The best way to honor Earth Day is to make changes, take action, and increase awareness! “50 Ways to Honor Earth Day” includes fun experiences and activities, improvements for your office, home, and garden, and opportunities to learn and speak out on important issues. Originally developed as a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, our list has been refreshed and updated for 2021. Set a goal to accomplish as many of them as possible this year!
Sign Up and Speak Out
1. Become a member of Green Energy Ohio! Not only will you be supporting our work toward a greener future, but our memberships also offer a multitude of ways for you to grow as an individual or business.
2. Join the climate conversation! Use your extra free time to learn more about climate change and its impacts by joining Green Energy Ohio’s Climate Change Book Club on Facebook. Invite a friend to join!
3. Follow us on the Green Energy Ohio 2021 EV Tour June 7-11. Along with a dozen partners, we’ll be driving across the state to focus on all aspects of vehicle electrification.
4. Enroll in AEP Energy’s ECO-Advantage® program to source your electricity from wind, protect your home from rising energy costs, and support renewable energy resources. Mention GEO when signing up and AEP Energy will donate $30 to GEO’s programs!
5. Support GEO when you shop! Enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program, find us by name or with our organization code: JJ869
6. Write a letter or email to your Members of Congress supporting federal action on climate.
7. Sign up for a climate change newsletter, like Climate Nexus, InsideClimate News, or Midwest Energy News.
8. Learn about the challenges facing wildlife throughout the world and what your local zoo is doing to preserve endangered species.
9. Write a letter to your State Senators and Representatives opposing proposed legislation that would restrict wind farm development in Ohio: Senate Bill 52 and House Bill 118.
10. Find out what your community is doing to institute sustainable practices and fight climate change through Power a Clean Future Ohio.
11. Talk about climate change! Studies show that your friends and family are much more likely to listen to you on the issue than they are a voice on television. Become a trusted source of information and keep the conversation going.
12. Sign up for your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to support local farmers.
13. Register for a virtual training session with the Climate Reality Project and become part of a worldwide Leadership Corps of citizen activists.
14. Read about the sustainability ethic of the brands you buy and watch for the Certified B Corporation label for companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.
Ditch and Switch
15. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.
16. Use rechargeable batteries – to reduce the number of batteries you purchase and discard.
17. Switch to online billing.
18. Opt to stop receiving junk mail.
19. Purchase reusable or biodegradable cutlery, and keep them with you for summer picnics or eating on the go!
20. Break up with single-use plastic by purchasing reusable alternatives to water bottles, coffee cups, straws, and shopping bags.
21. Learn about the impact of transportation on our climate. Plan to incorporate more walking and biking into your daily life — and switch to more public transit once our lives return to normal.
22. Plan Meatless Monday meals. The U.N. reports that the meat industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Try a new recipe and challenge yourself!
23. Incorporate more eco-friendly products into your spring cleaning arsenal.
Green Home Makeover
24. Clean out your garage/basement and box up all paints, cleaners, etc. for disposal at hazardous waste drive-through sites – when they are available again.
25. Take an inventory of your stuff, donate what you don’t want, and don’t buy what you don’t need. Many organizations offer porch pick-up services – donate without leaving your doorstep.
26. Fix leaky taps and install low-flow faucets and showerheads to conserve water.
27. Get a spring check-up for your HVAC system to make sure it’s operating efficiently.
28. Calculate your household’s carbon footprint and learn more ways to reduce it!
29. Install a programmable thermostat.
30. Use timers for outdoor lighting and turn off the lights when you leave a room.
31. Get an energy audit of your home or business.
32. Fix it! Online tutorials have made it possible to make quick fixes that will save you money and reduce landfill waste.
33. Ditch your drafts! Almost 50% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home goes to heating and cooling. Make sure your home is insulated and properly sealed.
34. Leave no peel behind! Start a kitchen compost pile, and graduate to a compost bin outdoors.
35. Set up a rain barrel and use the captured water for lawns, gardens, and indoor plants.
36. Investigate solar power! The prices are coming down and the benefits keep going up.
Nurture Nature
37. Pick up litter in your local green spaces! Create an online competition with friends by picking up your local green spaces, whoever collects the most waste wins! Share your “hauls” online to inspire others!
38. Take a hike! Check out this library of family-friendly hikes in your area, but be sure to check on the status of parks and trails before you go.
39. Take a virtual tour of a national park and learn about our public lands! Then plan your first trip for after the travel ban is over.
40. Purchase carbon offsets for your next airline flight.
41. Get planting! Spend this time at home cultivating your flower beds, windowsill, and vegetable gardens. Learn more about pollinator-friendly plants and practices – no green thumb required!
42. Design a natural landscape that doesn’t require the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
43. Take a nature photography class so you can capture the beauty of the places you visit and revisit them through your artwork.
Reduce and Reuse
44. Take shorter showers! The duration of the shower has a direct effect on water usage. Time yourself and set goals for reducing your shower time.
45. Turn the faucet off! Though we may be washing our hands more now than ever, it is no excuse to leave the water running. You can save several gallons a day by shutting the water off while you scrub your hands.
46. Reduce your food waste. From re-organizing your fridge to planning shopping trips ahead of time, there are plenty of ways to reduce your food waste even as we are stocking up on staples!
47. Unplug energy vampires! Did you know the average microwave uses more power displaying the time in one year than it does heating your food? Computers, televisions, cable boxes, microwaves, and phone chargers are among the many electronics that use lots of energy while not in use. Unplug and shut down your appliances and electronics when you’re not using them.
48. Reduce your non-recyclable waste by opting for groceries with less packaging! Don’t forget your reusable shopping and produce bags, which you can make from reused materials.
49. Learn more about recycling. On average, Americans recycle less than a third of their waste. Brush up your recycling knowledge to learn what can and can’t go in your recycling bin.