Today is Earth Day. Thirty-eight years ago, the United States started Earth Day. Now it is celebrated globally. If everyone can do some small part towards helping save our Earth, what a difference we each can make.

I have changed my electrical regular bulbs to the Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs. The facts from Energy Star about these CFL bulbs are:

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

It is amazing one light bulb can make that big of a difference.

I try to be careful with the use of water: I use a dishpan to collect the water needed to wash dishes. I don’t have a dishwasher. I use the water on my plants outside after washing my dishes. In my shower I use a water reduction flow head.
According to the EPA:

Across the country, our growing population is putting stress on available water supplies. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled! Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day—enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! This increased demand has put additional stress on water supplies and distribution systems, threatening both human health and the environment.

There’s a reason that water has become a national priority. A recent government survey showed at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013. But by using water more efficiently, we can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money, and protect the environment.

With the ever increasing gasoline prices, I try to make sure I make one trip errands and plan a route.

Working on my recycling habits more. Sorting through the plastic containers and bagging by the number on the containers. I sure have a lot of number 5 to set out for the recycling truck that comes through our neighborhood. My newspapers got to the local Animal Shelter to be recycle for the animal cages. Aluminum soda cans are collected for a Christian Woman’s group to sale to add in giving to Habitat For Humanity.

One way to save on electricity on your drying time with your laundry is by turning the wash load on re-spin the excess water out of the laundry at the end of the cycle. Takes less time to dry your laundry by almost half the time.

Take some time each day and make a difference with our Earth and protecting her.