[NJMom]

Earth Day is April 22. Here are a few resources to check out:
Earth 911 » Making Every Day Earth Day, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle, Green Lifestyle
Earth Day - US Government Portal
Earthday
Earth Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, tell us, how do YOU make every day Earth Day? What sorts of things do you do on a daily basis to help the environment? Each of us can make a huge impact over our lifetimes by just doing a little here and there.

Here are a few things I do (there's more, but I want to hear what you all have to say):
Compost kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, etc
RECYCLE!!
Wash most laundry with cold water
Don't use the heated dry on dishwasher
Never let the water run while brushing teeth

Positive, helpful comments only, please!

[creekprinces]

"Compost kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, etc"


What is this and what do you do with it? Thanks

[NJMom]

Composting is basically collecting vegetable/fruit scraps and yard clippings in a bin or area in your yard to allow them to decompose. If given the right conditions, it will break down into rich soil that you can use around your yard and in your garden. Plus, it keeps that material out of landfills.

Composting » Earth 911

[creekprinces]

I am moving into my own house we close May 15 so I will def do this then. Thank you NJMom

[Kmchamplin]

*I recycle everything! All paper, junk mail, cardboard, metal, glass, etc
*I catch water when it rains to water my plants.
*Flush when brown, mellow when yellow (toiliet)
*Open up shades when sun is out in the winter, close the shades when cloudy in winter to keep the heat in. (save heating costs)
*Close shades in summer time to keep heat out. (save cooling costs)
*Keep thermostat low in winter time... 58 degrees at night and 60-64 during the day.
*Turn off lights when not needed. It has been proven that if you are not going to be back in a room in a minute that you should turn off the lights.
*Use sunlight rather than turning on the lights in the house
*If you turn on th oven, bake several things at once. (We had pizza and then made brownies and cupcakes for lunches for the week). It also warmed up our house.
*Use the microwave in the summer to cut down heating up the house.
*Carpool!
*ALWAYS wash clothes on cold and NEVER do small loads.
*Reuse all grocery bags in some sort of way
*Burn those things that can't be recycled but can be burned in the fire pit.
*Use yogurt containers to start seedlings
*reuse bottled water bottles before recycling them
*Keep a freezer full ~ uses less energy to keep an empty area cold
*Hang up laundry in the spring or summer

[NJMom]

Happy Earth Day!!

We lost a few really great posts to this thread during the server move (no big deal) so if you posted before, maybe you can post again so people can be inspired by your green ways!!

Please let us know your environmentally friendly tips! Often, helping the environment also saves us money so it's a win-win!

[mpayne]

Never let the water run while brushing teeth.

Reuse whatever I can, though we still make WAY too much trash - we're getting better!

Use cold water for most all my laundry.

Set the clothes washer to 6 minutes and leave the lid open so the clothes can soak before draining/spinning. Used to always do 14 minute wash cycles.

Don't run the dishwasher unless it's full. (this is a no-brainer, right)

Reuse bath towels (mine only ) - I always hang mine up to dry and use it for 2-3 days before washing it again.

More later...

[SoccerMama]

Programmable thermostat
Never let water run when brushing teeth
Recycle
Energy Efficient lightbulbs

[cuteyv]

I recycle every scrap of paper.
I have turned most off most paper bills and use the internet only.
CFC lights all over the house
We try to use the AC/Heating system only when necessary
Carpool - DH and I work close by so it works well for us.
Reduce use of plastic containers. I am slowly moving off plastics and using ceramics, glass and metal containers to store food in my fridge.
Run the dishwasher and washer only when full
Do not rinse all dirty dishes before loading them in the dishwasher. I just scrape off.
Air dry clothes whenever possible instead of using the dryer.
Carry my own shopping bags to stores instead of using plastic or paper bags
Stopped buying bottled water and instead use a faucet mounted water purifier
Shop from local farmers whenever possible.

[bellasmama]

*Paperless billing on ALL bills and I never write a check
*Save the leftover scraps of paper from IP coupons, cut up and staple together as notepads (we have a few of these- teehee!)
*Open the windows/blinds to control temp/add light
*NO bottled water, bought a faucet purifier
*reuse any plastic bags

[Medfordkaren]

*Compost all scraps and use it in our garden (1st time this weekend!)
*Line dry everything (I do not use my dryer from late April-Octobober at all)
*Recycle everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Slowly switching all lightbulbs over
*Bring my own shopping bags to store
*Shop locally/farmers markets for produce
*Trying to switch to natural cleaning supplies, slowly
*Solar panels, first one last year...more this year--simple electricity to start
*RAIN barrels to catch the FREE water from the sky, then the FREE sun from the sky powers our battery which we attach to a pump with a hose which then works like a real hose, only stronger!
*Starting to buy recycled materials, such as my welcome mat
*Paperless billing/auto bill pay is the BEST invention ever to me!
*Indoor plants help clean the air indoors and I have PLENTY of those
*We are doing our 3rd year garden, more flowers and more veges...wish us luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are all doing a great job of being aware of the environment...GO US!

[caseyrusso]

i don't own a dryer - on the line or in the house on my sweet Ikea $12 drying rack (it holds two loads)
all CFL bulbs
don't run water unless i have to
don't flush unless it's actually necessary
compost
recycle everything possible
use freecycle / give away things rather than throwing them out
use rags instead of paper towels
try to buy foods and products with less packaging waste
super efficient windows ! (getting these today!!)
print coupons on already-printed-on-one-side paper
ride my bike to school everyday , as long as it's not storming
gas-efficient vehicle
put appliances and TV and such on power strips that are turned off when not in use
turn off the computer when not in use!!!
don't leave things like cell chargers plugged in b/c they pull phantom loads

[caseyrusso]

buy organic when possible!

[doona24]

These are some of the things that we do:
Hang my laundry on the line to dry

use a wood stove for heat

recycle

use twirly flourescent light bulbs throughout house

save coffee grounds and egg shells for garden

use old towels for rags

make my own fabric softener

refill ink cartridges

and plenty more

[marbear]

compact fluorescent bulbs
don't leave water running rinsing dishes/brushing teeth
baths usu. instead of showers
recycle some
use green bags
try to use dishtowels vs. paper
try to use reusable containers instead of ziploc
reuse boxes for shipping
buy organic if it is close to the same price
don't try blankets and big items in the dryer
programmable thermostat
try to make my grocery trips when I am on the way to/from dropping ds off at preschool.
let my kids diapers get about 10 lbs of pee before changing.

Did I get ya on the last one???

[caseyrusso]

haha, thanks marbear. kids must love you for that

[bkwrm]

I use cotton and microfleece diapers for my dd.
I buy natural/organic shampoo/soap/dish liquid in bulk.
I recycle everything I am able to(mixed paper, newspaper, glass, plastic, aluminum), and buy products made from recycled material.
I wear cotton and hemp clothing.
I reuse mailers/packing material that I receive.
I have an HE front loading washing machine that uses less water, detergent, and energy!
I compost all coffee grounds, leftover coffee, tea bags, fruit and vegetable cuttings, peels and stems, egg shells, cut grass and leaves.
I reuse plastic bags as trash bags in the house(I never, ever have to buy trash bags).
I bring my own grocery bags.