Easy Ways to Go Green This Earth Day
Today marks the 51st Earth Day which began April 22, 1970 as a way to bring environmental awareness to the masses. The idea started with Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who was concerned about the deteriorating environment. He came up with the idea to hold a teach-in on college campuses and enlisted Pete McCloskey, a Republican Congressman to help. The co-chairs brought in Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the nationwide event. A total of 20 million American’s joined the demonstrations with thousands of colleges and communities participating. That first event led to the creation of the EPA and NOAA and several landmark acts like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
I’m sure this Earth Day kids all across the nation are spending the day learning about the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) and drawing pictures of what Earth Day means to them. I recall a large poster I made with markers in about 3rd grade that featured a big green and blue earth, that if I drew it today would need some brown in it as well from all the drought ridden land resulting from climate change. As a kid I had little control over my actions, but as an adult there are many ways I can help contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly planet. To honor Earth Day today, consider making just three changes from the lists below.
Upcycle your Wardrobe
According to the EPA, “the main source of textiles in municipal solid waste (MSW) is discarded clothing, although other smaller sources include furniture, carpets, tires, footwear, and other nondurable goods such as sheets and towels.” In 2017, 11.2 million tons of textiles ended in the landfill or 8% of all waste. Some ways to reduce your impact:
Buy second hand clothing from a local thrift shop or online thrift store
Swap clothes with a friend or relative to keep your wardrobe fresh
Buy from sustainable brands for your new clothing and shoe purchases
Air dry your laundry to reduce each loads carbon impact by 75%
Find ways to reuse single wear items like your bridesmaid dress
Mend your clothing
Donate unwanted items instead of tossing them
Convert worn out items like t-shirts into dust rags
Clean Up Your Kitchen
Your kitchen can sneakily produce some serious waste. Waste ends up in landfills that take up valuable real estate and give off a toxic mix of methane and carbon dioxide. Start with some easy swaps, then make a commitment to go bigger.
Replace disposable cups with a durable reusable cups
Carry a silicon or metal straw with you to avoid disposable straws when eating out
Bring your own coffee or if stopping for coffee bring your own reusable mug
Use cloth napkins instead of paper
Purchase compostable trash bags
Start a home compost bin or sign up for a local service
Replace foil and parchment paper with a baking mat
Bring cotton produce bags to the store (whenever COVID ends and we can do so again)
Purchase dishwashing pods with compostable packaging or powder detergent in a carboard box
Buy or make your own beeswax food wraps to replace plastic wrap
Purchase silicone bags to replace your single use plastic bags
Buy a water filter/pitcher instead of bottled water
Use silicone muffin pans instead of paper liners
Wash dishes with a rag or purchase a compostable or eco-friendly sponge
Green Your Commute
Another big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions are vehicles. While not everyone can give up their cars for one reason or another, there are ways to reduce your impact in small ways.
If you have good public transportation service, try taking the bus
Get some exercise in by walking or biking to work
Need to upgrade? Look into buying an electric or hybrid vehicle
Commit to walking to any destination within a mile of your home (this is a great rule to keep me from getting Zestos ice cream all the time)
Lower Your Electric Load
Energy consumption is an easy target to lower you impact on the planet. Changing a few habits or buying tools to do the heavy lifting for you is an easy first step.
Buy a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature when you are away or sleeping
Swap out your energy hog light bulbs for more efficient LED’s as they go out
Unplug appliances like your toaster when not using them
Plug multiple devises into an energy strip to make it easy to turn on and off
Turn off lights as you leave a room
Rely on natural daylight instead of always turning on lights
Save the Clock Tower!
The greenest building is the one that is already standing. As the primary leader in CO2 emission, the buildings we inhabit have a massive impact on the planet. Building new energy efficient and LEED certified buildings is not going to greatly impact our emissions, we need to also ramp up our preservation efforts. Ways you can help include:
Supporting your local preservation organization
Speaking in favor of building reuse and against demolition at public meetings
Keeping up on routine maintenance at your own home to ensure it lives on well into the future
