Home & Garden

10 Ways to Celebrate the Earth All Year Long

Reduce your carbon footprint and join in local activities to help the planet.

This article was written and reported by Kristina Houck.

Although Earth Day on April 22 was a great reminder to be environmentally conscious, there are plenty of simple ways you can celebrate the earth all year long. Here are just 10 ways you can be eco-friendly long after Earth Day is over:

1. Plant a tree. 
Planting a tree is perhaps the most common Earth Day activity, but you can plant a tree any day of the year. Trees produce oxygen and help reduce air pollution. A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year, and produce nearly 260 pounds of oxygen, according to the nonprofit American Forests.

2. Recycle reusable materials. 
The average person generates more than four pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year, according to DoSomething.org. According to the nonprofit’s website, more than 75 percent of waste is recyclable, but only about 30 percent of it is recycled. Do your part by recycling glass, paper, plastic and other reusable materials at your local recycling centers.

3. Participate in a hazardous waste collection. 
This takes harmful chemicals out of the waste stream.

4. Cut back on driving. 
Use public transportation, organize a carpool, ride a bike or walk whenever possible. Leaving your car at home two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. It will also help you save money on gas and maintenance.

5. Reduce your energy use. 
Reducing your energy use is good for the environment and can help you save money on your energy bill. Turn off or set office equipment to power down when they are not in use. Better yet, unplug electronics when you’re not using them. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Other ways to reduce your energy use include: taking advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting; adjusting your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer; using the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full; washing clothes in cooler water; replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps; and investing in energy-efficient equipment.

6. Use reusable bags. 
Each year, Americans throw away about 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags and about 10 billion paper bags, according to Earth911. Help reduce plastic and paper bag waste by using reusable bags.

7. Buy locally. 
The average meal in the U.S. travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Buying locally can save fuel and keep money in your community.

8. Clean up the earth. 
More than 51 billion pieces of litter land on U.S. roadways each year, and litter cleanup costs the nation almost $11.5 billion each year, according to the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful. Help keep the earth beautiful by participating in local cleanup events.

9. Explore the outdoors. 
Get to know your community better and explore the beauty of nature. Go for a walk, run or hike with friends and family. Join or organize a walking or hiking group. 

10. Participate in eco-friendly activities. 
From cleanup events to farmers' markets, a variety of eco-friendly activities take place in both Ellington and Somers. Join in!


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