Today marks the 35th anniversary of Earth Day. Though it may seem like just another silly "keep this in mind" day, it affects us more than you think.
When we hear "Earth Day," we mostly think about the "three Rs."
("Reduce, reuse and recycle," for those of you who have forgotten.)
However, there's a lot more to Earth Day than hugging trees and saving whales. It's an attempt to change the world for the better, starting with the people who have the most influence on it: the residents.
At the core of most Earth Day activities, you'll find a simple, yet important, effort to get consumers to conserve (see: "Reduce")... well, just about everything.
We've all heard since we were young that it's a good idea to turn off the faucet when it's not being used -- when brushing your teeth, for instance. There's also the fact that shorter showers help to reduce energy and water consumption.
Replacing your appliances with conservation-friendly devices may be an expensive initial investment, but in the long run it can save you hundreds of dollars a year, if you pay close enough attention to the Energy Guide. Over time, the savings add up to the cost of the appliance -- if not, they exceed it.
Use your ceiling fans -- the increased circulation helps to conserve heating and cooling bills far more than it costs to run the fan.
There's more. Donate or recycle old cell phones and use rechargeable batteries. Switch to paper-less account statements, if you pay your utility and credit card bills online. Turn off your computer when it's not being used. (Your away message stalker may dislike the idea, but it'll save you money in the end.)
Don't forget doors and windows. From the front door to your apartment to the freezer door on the refrigerator to the garage door back home, keeping them closed more often helps to save energy and, more relevant to you, money.
Essentially, just consider what you're doing and whether or not it's the most efficient way to do it. This makes sense: You wouldn't order food if you weren't going to eat it, and you wouldn't buy a new stereo if you weren't going to listen to it. Consider the world's resources as if they were your personal savings -- you'll be less likely to waste them that way.
When it comes down to it, Earth Day encourages simple thinking through logic and common sense.
Now what could be more down-to-earth than that?
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