Happy Earth Day to our beloved planet.
Home Sweet Home!
What would we do without it?
Today is the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. This day is the official reminder to all of earth’s inhabitants to protect our planet from further damage and make every effort you can to clean it up! This year Earth Day falls on the same day as Christian Good Friday and Judaism’s celebration of Passover. For many, this day is a reminder to clean up your spirit as well as your habitat.
Today environmentalists are calling for “A Billion Acts of Green” A billion is a big number, but as we know here at The Tiniest Tiger’s Conservation Cub Club, small paws united can make a big difference. So if each of us commit to making small changes in our own habitats, these small changes will make a big difference.
I am asking you to make one change, even something small but sustainable in your own lives to improve the health of our planet.
Bad Kitty and I made a list of small changes that can make a big difference.
1) Stop buying bottled water! Americans consume 8.6 billion gallons of bottled water every year. 40% of that bottled water is taken from municipal water sources, a.k.a. tap water. It takes 17 million barrels of oil to produce the plastic water bottles every year and that is enough fuel for 1 million cars for a year. Only 1 in 5 water bottles are recycled. and these bottle contribute 3 billion pounds of waste in our landfills
2) Change to CFL bulbs from fluorescent light bulbs- they have improved significantly and CFLs, when compared with standard incandescent bulbs help save energy and money. They use 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Second, CFLs offer convenience, because they last longer, and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture. In addition, CFLs produce about 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs, so they’re safer to operate and can help cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
3) Eliminate using pesticides and toxic cleaning products. The bees and bugs need our help. Let your lawn be colorful with sunny faced dandelions! You and your pets will be safer and healthier, not to mention our outdoor friends, like Bossy Backyard Blue Jay.
4) Take reusable canvas bags to the store! Plastic bags and packaging are responsible for a large portion of our waste in landfills. Plastic bags are also one of the most frequent products found littering our beaches, roads, sidewalks and vegetation. And these pesky plastic bags are made from a non-renewable source called petroleum.
Can you help us add to our list? What do you do in your habitat to help protect our home?
I have never used toxic chemicals inside or outside my house–can’t take the chance on hurting one of God’s creatures or the environment. I changed my light bulbs about a year ago, and I have been taking cloth grocery bags to the store with me for a couple of years now. I still buy bottled water, sometimes, but I clean and reuse the bottles repeatedly. Not perfect, but I’m getting there!
Super Hurrah Sherree! You are doing great.