Ask yourself these four simple questions on Earth Day (and don’t stop for the next 364 days).
Every Earth Day, articles pop up about what you can do to take care of our planet. But we all know that one day of thinking about the earth isn’t enough, so we’re here with a checklist to help you turn those ideas of things to do from a one-day action into a 365-day habit. Thinking about the global environmental issues that are largely out of our control can feel overwhelming, but little actions add up when everyone does them them together. When behavioural changes become habits, they become second nature, and then the widespread norm.
So how can you become more sustainable? Ask yourself the following four questions every day:
- How do I use water?
- How do I get from point A to point B?
- How do I take part in the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle?
- What are my energy use habits?
By evaluating your answers, the massive list of earth-friendly things you can do is much simpler and easier to remember. We know you’re probably already doing most of these, but having a checklist handy helps turn ideas into daily habits!
How you use water
- Use reusable water bottles (eliminate plastic water bottle waste)
- Eat less meat or do a Meatless Monday challenge (less polluting gasses, less water used)
- Use less hot water showering and doing laundry
- Take shorter showers instead of baths
- Do not leave the faucet running unnecessarily (not that you would on purpose)
How you get from A to B
- Drive less (work from home or carpool)
- Be gentle on your brakes (more efficient use of gas)
- Drive slower (save gas)
- Take public transportation
- Ride your bike
- Make sure your tires are inflated (can increase mileage by more than 3 percent)
- Make sure your car is running efficiently
How you reduce, reuse, and recycle
- Compost (it also makes great natural fertilizer!)
- Recycle items instead of disposing in the trash
- Be thrifty (shop at thrift stores and donate your clothes so others can use them after you no longer need them)
- Use reusable products instead of disposables
What your energy use habits are
- Use LED lightbulbs (they last 10 times longer and use two-thirds less energy)
- Make sure your appliances are energy-efficient and up to date
- Get a programmable thermostat and reduce the thermostat setting when you go to bed
- Make your home more energy-efficient (you can lose a lot of heat and air conditioning through your windows and improper use of your vents)
What other items are on your checklist? Let us know in the comments below! (Or check out the rest of our Earth Day coverage!)