Top Ten EASY Environmental Changes

Hello! Today is Blog Action Day over 10,000 bloggers reaching an estimated 7 million people have pledged to write about the URGENCY of the Global Environmental Crisis. So, I'll leave you to ponder the negatives somewhere else...because I want to be part of the SOLUTION! I've come up with Ten EASY ways to make a positive impact on the environment, because I know...now that I have kids...I am all about the easy!

Shall we! Let's do it in countdown; David Letterman style.

10. Take a canvas or duffle bag to the grocery store. I'm Not A Plastic Bag created quite a fashion craze here in LA but ANY bag will do. Book bag, duffle bag, laundry bag... Those plastic bags you use at the grocery store take 7 gallons of Petroleum to produce...YEP 7! For Each Bag! So help Gaia...reuse a bag.

9. Do your laundry in cold water. When you think about it most our laundry is done in cold water, and unless you have a stain...which you will pre-rinse anyway...use the COLD! Not only does this help the earth BUT it also cuts down on your energy bill.

8. Use Environmentally Low Impact Light Bulbs...Most people have heard about all the benefits by now...yes they cost more but you get thousands of hours of light compared to the meager hundreds by the old fashioned light bulb. The bulbs are available on line or at almost all home improvement stores: Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Osh. The bulbs use less electricity too so once again cutting down on your energy costs and helping Gaia at the same time!

7. Use powerstrips.

Some of the biggest energy wasters in most homes are the adapters that come with rechargeable battery-powered cordless phones, cell phones, digital cameras and music players, power tools, and other electronic devices. Most draw power whenever they’re plugged into an outlet, regardless of whether the device battery is fully charged—or even connected. Other culprits include appliances or electronic equipment with standby capability (such as televisions and computer monitors), a remote control, and/or a digital clock display (such as microwaves, DVD players, and stereo systems).

Energy vampires suck up over 65 BILLION Kilowatt hours each year in America, while NOT IN USE. That's right, while you are sleeping, at work, gardening...or doing anything other than watching television these little communication/entertainment darlings are using energy...energy that you are paying for! So before you go to bed, flip off the new powerstrip behind your tv shutting down the energy suckers: cable box, vcr, dvd player, and television thus saving you $$.

6. Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Supplies
Go for the Eco Friendly! Most big supermarket chains now carry eco-friendly alternatives to the planet polluting Ajax and Bleach. My favorite for scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom is Mrs. Meyer's Lavendar Cleaning Supplies

Seventh Generation is available in most groceries stores. Also Whole Foods has an excellent selection of pro-environment cleaning supplies. If you live in a community with a grocery store that doesn't offer these products....then ask the store manager! Stores want to provide their shoppers with the merchandise shoppers want. If the store believes the products will sell, then you can bet they'll start stocking the products.

5. Check and Change your Air Conditioner and Furnace Filter. Check these filters once a month, not only does this save energy but it also helps the air quality in your home.

4. Monitor your thermostat. In the summers our air-conditioner it set on 78, and we don't turn on the air unless the thermostat in the house reads 84. In the winter...which lucky for us we don't experience much of...we keep our thermostat set on 60....Save the Earth, put on a
sweater.

3. No Bottled Water! Much like 10 (see above)...you don't use paper plates every time you eat a meal so why use a plastic water bottle every time you get thirsty? Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up!

2. RECYCLE! This is one of the biggest ways to help the environment! Don't throw out your aluminum, glass, plastic, and newspapers. Store them in the garage or get a box or bin and then drop them off. We are lucky here, that our city has a recycling program and our stuff gets picked up once a week...but almost every city has at the very least a drop off place for recyclables.

1. Talk About Change Start a discussion with friends, family members, class mates, colleagues, and local leaders about the environment. Discuss the changes you are making and tell them why. If your city or town doesn't have a recycling program, call the mayor or your councilwom an. If your grocery store doesn't carry organic fruits and vegetables and eco-friendly products ask why...tell the manager you'd like to see them in the store.

Step up and help to be a positive force for change. Become part of the Solution!

Blessings to Gaia!