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Some of you know this about me already, but I’m a total nut about the environment. As part of my status as an official total nut, I’d like to invite you all to help me celebrate Earth Day today.
The way I see it, here’s the problem with the whole environmental movement/climate change … okay, one of the problems, a really tiny one at that. So here’s the teeny-tiny problem: it just seems overwhelming. Even those of us who want to do something positive for the planet can panic at the prospect of deforestation in the amazon and heavy metal run-off in the pacific. Those are problems that need big solutions. And they’re things completely beyond my control. And unless you’re reading this post on your iPhone while changed to a strangler fig somewhere in Brazil, it’s probably beyond your control too.
But here’s the good news. You and I personally may not be able to fix the big problems, but if we all work together, we can sure make a dent on some of the smaller ones. 
Did you know that if each of us replaces just one normal light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, in a year we’d save enough energy to light 3 million homes? Did you if we all bought just one pack of toilet paper made with recycled paper we could save 1.3 billion galleons of water?
So here’s my earth day list of other simple things you can do to make a difference:
Bring reusable tots to the store instead of using plastic bags –The right reusable tot is actually easier to use than those plastic bags! They don’t rip. They hold more. You can buy ones that are insulated and keep your ice cream cold all the way home, even if you live in the boondocks, like I do. Best of all, you don’t have to store those plastics bags to recycle!
Check the air on your tires — If your tires are properly inflated, you get better gas mileage and your tires last longer. Save gas. Save money. Save the environment. Everybody wins.
Recycle your old batteries — Yes, using rechargeable batteries is even better, but everybody’s got at least a few of the old ones floating around in those flash lights we never use or that walkman from 1994. So why not designate a corner of the junk drawer just for old batteries. Then, once or twice a year you can drop the old ones by Radio Shack to be recycled (it’s free!). ‘Cause we don’t need those nasty chemicals filtering into water table via the landfill.
So those are my three tips for easy things you can do for the environment. Do you have any tips to share? Everyone who comments will be entered into a drawing for my super-cool Earth Day prize that includes: one compact flourescent light bulb, a Wrap-n-Mat reusable sandwich mat, and a set of reusable shopping bags from the Flylady (pictured above). And since this is a reader blog, I’ll throw in one of the books from my backlist–your choice!
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Apr 22nd
2009
5:26 am
Fran Said:
I know that the heating season is almost over, but for those who live in colder parts of the earth (like me) – please set your heaters to the lower temperatures, 21°C is enough. This will help enormously (I don’t have the exact numbers) to reduce greenhouse effect. And recycle, recycle and recycle…
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Apr 22nd
2009
6:36 am
EmilyMcKay Said:
Fran, you’re so right about the heater! And for those of us in warmer climates, it’s still true. Set your air conditioner a degree or two warming and you can make a big difference. And if you’ve got a programable thermostat, be sure and use it!
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Apr 22nd
2009
7:37 am
Katherine Garbera Said:
I don’t have any tips. We recycle like mad in our house and are starting a compost. I also have tons of the those bags for grocery stores that I keep in my car otherwise I always forget them. We use those energy efficient bulbs too.
We have not used our heat or air conditioning since the beginning of March. It was extremely cold one night but we simply used blankets. Its been kind of eye-opening how many days we simply didn’t need it turned on.
Kathy
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Apr 22nd
2009
7:50 am
Margo Maguire Said:
We switched over to those new lightbulbs all at once. It was a year ago in January, and I happened to be curious about the change in energy usage, so I compared the electric bills for the subsequent 12 months to the prior 12 months (sheesh – I mean before an after!). Each bill was 10% LESS than the corresponding month the year before.
We also recycle everything possible and use re-usable bags, etc. And AC? Well, we don’t even have it, and our summers get pretty hot here!
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Apr 22nd
2009
8:39 am
eap Said:
I always carry a bag with me everywhere so I don’t use a plastic bag.
Donate everything.
Consolidate all trips.
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Apr 22nd
2009
8:49 am
ruth Said:
I use reuseable bags at the library, grocery store and keep a supply in my trunk. We don’t have AC where I live which is great since there is no humidity. I bike to the P.O., drug store and friends homes. Recycle everything possible each week.
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Apr 22nd
2009
9:48 am
Maureen Said:
I have been changing light bulbs and using reusable grocery bags. Last months I started using a Pur water filtration pitcher instead of buying spring water at the store. That has cut down on the amount of plastic contaniers we throw out.
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Apr 22nd
2009
11:20 am
Theresa Said:
Compost, use natural cleaners and cosmetics, buy in bulk (less packaging) or don’t buy more if you don’t need it. Plant a tree, find a dry cleaner who doesn’t use harmful chemicals. Eat less red meat (I know that sounds hard but consider all the energy and resources to raise cattle and pigs. Besides large factory farms produce huge amounts of toxic waste). OK, I could go on and on but will stop with these.
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Apr 22nd
2009
11:30 am
Kathryn Said:
I compost (and my garden loves me for it), each time we have to change a lightbulb we have switched that light to reusable and only have a few left to do in the house. I put reusable containers in my kids’ lunches (cheaper too to buy the bigger format of yogurt, juice, etc. and repackage). My husband has turned down the heat (altho we also heat with a slow combustion wood stove and insert in the fireplace) and he turned down the setting on the hot water heater. All small stuff, but it adds up!
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Apr 22nd
2009
11:30 am
Kathryn Said:
Sorry, I meant to say new halogen lightbulbs, not reusable…
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Apr 22nd
2009
11:31 am
Kathryn Said:
Or whatever they’re called, they look like pigs tails… compact fluorescent, I guess
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Apr 22nd
2009
11:34 am
RobynDeHart Said:
We’ve been using those fluorescent bulbs for about two years now and we love them. They last so much longer and they’re nice and bright. I also use the totes when I go shopping and you’re so right, Emily, they’re so much easier than using plastic bags. They hold more and they’re easier to carry when you’ve got heavy canned goods. We can’t recycle where we live right now which has been a constant source of frustration for us since we moved here. So we’ll be glad to get back to TX where the city provides recycling. I don’t have a green thumb by anyone’s standards and frankly don’t enjoy gardening, but lately I’ve been thinking about once we’re settled in a new house that it might be time for me to grow some of our own standard veggies – just peppers and tomatoes and the like. We’ll see if I can pull that off.
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Apr 22nd
2009
2:07 pm
Jane Said:
We use compact fluorescent bulbs, too. We unplug our appliances when they’re not in use. We don’t buy bottled water any more. We just refill our water bottles with tap or boiled water.
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Apr 22nd
2009
3:32 pm
catslady Said:
I grew up in a household that remembered the depression so we were always careful about using everything more than once if possible and conserving. My nephew has been into it for over 30 years and if our area doesn’t recycle something, he finds out where and we give it to him (recycle no.’s 3,4,&5; batteries; phonebooks; cardboard; etc.). I use all my junk mail as scrap paper, rewash my ziplock bags, use rags instead of papertowels if possible; cloth bags, the new light bulbs etc. It is overwhelming but even babysteps help.
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Apr 22nd
2009
4:52 pm
smile0303 Said:
I have just recently bought my own shopping bag that is really cute from Kohl’s. And as my light bulbs have been dying have replaced them with the cfl’s.
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Apr 22nd
2009
5:18 pm
kimh Said:
recyle cans bottles
have switched lights and our electric comepany put in new meter to helep the envrioment.
have used the car less andwalked more
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Apr 22nd
2009
5:23 pm
Shana Said:
I wish they would try to save energy at work! They set the AC so low, I have to wear a coat indoors.
Oh, I’d add to your list that you can drink filtered water instead of buying bottled water.
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Apr 22nd
2009
8:42 pm
Fedora Said:
We do a bunch of those things, and we save water from baths and showers to use elsewhere (which although it’s a water saver, I confess I find it a huge pain
)
I filch paper from the recycling bins at school for the kids to draw on, then recycle it once they’re done with it
I think our next big thing might be to start composting, but I’m not quite sure how hard it would be to make it work, so we haven’t taken the leap yet!
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Apr 22nd
2009
9:11 pm
EmilyMcKay Said:
So many great answers! I’m glad I don’t have choose (instead of having my daughter pick a number out of hat.)
yeah, at our house we pretty much recycle everything doesn’t run away from us. And I love the idea of drinking purified water instead of bottled water. I can’t imagine the resources we spend shipping bottles of water from one place to another. Not to mention the plastic bottles. Ick!
I’m with you on the energy at work, Shana. So many places are way to cold.
Fedora, with the recent drought, we’ve been saving water from the warm up time in the shower and sink to water the plants outside. It is a pain, but it makes a difference.
We’ve been composting for a while, but recently I started doing the worm thing … which is the subject of a whole ‘nother blog.
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Apr 22nd
2009
11:07 pm
Anna Said:
Great blog! My favorite tips that I don’t believe others have mentioned (I read the comments, but could have missed something) are not running the water while I brush my teeth and taking shorter showers. Also, if I don’t have to take a bag for a smallish purchase, I don’t, and when I forget my own bags at the grocery story (which happens, drat my inability to focus), I never allow baggers to double bag anything. It always kills me when I say “no bag, please” and they throw the bag they were about to use in the trash! GRR!
And, at the office, I am anal enough that I will take home my own paper and cardboard recycling if I’m working at a place that doesn’t offer it. But maybe that’s too much information about me…
If I had a s**t ton of money, I’d start some sort of a movement here in D.C. to get this city on a better page both with energy and recycling. We’re the capital city! We should be setting an example for the rest of the nation. Drives me nuts. It was a real shock coming from Seattle.
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Apr 23rd
2009
11:46 am
Fedora Said:
Ooh, Emily, I hope you do blog about the worms–that’s what we’re curious about. They usually have a display at the farmer’s market that our youngest loves to look at, but I think it’d be a whole different thing to have it at home for us to be responsible for!
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Apr 24th
2009
3:25 pm
smile0303 Said:
Who won the drawing…does anyone know?
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Apr 24th
2009
5:35 pm
Quilt Lady Said:
I know I am late posting but we alway recycle our drink cans. I crush them and then take them to the recycle center. I also am alway running around at home turning out the lights. I don’t know why my family don’t know how to switch that switch off when they leave a room.
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Apr 24th
2009
8:12 pm
Emily McKay Said:
Quilt Lady, I’m with you on the turning off the lights. I’ve gotten obsessive about it.
And, smileo, no, I haven’t announced yet. I’m cutting up the numbers right now.
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