Guest Author - Sandy Mullins

April 22, is Earth Day set aside in celebration of the protection of our planet Earth. A lot of you try and do things every day to help, such as recycling, driving less or more economical cars and conserving energy. I always though I was fairly good, I recycle more than my neighbors, most of Iowa’s recycle their cans and bottles due to the five-cent redemption fee we have. Granted a lot of us shop in Missouri and Nebraska to avoid paying the five cents and then still turn our cans and bottles in for redemption. I don’t do that per say I donate ours to my other half’s work place for the annual party. I do recycle my newspapers, plastic bottles and generally my glass into the local recycling program. Living rurally in Iowa, I miss the curbside pickup I had in the greater Phoenix area, and it made it so easy. I tend to drive my other-half crazy when I nag him to take in recycling in or to recycle sometimes, but I do try to do something.

Today I took the Ecological Footprint Quiz and was shocked at how high my score was. How high or low is yours? To find out my score go to the forum, post yours and read what mine was. Maybe we can all learn and change the way we do things. For the Ecological Footprint Quiz and Earth Day Events in your area please check the links at the end of the article. To learn more what you can do to help in your every day life continue reading.

This year and for the next three years, Earth Day Campaign will strive to educate on the urgent need to take steps to control climate changes. They even have a top ten list of things you can do to help stop climate change.

Top 10 list than you can do:
1. Project Switch: Change your lightbulb to CFLs (Compact Fluorescent
Lightbulb). Yes, they cost a little more up-front but save you money in the long run.
2. Drive your car differently - or drive a different car altogether! Things you can do, drive less, tune ups, and slow down.
3. Your house - not too hot, not too cold! Buy newer efficient heating and cooling systems or get it tuned up, clean vents, close unused vents and clean filters, install programable thermostats, two degrees warmer in the summer and colder in the winter, good seals on windows and doors, and last must of course the hardest for us use ceiling fans more A/C less.
4. Tame the refrigerator monster! Older models use more energy, monitor the thermostat, position of refridgerator not near a heater or bright window, use the energy saver, clean the condenser coil, get rid of the second one, and make sure the seals are good.
5. Twist the knobs on your other household appliances! Turn the hot water heater down or conservation setting, insulate your hot water heater, install a timer on your water heater, wash a few dishes by hand, don’t pre rinse dishes, run a full load, wash clothes in warm water, don’t over dry you clothes.
6. Green plants with less water, more trees to provide shade.
7. Buy Green Energy, and invest in green energy stocks.
8. Go organic. Chemical pesticides kill off microorganisms that keep carbon in the soil, eat locally grown food, eat fruits and vegetables, plant your own garden.
9. Buy recycled.
10. Be a minimalist. Buy bulk when possible, buy just what you need, donate clothing without replacing it, buy quality, use recycled products when possible.