Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth Day, which marks its 40th year on April 22, is a time for people around the world to celebrate the good things the earth provides: food, water, plants, animals and everything we need to survive and thrive.

There are lots of ways to get involved in the protection of our planet, from supporting reef conservation and protecting the habitats of endangered species to participating in organized clean-ups of local outdoor spaces.

Here are some simple ways everyone can celebrate Earth Day right from Home:

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 18 glasses of water.

• Leaving a room? Turn off the light.

• Avoid plastic bags for fruits and veggies. Leave them loose or score reusable produce net bags.

• Clean the dryer lint screen with each use and don't overload the dryer. Bonus points: Use a clothesline.

• Avoid buying or using plastic silverware, styrofoam and paper plates.

• Recycle. Just by salvaging paper, we can reduce 50 percent of the waste sent to landfills. For every 10 aluminum or steel cans recycled, we save 4 pounds of carbon; for every 10 glass bottles, we save 3 pounds of carbon.

• Go for products made from recycled materials; foil, tissue and paper towels are a good start.

• Plant a tree. Select a site with adequate sunlight, and enough room for roots and branches to reach full size. Avoid overhead and underground utilities. Make sure to water it until it is well established.

Learn about your impact on the environment. Take the ecological footprint quiz to see how much "nature" your current lifestyle requires.

Additional Resources:

• Earth Day 2010
• Eartheasy - Sustainable Living
• CEA, Akumal
• Plastic Bag Reduction
• Plastic Bags: Friend or Foe?
• Earth Resource Foundation

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