Earth Day is coming what can you do for Mother Earth?

Here are a few of the things we do to minimize our carbon blueprint.
Read online newspapers and magazines

Give the extra plastic and paper products back to the fast food restaurants instead of throwing them away

Return hangars to the dry cleaners

Only use lights in the rooms you are in

When your incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with fluorescents

Turn off the water when you brush your teeth

Use "green bags" instead of plastic bags

Plan your routes so you don't make unnecessary trips - pick up groceries on your way home from an appointment

Use online banking instead of mailing your payments and ask for paperless statements - you'll reduce the paper in your office and the time and money to have someone file

Recycle paper that you've used by cutting them for notepads

Recycle your paper clips

Buy a Brita filter and a refillable bottle instead of bottled water

Eat leftovers

Cook entrees in large portions and freeze them - it saves energy

Don't rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher unless your dishwasher doesn't have a pot scrubber

Replace your appliances as you can with newer Energy Star appliances

Re-purpose materials when your remodel

Donate as many items as you can when remodeling

Buy for quality so you don't have to replace as often

Cut your shower time by 2 minutes if you can - it will save thousands of gallons of water. If you can, turn off the water while you shave your legs or shampoo your hair

Close your window treatments at night in the winter and during the day in the summer to minimize the temperature variations and costs for heating and cooling your home

Wait as long as possible to turn on your air conditioning and heating...use your window treatments to control the need for these appliances

Buy a front-load washer

Use bio degradable detergents and cleaning supplies

Recycle your electronic equipment responsibly

Caulk your windows and weather strip your doors

Plant trees in strategic spots to shade your windows - use evergreens in south or west facing areas and deciduous in east facing areas

Keep your refrigerator condenser vacuumed

Replace the filters in your furnace and better yet, use permanent ones that you can wash

Replace your hot water heater with a more efficient one and turn down the temperature a few degrees

Wash your car at the car wash, it uses less potable water

Recycle as much as you can, but minimize what you use even more

If you're replacing furniture, donate the old furniture to a worthy cause

By Gail Dolby