Earth Day is here, and it’s an excellent opportunity to recognize that we all need to treat our planet with care and respect. The concept of global warming and its impact on us has been in the news a lot lately. The theme of Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in our Planet”. The goal this year is to get businesses and people all over the world to engage in the idea that we need to take steps now to keep our world healthy and vibrant for today and tomorrow.
Earth Day: Did you know?
The last decade had the highest average temperatures ever recorded. Also, it’s been discovered that every square mile of ocean on the planet contains more than forty-six thousand pieces of trash. Oh, and here’s a fact about your car. Your car and 806 million other cars on the planet burn about 260 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel a year. Now that’s not to say you should stop driving. But there are things you can do now to support the global effort on Earth Day 2022 and all year long.
Some Good News
The future is not environmental doom and gloom. Although the earth’s ozone hole has been reduced and is predicted to vanish by 2050, the bald eagle and nine other species of wildlife are recovering from being endangered and there has been a healthy investment in solar, wind, and other renewable energy.
Living the Green life
Here are 7 things you can do to make your contribution to protecting our planet.
Change how you “Bag it”
Whenever you go out to pick up groceries or other household items, consider taking along a cloth tote bag or a special, reusable tote bag sold at a market. You can even have fun decorating them. Also, those reusable totes are often easier to carry or hang on a walker or scooter if needed. That’s one or two fewer plastic bags that will end up in the trash and possibly in our precious waterways.
Car Pool
If you are not working,or if you are retired, that does not mean you can’t carpool. Next time you head to the market or on a shopping adventure, share the driving with a friend. It’s an opportunity to save precious gas and share a coupon or two. Given the price of fuel think of the savings when you carpool with a friend to the store! Good for your wallet and less pollution.
Save Energy
Take the time to make sure your home is properly insulated. Things like good weather stripping around doors and windows will help make your home or your apartment more energy-efficient. Invest in a programmable thermostat. You can then adjust it, so the air conditioner is not running full blast when you are not home. You may notice a lower energy bill next time it arrives in the mailbox.
Boot the Bottled Water
Try to stop buying pre-packaged bottled water and pour your own. There are a lot of great water filter options so you can fill your reusable bottle with H2O right from the tap. From personalizing your water bottles to adding your favorite flavorings, changing how you hydrate will help the environment and open up tasty options for you! Think of all the plastic bottles that will NOT end up in the trash or the ocean. Also, think about all the money you’ll save.
Every little bit helps
Take some time to think about what other steps you can do to help save our planet on Earth Day 2022. Just taking the initiative on the basics can make a real difference in your life and in the lives of so many others.
