go green

Earth Day is April 22, and while you should be kind to the planet every day, this is a day to show appreciation and implement habits that will benefit everyone.

› By Laurel Gillum

ONE MILLION STARTS WITH ONE—HERE ARE 10 SIMPLE WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

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Ride your bicycle. The fewer cars on the road, the healthier our atmosphere will be. Walk, ride your bike or carpool when possible.

Go outside. Although Netflix sounds intriguing, take advantage of Florida’s beautiful weather and go outside. Go to the park and swing, find a spot to have a picnic with friends or spread out a blanket and watch the clouds roll by.

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There are numerous festivals, organized cleanups and walks to participate in close to Earth Day. Check out earthday.org for a list of events happening in your area. Don’t forget to spread the word.

Buy local. Food you find in the grocery store travels an average 1,500 miles before it reaches you. That sure equals up to a lot of fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions! Instead, check out a roadside produce stand, a local farm or the farmers market.

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Plant a tree. Trees clean the air and give o muchneeded oxygen. So why not plant a new tree in your yard? Another option is to plant your own fruit and veggie patch. If the majority of people did this, it would help reduce the amount of fossil fuel emissions by not having to transport as much food to stores.

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Say “no” to plastic. Americans use an estimated 100 billion plastic bags every year. Be a part of the movement and buy some cute reusable bags for your next grocery store trip. No doubt you’ll be the most stylish and eco-friendly shopper in sight.

Conserve water.

Whether brushing your teeth or flossing, turn the water o when not in use. Shorten your showers, too. Try setting a timer!

Be thrifty. Donate your old clothes to a local shelter or consignment shop. Recycling unwanted clothing not only reduces landfill waste, it also lessens the demand for resources that are needed to produce new clothing.

Start recycling. Many of us recycle at home these days, but do you recycle while at work? If your job doesn’t recycle, consider speaking with your boss about starting a recycling program or, at the very least, bring your recyclable materials home with you instead of tossing them in the trash. Also, ditch the plastic water bottles while at work. Invest in a reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated throughout the day.

Sources:realsimple.com, teenvogue.com