This Earth Day 2009, let’s take a look at some simple, practical green tips for adopting a healthier, greener lifestyle and reducing your environmental impact.

Clean Up Your Food

1. Buy organic, locally grown produce. A weekly visit to your local Farmer’s Market is a great way to support local farmers.

2. Eat less red meat. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN says livestock production is one of the major causes of the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, and air and water pollution.

Reduce Waste

3. Be vigilant about recycling. Don’t forget to also recycle used batteries.

4. Avoid individually packaged items.

5. Consider making your own baby food instead of buying hundreds of those pesky little jars.

6. Buy items in recycled packaging.

7. Instead of throwing away stuff you don’t need, donate.

8. Take old computers and electronics to a gathering center.

9. Instead of buying books and videos, check them out at the local library or rent videos at the local video store.

10. Reuse paper scraps and packaging for crafts and play activities.

11. Choose a reusable bottle and fill it with filtered tap water.

12. Cut up old clothes and linens and use them as cleaning rags.

13. Keep a reusable bag in your car at all times for shopping trips.

14. Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible.

15. To avoid use of “to-go” packaging, sit down, have your coffee at the coffee shop and ask them to use a mug instead of a paper cup. It will give you a nice break too!

16. Give a great deal of thought to your purchases. Don’t buy something unless you truly need it. Don’t engage in “recreational shopping.”

17. Use reusable cloths and towels instead of paper towels.

18. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.

19. Consider using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. Not everyone agrees this is actually helpful in terms of the environment, but if you’re expecting a baby, it’s a good idea to research the topic.

20. Reuse empty jars: turn them into containers for leftover foods, for holding craft supplies, or even for original homemade gifts.

21. When packing or storing food, choose reusable plastic containers instead of Ziploc bags.

22. Sign up to receive paperless statement from your bank or broker.

23. Pay your bills online.

Save Energy

24. Don’t be too quick to turn on the lights in the evening. Are you SURE you need to turn them on? Could you get enough light by simply opening a curtain?

25. Turn off the light when you leave a room.

26. Unplug electronics when they are not in use, especially overnight or when going on vacation.

27. Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

28. Wash your clothes with cold water.

29. When using the washer to wash clothes, only do full loads. Small loads are wasteful.

30. Turn your thermostat down in the winter.

31. Minimize use of air conditioner during summer. Install a ceiling fan.

32. Plant deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves in the fall). It’s a great way to cool your home and reduce your air conditioning costs during the summer.

33. Regularly clean your refrigerator coils.

34. Replace weatherstripping around the house.

35. Use a clothesline in the summer instead of the dryer.

36. Keep the temperature of your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

37. When it’s time to replace your appliances, buy energy-efficient appliances.

Conserve Water

38. Install a low-flow shower head.

39. Limit your showers to five minutes or less.

40. Only use the dishwasher when it’s packed.

41. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.

42. When landscaping, consider low-maintenance alternatives to traditional lawn grass.

43. Fix leaking faucets.

Support Eco-Friendly Manufacturers

44. When shopping for clothes, check the labels for eco-friendly materials like organic cotton.

45. When you have a choice, choose organic and green products, including personal care products and cleaning products, over mainstream items.

Save The Air And The Soil

46. When it’s time to buy a new car, get a smaller, more fuel-efficient car.

47. Use public transportation or bikes as much as possible.

48. Combine your errands into a once-a-week session to minimize driving.

49. Use green detergents and soaps. Avoid chlorine bleach and antibacterial products.

50. Compost. Composting is a natural process that keeps organic nutrients cycling from soil to plants and back to the soil. You can use organic waste from your home such as fruit peels to return needed nutrients to the soil and reduce trash.

51. When looking for a home, look for a small home with green features.

52. When planning a trip, be aware of the damage air travel does to the environment and try to find alternative ways to travel.

53. Consider a staycation instead of a vacation.

54. Carpool to school and to work as often as possible.

After struggling for a long time to incorporate green practices into my daily routine, I am finally doing better. I probably follow more than half of these tips, which is huge for me. I’ve definitely come a long way since last year. But it’s not enough. My goal is to incorporate more and more of these tips until they become second nature and I don’t feel like I’m making a special effort anymore.

Image credit: pomme rewny

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