that keep pests out if that’s a concern.

Plant a Garden

If you have a bit of a yard, consider starting a garden. If you have a patio, you can hang some flower baskets. It helps out our pollinators like bees, insects and butterflies, who are becoming endangered due to pesticide use.

Smart Tech

Switching over to smart technology in your home saves you money and cuts down your energy consumption. Forget to turn your lights or air conditioning off? You can do it right from your phone with smart tech. It can also keep track of your energy use, showing what areas could be improved.

Go Green

Try switching to eco-friendly toilet paper, soaps and cleaners. Use reusable containers and bee’s wax wraps for food storage. Instead of using a paper towel to dry your hands, stock up on reusable cloth you can throw in the wash.

Recycle

Recycling keeps getting better and better each year, with more products now being accepted at collection depots. You can recycle plastic bags, foam packaging, batteries, electronics, foil wrappers and even the thin plastic packaging that some items come wrapped in.

Learn

Educate yourself and others on environmental issues like land conservation, water pollution, ocean cleanup, waste management and renewable resources. Knowing what’s going on in the world makes you more aware of how your impact affects it. Share what you learn with others to keep the conversation going.

Repurpose

Instead of recycling or throwing out used items and packaging, can you repurpose them? You can turn old clothing into new clothing or quilts; it also makes an excellent rag for washing cars. Glass beverage containers are perfect for vases or salad dressing containers!

How to Support Earth Day (Every Day)