Today is Earth Day. Everyone, no matter how young or old, can do *something* to help reduce the carbon footprint. I make efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle, and replensih whenever I can.
Here are the things I do on a regular basis:
• I use canvas bags for shopping, or carry my items out in my hands. You should see some of the looks I get from store clerks when I say, "You don't have to put that in a bag." LOL
• I've accumulated a lot of plastic shopping bags from before I started using canvas bags. I use those to line small trash cans rather than buy liners.
• As regular bulbs burn out, I've been replacing them with the energy efficient ones.
• I save gallon milk jugs and fill them with recycled water from the dehumidifier in the basement. I use it to water my indoor plants, and garden in the summer months.
• I wash my clothes (except whites) in cold water.
• I hang clothes outside during the warmer months.
• I recycle as much trash as I can. It's easy - We don't even have to sort it. It just goes into a bin and is transported to a facility where people do the sorting.
• I refurbish furniture and "stuff" to reuse.
• I open windows in the summer, rather than use air conditioning. I use A/C maybe 3-4 days all summer.
• I have and use a programmable thermostat for my furnace and A/C unit.
• I pay bills online which reduces paper consumption.
• I have employer direct deposit my checks which saves gas spent on trips to the bank.
• I shut off the water when brushing my teeth.
• I participate in giving and getting from local recycling organizations.
• I buy used when it makes sense.
• I shop at second-hand stores, consignment shops, and thrift stores.
• I print on both sides of paper (at work and at home) when it's for my use only.
• I use cloth rags to do household cleaning, and wash/reuse them over and over. This reduces the amount of paper towels used.
• I reuse envelopes and boxes to ship things all over the world.
