• Pick up litter when you see it.  It is especially important to pick up plastic litter (bags, bottles, caps, etc.) as they tend to get blown around and end up in our waterways where they harm aquatic life and release toxins that make their way into our foodchain.  Recycle plastic bottle caps through Aveda’s cap recycling program.
• Reduce the amount of stuff you buy.  Check the closet and the refrigerator before you go shopping so as to buy only what you need.  Reduce the amount of trash you throw away by starting a compost pile for food scraps and yard waste.  Use less paper at work, home or school.
• Re-use what still has some life left in it, as an alternative to disposal.  Perhaps a minor repair or refinishing is all it needs to be useful once again.  Also, re-use your grocery bags, or better yet, bring along a re-usable tote for your goodies.  Break out those re-usable, washable fabric napkins and dish towels instead of using disposable napkins and paper towels.
• Recycle plastic, paper, metal, and anything else that can be recycled instead of throwing away these things.  Check with your local municipality to properly recycle household hazardous waste and electronics.
• Donate unwanted household items to your local thrift shop, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, or architectural salvage facility.
• Ride your bike or walk to your destination if possible, or carpool or take mass-transit.  If you do drive, be sure your tires are properly inflated for better gas mileage.
• Plant a tree.  You can receive 10 free trees to plant yourself, or have 10 trees planted for you in our nation’s forests, when you donate $10 to the National Arbor Day Foundation.
• Stop the junk mail!
• Turn off the lights, computer, and television when not needed.
• Clean with home-made natural products.  See my earlier posts here and here.
• Open the windows for some fresh air if the weather is pleasant.  You’ll save money and reduce pollution when you turn off the mechanical heating/cooling system.  If you do have to use the mechanical system, keep your heat at or below 68 degrees, and your a/c at or above 78 degrees, and don’t forget to lower it when you go to bed or are away from home.  Programmable thermostats make this task easy and energy efficient.
• Don’t use pesticides and weed killers on your lawn.   These chemicals have detrimental effects on our children, water supplies, wildlife, and the soil in which our food is grown.
• Take a hike!  Enjoy the great green outdoors, by taking a walk or going on a picnic with your family and/or friends.

Today’s topic:  Energy.  Much of the electricity generated in the United States comes from burning coal which emits pollutants.  So by saving energy, your actions will positively affect the health of the earth and all of its inhabitants.  If we didn’t waste so much energy, we’d be able to close numerous power plants!

1. Turn off the lights when you leave the room, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
2. Unplug rechargeable devices such as cell phone chargers, electric shavers, digital cameras, and power tools.  Even though these devices are in standby mode, they are still sucking power called phantom, or vampire, power.
3. Plug TVs, DVD players, electronics, and computer equipment into power strips.  This will not only protect your equipment from daily power surges and extend the lifespan of your possessions, but you’ll be able to turn everything off with just one flick of the switch before going to bed or when you’re away from home.  Click here to see how much phantom power these devices are wasting even when they are “turned off”.  Also, a common misconception is that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning off monitors is always the better energy-saving strategy.
4. Switch out incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescents (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs).  CFLs use about 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescents.  LEDs are even better and use about 90% less energy than incandescents and last much longer than even CFLs.
5. Open the windows for some fresh air when the weather is pleasant instead of running the mechanical heating or cooling system.
6. Wash your clothes in cold water because 85-90% of the energy used for the washing machine is to heat water.  Try to wash only full loads to reduce the number of times you’ll have to run the washer.  Hang clothes to dry on a drying rack, the shower rod, or outside on a clothesline, to avoid using electricity to dry them.  If you do use the dryer, empty the lint trap every time.
7. Turn off the energy-hogging heated dry cycle on your dishwasher.  By opening the dishwasher door at the end of the cycle, you’ll allow the dishes to air dry and save energy.

You can find volunteer opportunities available in many cities and towns across the country.  Interested in volunteering for the USDA Forest Service as a bird monitor or a historic park interpreter?  How about helping to maintain our natural, cultural and historic resources on public lands with the Take Pride in America program?   The Natural Resources Conservation Service is looking for people to help reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters.

For example, if you live in the D.C. Metro area, EarthShare, D.C. Surfrider, and The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) invite you to come out and help clean up the Anacostia River (or 25 other sites) at the 15th Annual Earth Day River Cleanup and Celebration on Saturday, April 18, 2009.  Free food and entertainment will be provided for volunteers after clean up efforts.

You can check out Volunteer.gov or conduct a google search to find volunteer opportunities in your community.

photo by aussiegall

Los Angeles is celebrating Earth Day through various events that you can take part in. Why not get some exercise and bike to the festivities (or take mass transit) and enjoy yourself.

‘Car Free Day’ will be in full swing from 10am to 5pm today on Wilshire Boulevard between Western and Harvard in Koreatown. Stop by to enjoy a performance by Michael Franti, along with raffles, giveaways, and 100 eco-exhibits and booths.

Santa Monica College will be presenting the ‘EcoFabulous II Celebration’ (starting at 11am) where local eco-organizations will offer free food and raffles. At 4pm, see a free screening of “Who Killed the Electric Car”.

Downtown, Carina Ricco, will be performing for Metro and Metrolink riders from noon until 1pm at the Union Station South Patio.

Enjoy free food, drink, and music at the eco-parties being held this evening at Romp, Vie, and Avita Co-Op.

Take a scenic bike ride around Hollywood this evening with Babeland’s Bike Ride and Craftnight.

The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena will be hosting a community panel and discussion titled “Green Living” for those interested in learning more about making your home and lifestyle eco-friendly.

Source: Los Angeles Times

The 40,000 sq ft, 3-story building will serve as a multi-purpose transportation facility and will include: a plaza for riders of the Metro Light Rail system; one of the largest bicycle stations in the country; retail space; and offices. Eco-friendly characteristics of the center include a green roof (see my earlier post here) that will help insulate the building, a gray-water reclamation system, operable windows, daylighting strategies, a panel-shade system, dual-flush toilets, and recycled materials.

The transit center will be featured on a “Green Scene Bus Tour“, as part of Valley Forward’s Livability Summit scheduled for Earth Day, April 22nd. Another stop in town will be the Papago Gateway Center (a 265,000 sq ft office and research building seeking a silver LEED designation), then it’s off to nearby Scottsdale to see the Granite Reef Senior Center, a LEED gold certified facility.

Source:  The Arizona Republic 

The condominium building, the Macallan, achieved a LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for adhering to high environmental standards. The condo has been designed to consume 30% less electricity than a comparable conventionally-built building and conserve 600,000+ gallons of water per year. Other earth-friendly features include the use of daylighting strategies; a green roof; and the use of recyclable, renewable, and natural materials.

The movie will air on April 22nd at 9:35 pm.

Source: GreenBuildingElements.com

Have you changed your burned-out lightbulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs yet? You’ll save energy and money on your utility bills while doing something good for the environment. Plus CFLs last much longer than incandescent lightbulbs. You can save even more with Energy Star rated light fixtures. Learn more from my earlier posts here and here.

Here’s a look at one company’s plans: architectural firm HOK is launching a challenge, “Go Barefoot Day,” to its 2,500 employees to alter their transportation, travel and work habits to contribute to reducing the firm’s collective environmental impact. The company’s intent is that these simple behavioral changes may lead to lasting habits. The “Go Barefoot” initiative supports HOK’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from its projects and practice by 50 % by 2010. This goal reflects United Nations reports that recognize the significant role that buildings play in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

If your building industry-related company is planning any earth day events, feel free to let me know through my contact page.

To participate in Earth Day events around the world, check out earth day network here to find events taking place in your area.