What to Learn from Earth Day 2010

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. What have you done to show thanks for the Earth?

Here are 10 easy ways to show appreciation to Mother Earth, save a little money, and become more environmentally understanding:

1. Use compact fluorescent lamps to reduce your carbon footprint.
2. Go see Disney’s Oceans and Disneynature, Disney’s filmmakers, will make a donation to save our coral reefs.
3. Choose your detergent wisely. A lot of brands use phosphates and petroleum products. Phosphate promotes algae growth, which can have an adverse effect on the eco-system. Petroleum can be hard on the planet and increase the need for oil. Using concentrated detergent saves energy because it takes less spaced and fuel in its distribution. The saves energy and promotes a healthier environment. Also avoid using the dryer. Use a clothing line to let clothes air-dry.
4. Carry a cloth bag instead of a plastic one. Grocery stores everywhere are starting to adapt this simple alternative. These bags are inexpensive and provide an easy way to decrease plastic bag use and provide consumers with reusable item.
5. Park your car for the day and walk. Save money on the gas and take in your surroundings. Also, walking promotes a healthier lifestyle!
6. Skip the bottled water. Bottled water is expensive and generates a large amount of container waste. Use a water filter and a reusable bottle.
7. Buy from local farmers. Buying from a farmers market cuts the transportation fuel and pollution caused by goods shipped from overseas.
8. Go Paperless! Pay as many bills online as possible.
9. 10 minute showers-make it a goal for yourself!
10. Lastly, the most widely known green principle: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Separate recyclables from your regular trash. This takes little effort and is a no-brainer. Recycling aluminum cans for instance takes as little as 5% of the energy we need to manufacture virgin aluminum.