Earth Day is April 22nd, and Himmelfarb Library wants to encourage you to celebrate by making small changes to help keep our planet healthy - because healthy living is easiest on a healthy planet. Here are 10 simple choices you can make to have a healthy impact on our planet this Earth Day and every day!
- Drive Less: Driving may be a convenient way to get from point A to point B, but there are numerous planet-friendly options that have a much lighter impact on the environment. Biking or walking when you’re going shorter distances are great options to decrease your carbon footprint and to get in some great exercise too! If your destination is too far to walk or bike, consider taking public transportation like Metro.
- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: By now, you’re likely familiar with the 3 R’s of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Reducing the number of things you throw away starts by being aware of the amount of packaging in the things you purchase. Try to purchase options with minimal unnecessary packaging, so the amount of packaging you throw into the trash can or recycle bin is reduced. Reuse and/or repurpose items as much as possible. Instead of throwing away that peanut butter jar, could you reuse it for another purpose after it’s been washed? If you really don’t have another use for an object, do your best to recycle it when you’re finished with it.
- Choose Sustainable Seafood: If you eat fish, making sure your seafood choices are sustainable can have a positive impact on the environment. Whether you choose sustainably wild-caught or sustainably farmed seafood, sustainable seafood is harvested or farmed in a way that allows species to reproduce and the habitats the species call home to thrive. To learn more about how to make sustainable seafood choices, visit www.FishWatch.gov.
- Plant a Tree: Trees are incredibly important in the fight against climate change. Trees not only provide the oxygen we need to breathe, but they also help clean that air. Many of the products we use every day come from trees - wood furniture, wood framing in buildings, paper, cardboard boxes, and that delicious maple syrup on your pancakes! When making purchases of tree-based products such as paper, choose products that are sustainably harvested from companies that have responsible environmental practices. And do your part to help clean the air you breathe by planting a tree!
- Conserve Water: By cutting down on the amount of water you use, you can help reduce the amount of runoff and wastewater that eventually ends up in the earth’s waterways and oceans. There are lots of little things you can do to make a big impact! From fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, turning off the water while you brush your teeth, to only running the dishwasher when it’s full, composting food waste instead of using the garbage disposal, and only washing full loads of laundry - you can save water every day by making easy, small choices. To learn more about things you can do to conserve water, check out the EPA’s WaterSense website.
- Shop Wisely: As a consumer, you can make your voice and your values heard with the purchasing choices you make. If you value recycling, make a point to purchase items made from recycled materials instead of options that are made from new raw materials. Buy items that have less packaging and will therefore create less waste. Use reusable shopping bags, a choice that is not only good for the environment but will save you the bag tax in many areas.
- Don’t Send Chemicals into Waterways: Use non-toxic chemicals and products whenever possible to prevent harmful chemicals from ending up on our waterways. Non-toxic, plant-based products are widely available for a wide variety of products including dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning products, and hand soaps.
- Switch to Long-Lasting Lightbulbs: Energy-efficient light bulbs not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they can also help you save on your electricity bill! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED light bulbs “use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting” and can last three to five times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs (United States Department of Energy, n.d.). Want to save even more? Turn the lights off when you leave a room!
- Educate: If you want to make an impact on the environment, the best thing you can do is to educate yourself on things you can do to make a difference. Once you know more, you can do more to further your impact!
- Volunteer: Lastly, volunteer for community cleanups, watershed projects, and environmental projects. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the region, including with DC’s Department of Energy and Environment, and on-campus through GW Sustainability and a variety of student groups.
Celebrate Earth Day this year by making small changes that can have a big impact on the planet! Healthy living is easiest on a healthy planet, so do your part to keep our planet healthy and thriving.
References:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service. (n.d.). Protecting our planet starts with you. National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean/earthday.html
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. (n.d.). Sustainable seafood. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/sustainable-seafood
United States Department of Energy. (n.d.). Energy saver - LED lighting. United States Department of Energy website. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/led-lighting
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (September 23, 2022). WaterSense: Start saving. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/start-saving
