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I love Earth Day and I look forward to it each year. I think it is a great reminder to take a step back from our busy lives and look at ways that we can all make a difference. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and is always celebrated on April 22nd of each year.
Some Earth Day Trivia for you today: (answers will be below in the comment section)
1) Which household appliance uses the most energy?
A) Refrigerator
B) Toaster
C) Dishwasher
D) Washing machine
2) “Phantom carriers” is a term used for electronic devices that:
A) Move from room to room
B) Continue to consume electricity even when switched off
C) Are really expensive
D) Are energy efficient
3) What percentage do heating costs rise by for every degree above 20°C that you set your household thermostat in the winter?
A) 2%
B) 4%
C) 5%
D) 7%
4) A typical 5-minute shower uses ____ litres of water:
A) 50
B) 100
C) 150
D) 200
5) How much water is used to produce 1kg of paper?
A) 100 litres
B) 200 litres
C) 300 litres
D) 400 litres
Here are the Top 10 actions to reduce your impact on the environment according to Earth Day Canada:
1) Smart Shopping
• “Buy what you need, not what you want”
• Consider renting and borrowing things that are
seldom needed
• Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores
2) Simple Savers
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact
fluorescent bulbs
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- Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
- Weatherstrip windows and doors
3) Transportation Alternatives
• Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
• When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
• Consider car sharing programs or renting
4) Food Choices
• Choose local and organic foods that are in season
• Eat less meat & try out vegan recipes!
5) Washing and Drying
• Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry
6) Heating and cooling
• For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C
• For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C
• Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats
7) Close to Home
• Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible
8.) Bathroom Basics
• Take short showers instead of baths
• Close water taps while brushing your teeth
9) Careful Cleaning
• Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products
• Make natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water
10) Don’t Discard
• Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
• Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc.
should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers
I would also like to add one…
11) Set up a a kitchen compost
- You can reduce your waste output by 33% by simply discarding your food scraps and yard wastes into a compost.
You don’t need anything fancy, just a small garbage container or an unused pail you have lying around the house! Then line it with compostable bags or paper bags.
Ours gets filled with green tea quite a bit… :oops:
Our city actually has a wonderful wet/dry garbage system in place (Click to enlarge)
Fun fact: Our compost bin fills up MUCH faster than our regular garbage bin does!
Today’s question: How do you reduce your carbon footprint? Does your city have a Wet/Dry program?
(See the comments below for the answers to the quiz.)
Have a great Earth Day!