Earth Day is right around the corner: Tuesday, April 22nd to be exact. An event currently observed by over 1 billion people each year.
And while the “green movement” seems to be in full swing everywhere you look, sometimes it’s easy to lapse back into bad habits, especially when your mind is on dozens of other things all at the same time.
So if you need a little reminder and some helpful tips on how to reduce your family’s carbon foot print, we’re here to help. Even better, what we offer are small steps both easy to adopt and just as easy to turn into everyday habits, which ultimately is the whole point of Earth Day.
Ready? Here we go:
Become an energy detective. Better yet, get your kids involved. Grab some paper, pencils, and a flashlight and find ways to conserve energy in your own home, including:
- Look for sources of heat loss, like gaps around window frames or doors.
- Adjust the thermostat by a couple of degrees to save money and energy.
- Invest in energy saving light bulbs and appliances, and don’t forget to turn them off (and unplug them) when not in use.
Eat local, including from your very own garden.
- Get the family involved in planning meals using fresh, locally grown ingredients.
- Plant a vegetable or herb garden.
- And go vegetarian at least one day a week.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Before making a purchase, ask yourself if it’s something you really need and, if so, do you need it permanently. Because if not, maybe borrowing the item will serve your immediate purpose.
- Find creative ways to repurpose household items. For example, glass food jars make great whimsical candle holders or flower vases.
Find ways to get involved in your community.
- Help clean up and beautify a nearby park or playground.
- Volunteer your time to help a local farm prepare for growing or harvesting season.
- Talk to your child’s school officials about ways to cut down on energy consumption in the classroom.
You realize, of course, we’re barely even scratching the surface here. But even small and simple ideas have a way of becoming permanent parts of our behavior, and for that purpose alone, we’re happy to lend our voice to Earth Day in Birmingham awareness.Contact us now!
