MADISON — This Thursday, April 22, marks the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day and a leading environmental organization is encouraging residents to celebrate with action by releasing 40 earth-friendly ways to celebrate.
“Whether at home, on your commute, at work, in your community, or on vacation, there are hundreds of simple actions you can take that will help protect Wisconsin’s beautiful environment,” said Mark Redsten, executive director of Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization founded on the first Earth Day. “If we all celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by making a few small changes, it will have a huge impact on our environment.”
The 40 earth-friendly actions include:
At home
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Properly recycle spent CFLs and old mercury thermostats
- Look for the Energy Star logo when replacing appliances
- Take shorter showers
- Install a low-flow shower head
- Use cold water for your laundry
- Use eco-friendly cleaning products
- Use a clothesline instead of a dryer
- Take advantage of tax credits to make your home more efficient
- Use natural lawn care products
- Insulate your water heater
- Enroll in paperless billing
- Give your old stuff a new home
- Use the library instead of buying books, music and movies
- Opt out of junk mail lists by visiting dmachoice.org
On your commute
- Bike or walk instead of driving
- Use public transportation
- Carpool
- Consider fuel efficiency when buying a vehicle
- Keep your tires fully inflated
- Avoid drive-thru lanes and wasteful idling
At work
- Turn off computers, monitors and printers at the end of the day
- Unplug electronics and chargers to prevent phantom-load
- Set printers to double-sided printing
- Use a reusable coffee mug
On the table
- Eat locally — visit the farmer’s market
- Look for the Something Special from Wisconsin logo on foods
- Eat low on the food chain
- Use cloth napkins
- Use tap water instead of bottled water
On vacation
- Stay close to home — visit a Wisconsin state park
- Use non-motorized recreation like bikes, canoes and kayaks
- Teach your children to enjoy, respect and appreciate the outdoors
- Only use local firewood
- Look for the Travel Green Wisconsin logo
In your community
- Bring your own bags to the store
- Volunteer for a river or park clean-up
- Vote for environmentally friendly leaders
- Join Clean Wisconsin
“Making simple life changes this Earth Day will help ensure that future generations enjoy a clean and healthy Wisconsin,” said Redsten.
