Let's Celebrate Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day, as many of you already know. So, what are you planning on doing today to show your appreciation towards our Mother Earth?

There are tons of different things you could do to celebrate the Earth. Here are just a few of them.
Recycling: If you don't recycle, you could start today!
Composting: Ever thought about trying it? I know Amy has done this for quite a while, and I'm sure she knows more about it then me.
Reducing Water Usage: Try taking shorter showers, or start taking baths for that matter. After a long stressful day, a nice warm bath is very relaxing!
Reusing: Even if you can't think of ways to reuse everyday things, I'm sure someone out there can. Freecycle is a prime example of this. I save my toilet paper and paper towel rolls and give them away on Freecycle. You'd be surprised how many teachers and parents love to use them for craft activities.
Carpooling: If you work a full time job, I'm sure the gas prices are taking a toll on your paycheck each week. Have you ever thought about carpooling with some co-workers? This is a great way to save money and help the environment.
Saving Energy: There are numerous ways to save energy at home. One of the easiest ways is to swap out your old incandescent light bulbs for more energy efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. It's proven that if you swap out just 15 of your old light bulbs for CFL bulbs, you can reduce lighting energy in your home by 50%-75%. Always remember to turn off lights, fans, radios, computers, and televisions when your leaving the house. And don't forget to unplug that cell phone charger when your not using it. That alone could save you hundreds a year. I normally get home from work around 5:45-6:00pm and I open all of my curtains, so I don't have to use my lights until around 8:30pm (just recently, since it's staying lighter out longer). I know this has saved me money because I've seen the difference in my bills. I also try to only use my ceiling fans, unless it's unbearably hot in the house.

So, what is your plan today? How are you going to start helping the environment?

My son Luke received a pack of seeds in his Danonino yogurt package last week. I asked him this morning if he wanted to help me plant the seeds when we get home this evening and he was very excited! This is my small (yet impacting) contribution to Mother Earth today! Of course I'll continue to use my reusable snack bags, cloth diapers, and recycle, but this is my way of introducing my son to greener living!

If you're interested in finding out what kind of impact you are making on the planet, go to the official Earth Day website and take the quiz on how many planets it takes to support your lifestyle! It may just be the eye opener you need to start making some changes in your natural life.

Posted in: Living Green,Saving Money,Thrifty