B Kind 2 Earth Day: Things To Do To Be #Kind2Earth Today

Happy Earth Day!

My son (James) surprised me last night.  He wanted to know what the plans were for Earth Day today.  He wanted to make sure that I had thought out and planned something to do in celebration of our Mother Earth.  I was tickled.  I assured him that I had plans for us.  Once I told him that our family was going to be working on our neighborhood, picking up trash after school and work today he felt a bit better.  My darling husband overheard our conversation and suggested that we plant some things today as well.  James was thrilled.  I think I did a good job raising him and making him aware.  Yeah me!

What can you do?  There are lots of things that you can do that require very little time/energy.  Take your kids for a walk and admire the beauty of our Earth, dispose of the disposable grocery bags, do a neighborhood cleanup or install a bird feeder – big or small, do whatever works for you!  Join your state by pledging to do something today – set an example for your children so they realize the importance of today.  If you want to follow along with everyone’s efforts or get some ideas of things to do, follow B Kind 2 Earth Day on Facebook.

Here are some Earth Day friendly suggestions:

If you live in Atlanta take advantage of Bliss’ offer to recycle your bottles all day today!

Enter Frigidaire’s Green Sweeps and support the 2011 Energy Star Partner of the Year for Appliances.

Hot Earth Day Tips from Siemens:

Thermostat

• Setting the thermostat to the highest setting will not make the house warm up faster; rather, it will just keep the furnace running longer.
• During the summer, a 5°F higher setting on the air conditioning thermostat will save about 10% on cooling costs; in the winter, lowering the temperature 3 to 5°F can save up to 20% on heating costs (about $180/year!)

Appliances and Electronics

• Appliances account for about 20% of household energy consumption (taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator).
• Power strips let you easily turn off multiple products with just one button to push.

Refrigerator

• After buying a new refrigerator or freezer, don’t put the old one in the garage or on the porch and keep using it. You only think you’re saving money.
• A 10° increase in temperature around your fridge can trigger 20% higher energy consumption; the refrigerator should be kept at 37 and 40° and the freezer between 0 and 5° degrees.

Landscaping

• Plant trees that lose leaves in the fall as they will protect your home from the summer sun and then allow winter sunlight and warmth to get inside.
• For shade from the hot summer sun, plant trees on the south, east and west sides of the home and to stop cold winter winds, create a windbreak with evergreen trees and shrubs.

Cooking

• If your food needs to cook for more than an hour, there’s no need to preheat your oven.
• Use an electric burner that is the right size a 6” pot on 8” burner wastes 40% of the energy.

Kid Friendly Suggestions of Things To Do from Livestrong.com:

Community Cleanup

Schedule a community cleanup day with the kids. You might focus on an area such as school grounds, your neighborhood or a community garden area. Cleaning up the local area helps the environment and creates a sense of community with the kids and other residents.

Garden

Planting seeds or plants on Earth Day is a natural option for kids’ activities. The type of plant depends on the area. If space allows, plant a tree or large vegetable garden. Growing your own vegetables lets you eliminate the use of chemicals.

Toy Swap

Throwing away old toys results in more waste in the landfill. Instead of tossing the toys that are boring, help the kids organize a toy swap. Each child brings her old toys that she no longer wants, and the kids swap toys with one another. That way, each child goes home with different toys, and nothing ends up in the landfill.

Pledge

Earth Day offers an opportunity for kids to think about their own actions and how they impact the earth. Help the kids create an Earth Day pledge that states what they promise to do to keep the earth clean while protecting the environment. Have each child sign the pledge.

Green Committee

A kids’ green committee puts the responsibility in the hands of the children. This idea works well in a school setting or other situation when a group of kids meets regularly. The green committee monitors the school to make sure the other kids are making green choices. They also find new ways to make the school green, such as adding recycling bins or planting flowers.