Today is Earth Day, but it’s important to take care of Mother Earth every day so she’ll be able to take care of us for many years to come.
Here are a few easy changes to put into place today. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
Stop Idling
Did you know you consume more gas by idling in your car than restarting it? If you’re at a drive-thru and know by looking at the line it’s going to take more than 10 seconds, turn off the engine then restart it when ready to move forward. I started doing this when I go to the bank and it’s made a difference in my gas consumption.
Turn Off Your Computer At Night
Did you know you can save around $90 a year by turning off your computer at night? Even if you turn off your computer or other electronics at night, they’ll still consume some electricity, so unplug them if possible. I have my desktop, printer and shredder all plugged into a power strip and unplug the power strip at night.
Buy Local
When purchasing produce, buy local whenever possible. If you have farmer’s markets in your area, buying produce there is a great option. You can talk to the farmer’s about how they grow their crops (whether they apply insecticides, for example), crops are normally all organic, and taste great.
Buying local cuts down on produce transportation costs and helps local farmers.
Check Your Thermometer Setting
Turning your thermometer down one degree in winter can save you up to 3% on your heating bill, and works the same in reverse by turning up one degree in summer. If you don’t have a programmable thermometer, consider converting to one to save even more on heating/cooling.
Buy Environmentally Friendly Pet Supplies
Many pet bed mattresses are now stuffed using recycled materials. Many pet toys are now made using recycled materials. Consider purchasing cardboard cat scratchers.
My cat Marty loves the cardboard scratchers, and the great thing is they’re recyclable when you discard them. He loves the Original Cat Scratch Lounge, and you can buy refills for it when needed.
Several cat litters such as Weruva Cat Litter from Hinoki Wood & Green Tea, are now made from natural, environmentally friendly sustainable products.
It’s amazing what a difference a few easy changes like these can make in your budget, and in maintaining our planet.
This Earth Day, make a change and make a difference
This post was originally published in April 2015 and has been edited for format, new content added and affiliate links reflected.
Written by Karen
