How Green Are You After Earth Day?

Earth Day has come and gone and what did you do to change your non-Green ways? Did you plant a few trees to help with air pollution? Did you take your newspapers/plastic/cans to the local recycling plant? Change out your light bulbs with the more energy efficient ones? Attend an Earth Day festival?

Now what?

Most Americans return to their old ways after Earth Day has disappeared from the front headlines. But the problem of global warming, pollution and various other problems that are giving Mother Earth a headache are still quite present.

According to prnewswire.com, a survey that was conducted found that 43% didn't believe that recycling helped the environment at all while 34% felt that it took too much effort to even separate their soon-to-be recycled leftovers.

Even though there are those naysayer's who don't believe in global warming, conserving energy and the cutting back of fossil fuels, there are plenty of souls who have jumped on the environmental bandwagon. And there are many ways to be kinder to the 'old lady' that are not cruel to the pocketbook.

The top favorite is changing to CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs. Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine states that if each household just used one, it would be, in emissions savings, equivalent to taking 3 million cars off the road yearly. But for the average working stiff, this equates into the bulbs lasting 10 times longer, and saving on that important electricity bill by $60 per each bulb's life expectancy.

Unplug the power succubus or vampires or whatever nickname you and yours have give them. These are the appliances that have clocks or are chargers. 40% of the electricity used in a single household is 'sucked' up by these gems!

Plastic or Canvas? Yes, canvas. A good portion of the major grocery and retail chains has jumped on the green bandwagon by offering canvas bags to tote your groceries home in. Some, such as Wal-mart, are as cheap as a dollar a bag while other designer bags can be as high as $10.

No more bottled water. The FDA, who regulates bottled water on a Federal level, states that water bottled and sold in the same state is exempt and is regulating by state officials and basically on an 'honor system'. Tap water, however, is regulated by the EPA and has stricter guidelines. Also only 20% of bottled water has fluoride. You remember that stuff that kept you from getting cavities as a kid? Well that is sorely lacking in most of the bottled stuff. Here's some other bad news: those plastic water bottles are not biodegradable. So overall, bottled water isn't as good for you as you once thought.

Use eco-friendly cleaning products. You can buy your cleaning supplies from companies like Shaklee or Seventh Generation or even make them yourself. It can be as simple as a spray bottle full of water and vinegar for disinfecting the cabinets or making your own laundry soap (which can cost only $4 per 5 gallons). The Internet is filled with frugal and environmentally pleasing recipes to make your own cleaners.

Buy organic. Once again, the retail and grocery stores have learned what the public wants and that is helping you and the environment. Organic means no pesticides and uses less energy to produce. Also look for products that use less packaging, which are usually made from petroleum materials. Find products that state that their packaging is made from recycled materials such as foil and paper plates. By the way, did you know that it takes 5 years for a coated paper plate to disintegrate?

Now that it is lawn-mowing season, it's time to discuss that tradition of bagging the grass clippings. DON'T! The clippings contain important nutrients that help your lawn and are equivalent to a full year of fertilizer. Some states have even banned dumping grass clippings in landfills.

Paper, paper, everywhere. Reducing the amount of paper that you use also reduces it in those landfills that I've been raving about. Limiting the amount of paper napkins you use by one meal can save over a million pounds of paper from entering the landfills. Plus there are those banks that just love to hand out paper receipts. Go paperless! And reduce over 8 billion paper receipts that a single bank gives out in a year.

Take a hike. Or a walk or a run. Leave that car at home! How many times did you just need to go to the corner store or your child wanted to go to friend's house 3 blocks away yet you just had to drive? Help with air pollution taking baby steps. And you might even feel better after a while!

Don't throw away; give away. Instead of throwing out those outgrown clothes, old coats and worn out blankets think about 'giving' them away. There are many organizations that have no problem with a rip in an arm or faded and out of style clothing. We give our old blankets that have holes in them to our local humane shelter so they can use them for much-needed bedding for their animals.

Now, was that so difficult? Being green is not always easy but taking small steps can lead to major changes. Make a resolution to be 'green' all year round and you'll feel better for it. So will Mother Earth.