Taking Care of Our Earth
Last year marked 50 years of celebrating Earth Day. Earth Day began in 1970 after Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, decided to organize a national “teach in” to educate people about protecting the environment. Since then, multiple environmental agencies have developed such as the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement Act, and the Endangered Species Act.
There are small things we can do at home that can make a huge impact on the planet. As a parent, I feel it's important to teach my children to care about the environment. It is our children that will inherit the Earth and they need to know their actions can make an impact- positive or negative. Below you will find things you can do as a family to help the environment.
50 Ways We Can Do Our Part At Home
Turn off the faucet -This may be an obvious way to save the planet. However, many of us (me included at times) allow the water to flow just a little longer than needed. It is a little known fact that you can save up to eight gallons of water a day just by shutting off the faucet when brushing your teeth.
Unplug appliances when not in use- Save some money and energy by unplugging appliances after using them. For instance, I unplug the Keurig when I’m done using it. If you plan on vacationing, you may unplug the televisions. Appliances are wasting energy even when they're not turned on!
Wash laundry in cold water -This reminds me of the recent Tide commercial of the family that competes over the best way to wash clothes. In fact, hot water shrinks clothes while cold water can remove many types of stains. Read the clothing label before washing to make sure you are washing at the right temperature.
Hit the “Air Dry” button- I am most certainly guilty of using my dishwasher often as I have 2 busy little boys at home. It's tempting to use the heated dry option but using the air dry option is better for the environment and your wallet.
Shop green -Purchase "green" products that are reusable, sustainably sourced, or made of recycled materials. One of my favorite companies, Seventh Generation has great cleaning products that are safe around children and pets. I found it a few years ago when I was pregnant as I wanted to do away with chemicals. (I’m not getting paid for this endorsement in case you were wondering)
Use a cloth towel instead of a paper towel- Cloth towels last longer than paper towels since they are washed for multiple uses. I clean with microfiber towels at home as I find they clean very well. You can even make your own cloth towels at home. Better Homes and Gardens have a steps to make your own cloth towels if you are interested.
Buy reusable bottles instead of plastic bottles- Plastic items, including plastic bottles, are filling up our landfills. It can take up to 500 years, YES, 500 years, for plastics to decompose. Using reusable bottles will eliminate the amount of plastic that ends up in our landfill.
Recycle your garbage- Before COVID, I was an avid recycler. Our neighborhood stopped picking up our recyclables due to COVID. I'm not a huge environmentalist but I have never been a fan of waste. Recycling allows materials to be used again and eliminates waste. It also saves you money as your trash can will not be as full.
Use cloth instead of disposable makeup removal pads- How many make up removal pads do you go through in a week? You can purchase cloth makeup remover pads or make your own makeup pads.
Turn off lights when not in use- I can hear my dad in my ear, “Turn off the light!” It's super annoying to hear your parents yelling the same thing over and over. Now, I totally get it as a mother of 2. Turning off the lights will save on your electric bill. Our Earth will also love you for it!
Don't idle in your car- The car is releasing emissions every time the car idles. If you're idling in your car for more than 2 minutes, turn off your engine. This way limits the amount of emissions released into the air.
BYO reusable coffee mug to the coffee shop-Bring your reusable coffee mug to your regular coffee shop and ask them to put the coffee in it. Some places such as Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks will provide a discount if you use your own mug.
Collect rainwater and reuse for watering plants or cleaning- the best things in life are free- right? Rainwater is a free source of water that can be used for cleaning or even watering plants. Plus, it's good for the environment.
Reusable batteries- Approximately 720 tons of batteries are used and thrown away in the US each year. This means these batteries are discarded in a landfill somewhere. Purchasing reusable batteries also reduces those late night battery runs.
Fix your leaky faucet or faulty toilet- Faulty toilets and faucets run huge amounts of water. My toilet was running for 5 days and I ended up with a water bill of over $300. I wish I knew this back then.
Walk instead of use your car- walking just a few extra steps is good for your body and the environment. Just imagine how good you will feel when you reach those 10,000 steps!
Use the stairs instead of the elevator- Elevators are run by electricity; as we all know. Using the stairs is a good way to save energy and get fit!
Use paper straws- Plastic straws can only be used time but takes years to decompose in landfills. Using paper straws are eco-friendly and stylish as they have many fashionable designs out there.
Calculate your Carbon Footprint - The first step to solving a problem is understanding how big the problem is. Determining the amount of CO2 you produce through your daily routine is the first step to reducing your carbon footprint.Click here to calculate your carbon footprint. The results may be shocking!
Use energy efficient lightbulb and appliances - Purchasing energy efficient appliances may be costly upfront but will save you a lot in the long run. There is a noticeable difference in your bill when you use LED bulbs and energy efficient appliances.
Find new uses for old things - Find new used for things instead of throwing things away. I love finding new ways to use household items. Many household items can be used for homeschool. Click here to learn more.
Go paperless- Do you have tons of junk mail that immediately heads straight for the trash? Unsubscribe to get rid of junk mail that gets delivered at home. Save trees by receiving bills electronically instead of snail mailed.
Take advantage of buy back programs- Many companies will buy back clothes, cell phones, and even car seats. You will even score a buck or two!
Get a Green Thumb- Plants can help regulate the temperature at home by releasing moisture in the air. This also helps reduce the energy required to heat and cool your home. Plus, they are great to look at!
Bird house- Birds play a critical role in our ecosystems. Making a bird feeder helps provide nutrition to our feathered friends. Bird houses are an easy diy or you can purchase one. Channel your inner bird watcher.
Start a garden- There are many reasons to start your own garden. Growing your own herbs will instill a sense of pride. It will also teach your children about the plant growth cycle.
Shop Local- farmers Market - Support your local small businesses by shopping at your neighborhood farmers market. Shopping local is good for the economy, too!
Use reusable shopping bags- Heres that plastic culprit again. Using reusubale shopping bags is good for the environment as it eliminates the need to discard plastic bags.
Dine at home- Dining at home cuts down on plastic utensils and take-out containers. Plus, it's much healthier!
Meatless Mondays- ditch the meat at least once a week. The U.N. reports that the meat industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It's also estimated that over 1,800 gallons of water are used to produce just a single pound of beef.
Composting- While composting is a little work it reaps a huge reward. Using compost is good for your garden, too. Learn more
Make your own household cleaners- Many store bought household cleaners contain harmful chemicals. Create your own cleaners with vinegar or baking soda.
Hand wash your clothes - Wash your clothes by hand and put on a line to air dry. My son is potty training so I am washing a lot of underwear by hand nowadays. At least I’m saving energy.
Donate to Goodwill- Give your old clothes, toys, and electronics to Goodwill for someone to reuse. It gives the opportunity to help someone out and it's good for the environment.
Hold a garage sale- Garage sales are a good way to get rid of items cluttering your home. Make a quick buck by selling items you no longer need.
Neighborhood swap meet - If garage sales aren't your thing- organize a neighborhood swap meet to barter items with your neighbors. Someone’s trash is another person’s treasure.
Shop consignment or second-hand- Purchasing used items reduces waste from packaging materials.
Neighborhood cleanup - Adopt a highway or clean your neighborhood. Get the kiddos involved by beautifying your environment. Cleaning litter is a valuable lesson that goes a long way.
Plant a tree- Trees affect climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
Go digital- There are many ways to make your voice heard. Sign an online petition encouraging your local government officials to make eco-friendly decisions.
Get out doors- Give the electronics a break. Take the time to go on a walk or hike. You will feel much better if you do. Looking for more nature walk ideas? Project Learning Tree provides 12 Nature Walk activities for earth day
Use rubber or cloth diapers- Using disposable diapers creates lots of waste and costs lots of money. Using rubber or cloth diapers is better for the environment and your pocketbook.
Family game night- Put aside the electronics for a night a week to bond with your family.
Serve up eco- friendly snacks - Make a trail mix of locally sourced fruit and nuts. Your tummy will be happy.
Share on Social Media - Use your influence and let your voice be heard on social media. Educate and share relevant articles and videos with your friends and family. Enlightening others will surely help make a difference.
Use fabric masks instead of disposable masks - Masks are the new normal nowadays. Reduce the amount of disposable masks you throw away by wearing reusable masks. Don’t forget to wash your masks daily!
Telework as much as possible- Wearing pjs to work is awesome. Working in your living room is even better. Reduce the amount of emissions by keeping your car parked. You will also save money on gas.
Print double-sided to save paper- Let’s save some trees. Print using both sides of the paper to eliminate the amount of paper you use.
Open windows instead of using AC.-Get fresh air, save energy and money by getting fresh air. Opening the window airs out the house and circulates fresh air throughout.
Switch to Ebooks - Ebooks are sometimes cheaper than their paperback counterparts. Use your bookshelf for nick nacks instead!
Digitize your to do list- Are you a list maker? Use a different method to retain your notes instead of using pen and paper. Using the notes application on your phone will save trees and eliminate the need to carry a pen.
Write on both sides of paper- My tot loves to draw and OFTEN. I encourage him to use both sides of the paper before going to a brand new sheet. Encourage your children- color/draw on back of their paper. With COVID, schools are now digitally submitting their assignments which is better for the environment.
Use Beeswax wraps for left over storage- Instead of single-use plastics, try wrapping your leftovers in homemade beeswax wraps. This simple DIY project is a great way to use up scraps of cotton fabric without any sewing! Make your own in an afternoon and use them up to 150 times.
Save the world one step at time!
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