Little Changes, Big Difference

I can't help but giggle at the daily "save the environment" habits I've easily become accustomed to.  After leaving each room, I make sure lights, music and tv's are always turned off.  Whenever I run errands and need to make a quick stop at a drive-thru bank, our dry cleaners or the occasional fast food/coffee joint, I turn off my vehicle's ignition, I never leave doors to the outside ajar for fear of wasting heat, I only run full loads of laundry...and so on.  It's amazing how quickly these habits became just that, habits.  And even more amazing how quickly my 2 year old has caught on to my behavior and practices some of the same energy saving habits as well.   

Our son never let's us leave a room if the lights are turned on.  Part of it is I know he loves to be in charge of turning the lights on/off and loves the recognition of doing a good deed.  But the other part I can't help but think is a little environmentalist emerging from his own personality.

And so I challenge all of you to pick one simple, easy energy saving, environmentally safe habit to embrace.  Every time I watch my son carefully turn off our lights and shut our doors to the outside, I think to myself if my 2 year old can so easily pick up on these great habits, why can't the rest of us?  If you need some ideas, below is a great list of easy habits to choose from:

• turn off your lights and unplug unused appliances (2/3 of electrical energy used in the US in the residential sector powers lights and appliances)
• stop idling in your vehicle (saves precious clean AIR that we breath, reduces use of power needed to operate our vehicles)
• quit using plastic water containers!  Duh, I cannot believe people still do this.  Spend $10 on a reusable water bottle and fill it up with safe water from your home.  Most water purchased in plastic bottles comes from municipal water supplies anyways (Aquafina).
• utilize mass transit if available
• seal up your house (weather stripping and caulking are inexpensive and work efficiently)
• buy recycled products if you can
• replace old furnaces, water heaters and other energy guzzling appliances
• reduce, reuse, recycle!
• cloth diaper
• replace toxic house cleaners with green cleaners (they really do work just as well)
• plant your own garden
• use washable hand towels versus paper towels (when you can)
• get involved in your community (become an activist, donate your time, do something!)
• try to plan your errands on the same day to reduce unnecessary driving)
• keep your vehicle in good working condition
• vote!
• purchase clean energy
• begin composting
• water only during cool hours

I'm sure there are so many more to think of.  With Earth Day approaching, maybe one of these could be one of your goals? 

Have a wonderful day,

Mommy Bridget