35 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is this Friday, April 22, 2016, and you can do more than just plant a tree (though that’s also on the list). Here are 35 ways you can give our earth a little extra lovin’ this year:

Save Water

1. Wash your laundry with cold water.
2. Line-dry your clothes.
3. Challenge yourself to a 5-minute shower.
4. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth or shave.
5. Turn off the water when using shampoo or conditioner.
6. Run the dishwasher only if it’s full.

Save Energy

1. Turn off or turn down the lights.
2. Set the mood with some candles (made of beeswax, of course).
3. Take public transit.
4. Ride your bike.
5. Carpool to events.
6. Jog outside instead of on the treadmill.
7. Unplug any appliances/electronics when they are not in use.
8. Install energy-saving light bulbs.
9. Avoid screens (no tv, movies, video games, etc.).

Reduce Waste

1. Get a compost bin.
2. Buy yourself a stainless steel or glass water bottle (anything but plastic!)
3. Buy yourself a coffee/tea travel mug.
4. Bring that travel mug to the coffee shop instead of using a disposable cup.
5. Take part in a community clean-up (or organize your own!)
6. Bring your own cloth grocery bags to the grocery store instead of buying the plastic ones.
7. Plan a clothing swap with friends, family or the community.
8. Pack your lunch in a reusable container.

Connect with Nature

1. Have a picnic.
2. Plant a tree (or bush, or flowers, or herbs. Whatever floats your boat).
3. Buy a house plant.
4. Do some gardening.
5. Go for a hike and appreciate nature.
6. Go for a swim in a lake or ocean and appreciate it’s cleanliness, if you live somewhere that’s possible.

Other Ideas

1. Volunteer with a local environmental organization.
2. Volunteer at an animal shelter.
3. Avoid eating meat and/or animal products for the day.
4. Buy locally-grown food.
5. Switch to paperless billing.
6. Learn to cook something new from scratch.

Have any other ideas about how you can easily celebrate Earth Day? Let me know in the comments below!