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Take steps to green your home, office, and environment throughout the year. Many of these ideas correspond to environmental celebrations going on around their respective week of the year, so each week – try something new!
Clean Green
Take steps to reduce the environmental impact in keeping your house clean. From products to actions, here are some ideas:
- Find a non-toxic biodegradable cleaner for your daily tasks, or mix your own with warm water, vinegar and baking soda.
- Keep windows open often to allow fresh air in and toxins flowing out.
- Use olive oil to polish your furniture.
- Buy some broad green leaf plants to filter your indoor air.
- Hang your clothes out to dry rather than using the dryer.
Week of Year: 31
100+ Ways to Conserve Water
With droughts occurring throughout the country, we all can be aware and take steps to reduce the amount of water we conserve.
The “Water – Use it Wisely” website site offers more than 200 water-saving tips.
Source: Water Use It Wisely
Week of Year: 32
Decrease Your Ozone Pollution
Ozone pollution can affect anyone who spends time outside in the summer.
What can you do this summer to help keep the air clean? Try reducing your car use by taking public transportation or walking and avoid refueling on ozone action days. If you are out in your car, avoid excessive idling or jack-rabbit starts and consolidate multiple errands into one trip.
Source: EPA
Week of Year: 33
Discover Amazing Things about the Earth
What unique natural phenomenon can you learn about today?
- Research threatened wildlife; find out where your local stream goes
- Explore nature nearby: go to the countryside, practice ecotourism, travel to beautiful places
- Watch documentary films: observe and understand the beauty of nature
Source: The Earth Cube
Week of Year: 34
Green Your Jeans
We all have our favorite pair of comfy jeans. Since non-organic cotton is responsible for 11% of global pesticide use, caring for your jeans and knowing when and what to purchase can make an impact!
- Look for organic jeans – many well known brands have organic cotton and non-toxic dyes lines
- Wash only when needed – to keep your jeans lasting longer, wash inside out, in cold water, and hang to dry
- Repurpose – when your jeans are worn out, find new ways to use them: purses, patches for your other jeans, get creative!
Source: Earth Share
Week of Year: 35
How to Live Alongside Wildlife
Hang bird feeders 3 feet or less from windows to prevent collisions. Collisions with windows is the number one cause of migratory bird population decline. When feeders are close to windows, birds cannot build up enough momentum to injure themselves should they hit your window. Bonus: bird-watching right outside the window!
Source: National Wildlife Federation
Week of Year: 36
Eco-Friendly Workouts
Take your environmentally friendly attitude to the gym! Talk with your local fitness club to see if they:
- Offer recycling
- Use low-flow faucets, shower heads, and toilets
- Clean with non-toxic products
- Encourage patrons to limit their towel usage
Week of Year: 37
Consume with Care
Discover an alternative to using traditional wrapping paper for birthday gifts – like scarves, old newspapers or discarded maps or magazines.
Vanish energy vampires— appliances that suck energy even when not being used – by unplugging them or using power strips.
Source: UNEP
Week of Year: 38
“Leaf” Your Gas Powered Tools Behind
As we start thinking about raking leaves and getting our yards ready for winter, we have a chance to clean up in a responsible way. Leaf blowers and lawn mowers powered by gas create a lot of noise and pollution. Use electric tools or rake your yard by hand (and get an extra workout). Compost your leaves, branches, and weeds as much as possible to avoid using the plastic trash bags and you’ll also have a head start on spring!
Week of Year: 39
Looks for Ways to Reduce Household Waste
Give cardboard tubes to pet hamsters or gerbils. Plant seeds in an egg carton. Make a flower pot out of a plastic ice cream tub. Many household items can be repurposed in creative ways to recycle and reduce waste.
Week of Year: 40
