21 April 2009 - 17:06Top 10 Actions for Earth Day 2009

April 22 isn’t about a single action you can do to support a healthier environment. No, Earth Day is a catalyst for change and a day to renew a personal commitment to support a healthier environment.

To encourage further environmental action, Earth Day Canada’s EcoAction Teams program (the ecoblogist’s conservation program of choice) offers the Top 10 Actions for Earth Day to help you reduce their impact on the environment every day.

Haven’t registered your acts yet? Get on the EcoAction calculator today!

1. Smart shopping

• Buy what you need, not what you want
• Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed
• Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores

2. Simple savers

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
• Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
• Weatherstrip windows and doors

3. Transportation alternatives

• Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
• When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
• Consider car sharing programs or renting

4. Food choices

• Choose local and organic foods that are in season and support local food producers
• Eat less meat

5. Washing and drying

• Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry

6. Heating and cooling

• For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C
• For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C
• Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats

7. Close to home

• Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible

8. Bathroom basics

• Take short showers instead of baths
• Close water taps while brushing your teeth

9. Careful cleaning

• Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products
• Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

10. Don’t discard

• Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
• Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers

p.s. What did you do for Earth Day this year? Send me your comments and highlights…

9 Comments | Tags: General, Green Winners

Comments:

1. If This Is Earth Day, I Must Be… | Van Go Green says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 0:07

   [...] Here’s a list of things you can do – any day – to be kind to the Earth. [...]

2. Gee says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 7:02

   Great advice on number 1 and smart shopping, but check out the earthday site, and it’s selling useless consumer goods and getting sponsored by Via and Sunoco? I think that their message may be conflicting with yours.

3. Taylor says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 10:54

   Thank you that helped A LOT i am doing a school project for Earthday on ways we can cut done on our waste im in grade 7 i did no know alll that i am going to start helping I NEVER KNEW?1′

   TAYYLOR GRADE 7 WINNIPEG MB CANADA

4. Taylor says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 10:55

   thank yyou i never knew that i am going to take that into mind

5. Peter Voss says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 11:16

   Your list is a joke.

   Here is what needs to happen:

   1. Drastic reduction in population
   2. Complete ban on drugs, electricity and oil
   related products.
   3. Ban on mining and land development.

   Earth can’t be saved by your little, Mickey Mouse
   list. You know it and your dog knows it.

   Population growth is unstoppable without imposing the above restrictions.

   So, save your energy and do the opposite of what your list recommends.

   I’ll be using as much water as I need to and I’ll
   drive my SUV to work on Earth Day.

6. Jane Johnson says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 13:43

   I do all my laundry in cold water and hang to dry in the summer, I compost, I recycle, I use green cleaners and dish soaps, I buy from flea markets, garage sales and second hand shops. We have replaced all bulbs with the eco bulbs, I am a vegetarian and try to buy organic and locally as much as possible.

   Waste not, want not….Have a nice day

7. Md Shahrier says;
   22 Apr 2009 - 23:42

   I planted 45 cedar trees in my lawn to be used as fence rather than buying vinyl or chainlink fences.

8. Mieke says;
   23 Apr 2009 - 8:28

   I wished friends a Happy Earth Day with the very nice e-card from People 4 Earth.
   http://www.people4earth.org/index.php/eCards/Happy-Earth-Day.html
   And today starts the rest of the 364 days of the year to bring into practice all your 10 tips, or continue doing that as I already do days and years before this Earth Day.

9. admin says;
   27 Apr 2009 - 13:36

   thanks for the comments everyone!

   to gee: the earth day canada website does sell merchandise, but in order for people to make our behavior change recommendations (and especially if they don’t already have the wares), why not get a reusable stainless steel water bottle from an environmental non-profit rather than from a generic for-profit company? the org makes a little money, which helps us fund our programs and pay our staff. Plus consumers need to give their dollars to companies who make products using recycled materials and organic materials. Sponsorship is another game altogether, but certainly consumer demand for responsible products and services is a big part of being green…
   
   to taylor: it can be fun to discover conservation. have a blast with all your waste-saving tricks and share some of your own with us!
   
   to peter: those are some pretty unrealistic ideas, and they don’t allow for people to participate in conservation efforts, nor do they foster appreciation for and respect of the world around us. people can change bad habits. we can still do the right thing.

   to jane: kudos to you for all that you do. my great week just got a little brighter from reading your comment!

   to Md: great idea about planting a natural fence. 45 trees? that’s a big job! amazing

   to Mieke: an e-card is a nice gift to remind people about Earth Day

   -cheryl

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