HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! Sunday, April 22, 2012

Earth Day: Five small steps
1. Recycle
Start recycling at home. Reuse jam jars and ice cream tubs as storage box for cookies and other food stuff. You may be surprised by how much can be recycled or reused!

2. Go paperless
Try to use paper as little possible. Of course while print outs should be avoided it is best to use recyclable printer cartridges, since recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.

3. Efficient electricity
Use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent ones. LED lamps also use less energy.
Many appliances have “standby” settings that draw power. Sometimes this takes as much as 15 or 20 watts, even when they’re turned off. To make sure that computers, monitors, printers, photocopy machines, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, and microwave ovens are not wasting any energy turn the appliance off and pull the plug rather than just flipping the switch on the machine.

4. Enjoy the sunshine!
By far, the best and most economical source of light is the sun. Make the most of daylight by keeping your blinds and curtains open when light is required during day. Sunlight not only lights up the room, but morning sun rays are also supposed to be anti bacterial. It is not uncommon for interior air to be more contaminated with toxic chemicals than the air outdoors. Wooden furniture, carpeting, and paint are common sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a family of chemicals that pollute the indoor environment. VOCs have been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption, and cancer.

5. Turn off the lights!
As efficient as your lighting equipment might be, it doesn’t make sense to have lights and fans on when no one is around. If you use an air conditioner, set the temperature to 26 degrees or higher and make use of the timer to turn the machine off when the room has cooled.
Every little step makes a difference so tell your family and friends about how they can help too!
Not only will you be saving the earth but you will save a few dollars on your electric bill as well!
What are you doing to make a difference?

A To Do list for your refigerator:

• GO TO AN EARTH DAY EVENT! (check out www.earthday.org)
• Write my government in support of green legislation
• Eliminate the use of pesticides and toxic household cleaners
• Get an energy audit and do what it says (come to our energy audit workshop May 8 at the library)
• Change incandescents to LED bulbs
• Plant a garden at home or school
• Take public transit at least one day each week.
• Bicycle or walk to do errands more often
• Check out A Billion Acts of Green on Facebook: https://apps.facebook.com/billionactsofgreen/