Given the immediate environmental challenges facing the world, two days a years to celebrate earth day and Arbor Day just doesn’t seem like enough to make long-term environmental changes. Why not use this month as inspiration and make a commitment to do environmentally friendly activities throughout the year?
Here are some ideas:
Green your office–Start a green team to suggest ways to reduce your office’s impact. A recycling program is obvious. Other strategies could entail ridding the kitchen of disposable goods, encouraging colleagues to bring their lunch in washable containers, replacing equipment that hogs energy, improving lighting and HVAC systems, installing a bike rack, brings flowers to work and using native plants that use less water around the outside of the office building.
Shop locally– Just consider the impact that packaging and shipping your goods has on the environment. Instead, shop locally. Walking to shops saves energy and you also help neighborhood businesses thrive. There usually many great tasting local foods available a farmers market. Check for local farmers markets and see the benefits of buying local.
Make mini moves–Build new habits that will have an ongoing impact. Those could include the basics, such as switching to CFL bulbs, fixing water leaks, or cutting the phantom power at home.
Do an energy audit–most power companies can help with an audit and they might have free items for you to have like water saving shower heads and pipe insulation. Invest in an energy audit to figure out exactly how your house wastes energy. Even if you’re on a tight budget, commit yourself to making some of the changes, and start setting aside money for costlier upgrades.
Car savings–Plan your trips around town. Save miles on the car and money.
Share your knowledge–Read about ‘doing green things’ Offer to make a presentation, talk and pass websites to colleagues. Pass the torch to the next generation by organizing an environmental event at a school or with a Girl Scout troop.
Get Involved–Whether it’s a community garden, road side cleanup or a committee, get involved in your community. Your participation raises your profile and helps network yourself. Your efforts have a direct impact on improving your community.
Learn something new–Still fuzzy on the details of programs like LEED or Energy Star? Wondering about new rebates and incentives? Spend time each week to find programs and trends.
Go Green
It seems everywhere you turn you hear the term ‘go green’. People have their own ideas, so here is mine. Each day think of some way not to impact Mother Nature adversely. When you think about the little things you can do it, is easy. Add a plant to your home or office.
Shop Locally. Plan your trips around town
Take your lunch in reusable containers
Pick up trash that is not yours