April 21, 2006
Another year of having the earth sustain us has come and gone. That sustenance is something that many of us take for granted as we go about our daily activities. On Saturday, April 22, we have an opportunity to stop and count our blessings for having the opportunity to live in such a bountiful and beautiful part of the world.
So what happens when April 22 has come and gone? Take some time to think of ways in which you can help sustain our environment and keep it healthy. A few ways in which you can help are listed below:
1. Buy permanent items rather than disposable items that end up in the landfill.
2. Buy products with less packaging materials.
3. Use durable coffee mugs that can be washed and re-used.
4. Use cloth napkins and towels.
5. Re-cycle electronic items safely. Go to www.epa.gov/eCycling for details.
6. Buy items made from recycled materials.
7. Use fluorescent light bulbs to save energy and reduce power bills. These bulbs last an average of five years and pay for themselves within the first six months that you use them. It has been estimated that if every household in the United States replaced one light bulb with a fluorescent bulb, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the highways!
These are just a few suggestions for you to consider and to incorporate into your everyday life. There are many other ways that will help reduce our impact on our environment which I’m sure you already know. Just remember the three R’s: Reduce what you use, Re-use what you can, and Recycle whatever you can.
Happy Earth Day!
Ye Olde Ecology Professor
Dr. Julie Wade
Professor of Biology