Today is Earth Day! Yeah, sure – we should be celebrating Earth Day EVERYDAY, but let’s be realistic. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep the Earth in mind when you’re dealing with everyday life. From recycling to eliminating wasteful energy consumption, there are more than enough ways to “go green” but how do you incorporate a greener lifestyle that’s easy to incorporate in your everyday life? That’s why I’ve compiled 5 easy ways to travel GREEN and celebrate Earth Day Everyday below.
5. FLY WITH AN E-TICKET. The cost of processing a paper ticket is approximately $10, while processing an e-ticket costs only $1. In the near future, e-tickets will be the only option, saving the airline industry $3 billion a year. In addition to financial savings, the sheer amount of paper eliminated by this process is commendable.
4. USE WATER WISELY. BRUSHING YOUR TEETH. You’ve heard this one before, but maybe you still do it. You’ll conserve up to five gallons per day if you stop running the water while brushing your teeth. Daily savings in the U.S. alone could add up to 1.5 billion gallons–more water than folks use in the Big Apple. BAN BATHTIME! Have a no-bath week, and take showers instead. Baths require almost twice as much water. Not only will you reduce water consumption, but the energy costs associated with heating the water. TAKE A SHORTER SHOWER. Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water. If everyone in the country saved just one gallon from their daily shower, over the course of the year it would equal twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day. SHOWER WITH YOUR PARTNER. Sneak in a shower with your loved one to start the day with some zest that doesn’t come in a bar. Not only have you made a wise choice for the environment, but you may notice some other added…um…benefits.
3. TURN OFF LIGHTS. Always turn off incandescent bulbs when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You’ll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.
2. INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP. If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange! SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRER. Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. But skipping the stirrer doesn’t mean drinking your coffee black. Simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee, and it should be well mixed. RETHINK BOTTLED WATER. Nearly 90% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, instead taking thousands of years to decompose. Buy a reusable container and fill it with tap water, a great choice for the environment, your wallet, and possibly your health. The EPA’s standards for tap water are more stringent than the FDA’s standards for bottled water.
1. REUSE HOTEL TOWELS. By reusing hotel towels and eliminating daily replacement, you can help your favorite hotel save laundry loads, related water/sewer, energy and labor costs by 17%. In addition, your hotel’s linen and towel lifespan can be expanded, thereby decreasing replacement costs.
Want to take your green living to the next level? Discover how to digitally go green with easy everyday tips – plus green driving tips at DivasandDorks and DivasDriveInHeels.com. Discover stylish accessories that’ll help you recycle and transform your office space and for more ideas on how to go green, visit 50 ways to help the planet and start making greener choices today!
