5 Easy Ways to Go Green for Earth Day

Each April, Earth Day throws a spotlight on the many ways we can go green and lower our carbon footprint. Earth Day is an important day for the green movement, but any time is the right moment to begin living a more sustainable life. It doesn't take a lot of time or money to start living green, and with a few simple changes, you can start small and build new habits that will lead to a more eco-friendly life. In honor of Earth Month, here are a few easy and inexpensive ways to tread lightly on the earth this year.

Turn Off the Printer in Your Home Office

While the paperless office is not yet a reality, it is certainly possible to reduce the amount of wasted ink and paper by printing less. Make it a habit to leave your printer off and don't make paper copies unless it's truly necessary. Lots of information can be saved directly to your computer files or bookmarked in a folder for future reference. If you absolutely must print something out, recycle paper by using only the blank side of previously printed copies. Setting smaller margins will also save paper by increasing the amount of printable area on each page.

Unplug Electrical Devices When Not in Use

Appliances and household electronics may appear to be dead when you hit the off button; however, these items still consume power and waste precious electricity when they remain plugged into outlets. Make it a habit to go through your home unplugging these electrical vampires that silently suck electricity even when they aren't active. After you've turned off appliances and unplugged them, make it a new habit to also shut off lights whenever you leave a room.

Using a power strip is another great way to save electricity. Plug all your devices like the computer, printer and scanner into a power strip and turn it off when you leave your office to ensure these devices won't draw any electricity when not in use. (Don't forget to turn your computer off when you're done using it--leaving your computer on and using a screensaver is another energy drain!)

Turn Off the Water When You Brush Your Teeth

Conserving water when performing everyday grooming tasks like bathing, showering or brushing your teeth is an excellent way to start living green. How many times have you let the water run for minutes while you brush your teeth or wash your face? Water is a precious resource and you could conceivably save gallons of water by becoming more mindful about letting the tap run while brushing your teeth.

Limiting the amount of minutes you take a shower is another way to conserve water. If you are shaving while in the shower, turn the water off while you lather up and shave, then turn it back on to complete your shower. Becoming more conscious of how we use water in our home is one small step toward living more sustainably.

Plant a Tree

Planting a tree in your backyard is a fantastic way to go green and show your support for Earth Day. Trees are the living embodiment of what it really means to "go green" because trees get rid of carbon dioxide in the air and release oxygen into the environment. If you don't have a lawn or backyard, plant something green on your patio or balcony, or fill your apartment with houseplants. Living plants like Boston ferns are a healthy addition to your home, as they help offset the pollutants lurking in our home environment by purifying the air. Before you bring plants home, check to make sure they are safe and non-toxic for children and pets. Adding plants or trees to your life is an easy and inexpensive action that can yield big benefits for the earth.

Go Vegetarian

Incorporating vegetarian meals into your life is another stellar way to live green. Consumption of meat creates a bigger carbon footprint than vegetarianism, so adopting a meatless lifestyle is one way to be kind to the earth. Don't attempt to go meat free all at once; instead, buy a vegetarian cookbook or surf the internet for healthy recipes and transition to vegetarianism one meal at a time. Substituting vegetarian ingredients for meat in recipes is a quick and painless way to go vegetarian (for example, substitute beans for meat in a chili recipe).

If you think that going green isn't accessible to the average person and takes too much time, effort or money, these steps show how easy it is to start living a more sustainable life. Follow one small step at a time until it becomes a habit, and then add another green tip to your day. April is Earth Month, but any time is the perfect moment to make some eco-friendly changes that honor the planet. Incorporate a few of these easy changes into your life, and in no time at all, you'll be well on your way to becoming part of the green movement!

Sources:

www.treehugger.com

www.ways2gogreen.com

www.greenyour.com