5 Ways You Can Participate in Earth Day 2009

According to the Earth Day Network’s web site, it took us (collectively as a human race) about 125 years to use our first trillion barrels of oil. We’re going to use up the next trillion barrels in only 30 years.

It stands to reason our increased oil usage has an impact on our environment, our health and our lives.

So this year as we celebrate Earth Day let’s remember there are simple yet effective steps we can take to help preserve our world. Here are 5 things you can do right now to honor Earth Day this year.

1.) Replace your light bulbs with energy star bulbs. This simple step can reduce your carbon footprint by 450 pounds per year. And all you need to do is by energy efficient light bulbs and use them! There’s more information here at the official Energy Star web site: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=lighting.pr_lighting

2.) Plant a tree. Trees are Mother Nature’s all-in-one air conditioner and heater. It’s estimated that three properly-planted trees can reduce energy bills by as much as 30% – that’s both heating and cooling. Help out by planting a tree this year on Earth Day.

You can plant one in your yard or donate one to someone. If neither of those options work for you then consider donating a tree to one of our national parks. Find more at the Arbor Day Foundation’s web site: https://www.arborday.org/trees/

3.) Celebrate Earth Day locally. There are lots of events being held on Earth Day so find one and join in!

Whether you’re a student on campus, live in the suburbs or are an urban dweller you’ll find various events going on in your area. Pitch in, lend a hand and promote saving our Earth. Go to Earth Day’s web site to find what’s happening in your town: https://earthday.net/

4.) Buy local, organic food. By some estimates our US-grown produce travels up to 1500 miles before it reaches our neighborhood supermarket. When you calculate one gallon of gas creates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide you can see how much damage produce can do – and that’s for US-grown food.

Buying organic saves the Earth because you aren’t adding harmful chemicals into our eco-system (not to mention they aren’t going into your body).

Check out Local Harvest’s web site for more information: https://www.localharvest.org/buylocal.jsp

5.) Ride an Optibike. According to the Earth Day web site, by the year 2030 the world will consume 47% more oil than it did in 2003.

And almost all of us contribute to that statistic – especially if we drive a car.

So choosing to ride the electric bicycle Optibike versus driving a car means you aren’t using oil to run the bike and you aren’t polluting the air when you do.

In fact your carbon footprint from riding an Optibike is very small – Optibike gets the equivalent of 2,000 miles per gallon. No hybrid can offer you that kind of gas mileage!

Start with these and you’re bound to find many more ways you can go green this year for Earth Day – and every day after that.