You want to be more conscious of helping Mother Earth, but you’re busy with work, school, driving the kids to endless sports and activities, dinners, movies, concerts…I get it. We’re all very busy, day in and day out. So I thought I would give you a few easy ways to to make small changes in your ever-crazy life to help out in the fight to save the planet.
Conserve water. This is a no-brainer, and it’s very easy to change some of your habits. For instance: take a 5 minute shower. This reduces water consumption and will save you money on your water and heating bills. Get extra savings by installing a low-flow showerhead. Turn off the faucet while shaving or brushing your teeth; you will save gallons of water. Wash your clothes in cold water, they will still look good and be just as clean, and you’ll save on heating costs.
Reusable Bags. Nothing makes me crazier than to be at the market and see people loading groceries into endless plastic bags. Plastic bags take thousands of years to break down, and they are filling up landfills from coast to coast. Keep reusable bags in your car and bring them with you everywhere you shop. So many times I’ve heard people say: “I always forget them.” After you take your items out, put the bags by the door so you don’t forget to take them to your car. And take a moment to read this piece on plastic bags.
Say no to bottled water. Bring a reusable, BPA-free cup with you wherever you go. I have a filter on my tap and refill the same cup every morning. Most convenience stores and drive-throughs will refill them for you, and I am guessing your gym or office has water to keep that reusable cup filled without you having to buy water and heap endless plastic into landfills. For more info on bottles and bottled water, click here.
Recycle. It’s not difficult to recycle. Remember: if you can rip it, you can recycle it. Most towns offer pick up, and most offices have bins to collect your bottles, paper, and plastic. If your office does not currently have a recycling program, start one. Get your office workers in the habit of putting scraps of paper and their yogurt cups in the proper bins. Most of my friends have a “funny” story about me going through their trash at parties and recycling items. The thing is, it’s not funny. Well, maybe me digging through garbage is, but it’s for a good cause! Having a party? Let your guests know where to recycle those beer cans. It’s not rocket science, it just takes a little thought: trash or recycle bin. Think about it before you throw something away. And check out these facts about recycling.
Four simple things. You can start right here and right now and make a difference. Let’s have every day be Earth Day.
