Get Your Green On for Earth Day and Beyond

Earth Day is upon us again; a time to reflect upon what we can do to help get this planet back into shape. There are a lot of minor holidays during the year, but few carry the profound significance of this day. Why? Because unlike most holidays, Earth Day is about conservation, not consumption. It is about living consciously, and with regard to our precious planet, which provides us with a place to live and food to eat, while asking nothing in return. But the simple fact is that in her serene silence, the Earth is suffering; from pollution, global warming, overfilled landfills…the list goes on and on. If we choose to be ignorant of the ground literally beneath our feet, there will come a time when our hubris will lead to our doom. That is why, here at coupon-gurus.com, we take Earth Day very seriously. And we think it shouldn’t be about just one day, but each and every day. So, we’ve decided to bring you some tips on how to be more green in your everyday life.

-First, we know you have heard it before, but carpool, carpool, carpool! You can eliminate one pound of greenhouse gas by eliminating just one mile of driving.  And did you know you can report those smoking, stinking vehicle on the road, puffing out noxious emissions? Just call 1 800 28-SMOKE and give them the license plate number. Also, idling your car wastes more gas than restarting it. Americans idle away about 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, so the next time you are waiting in your friend’s driveway and she is taking her time getting out of her house, turn off the car.

-The average person uses about 27 lbs of paper a year. Few people seem to be aware that most printers can be set to print on both sides. Using only one side of a piece of paper for notices, letters, etc. is just a waste!
Almost every kind bottle can be recycled. Look at the label for the universal recycle symbol (the chasing arrows) to make sure the bottles you are buying can be recycled. Containers with these markings are fine to go in your curbside bin and will be accepted at recycling centers.

-Unplugging your cell phone charger, blowdryer, and other household electronics from the wall when you’re not using them saves power; even when they are turned off, they use phantom power that adds up.

-More than half of all electricity consumers in the U.S. have the option of purchasing green power from their utility company. Find out how you can get green power by visiting the Department of Energy’s state-by-state list of providers.

-Wash Cold! Most loads of laundry don’t need hot water, and 90% of the energy used by your washing machine is from heating the water.

-Stop getting junk mail! If you are like us here, you probably just throw it away without even a second glance. You can stop 75% of unsolicited mail by registering on the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association Website for just $1.

-Lastly, when you do have to consume, try to purchase items that are green, or from companies who have green business practices. Supporting those who are supporting change is a great way to make your mark. Reward earth-conscious companies with your business and loyalty.

coupon-gurus.com has a lot of great online stores that support green living. The Nature Conservatory at Shop.nature.org has items like reusable water bottles and recycled notebooks. Start composting with CompostBins.com, where you can get all sorts of compost bins and equipment to turn your scraps into organic fertilizer. RainBarrelSource.com is a great place to start water preservation for your home. BabyEarth.com is site dedicated to providing eco-friendly organic baby gear for your little ones. For those with a green thumb, GreenGardenTools.com is the largest online merchant of environmentally friendly hand, battery and electrically powered lawn and garden tools.

A few small changes on your part add up to big changes for the earth, so think and live green this Earth Day, and every day.