It's Earth Day!

I just thought I should mention it. After all my blog does have "Earth" in the title.

Apparently the tradition of Earth Day, in the northern hemisphere, was founded in the 1960's by U.S. politician Gaylord Nelson. Gaylord (ha!)

Here are a few tips--for celebrating Earth Day--that you can implement in your every day life, while still being kinda lazy.

1. Carry your groceries in reusable canvas bags. Paper might be more, or as detrimental as plastic.

2. Cut out or cut back on your beef consumption. "A 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found that livestock production accounts for18 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions — more than all forms of transportation combined." Apparently cows are "the Hummers" of livestock.

3. E-recycle. Keep your electronics out of landfills at all cost. If they still work, donate them to a second-hand store for reuse. If not, use Earth 911’s recycling locator to find a place to recycle them. It could be a community event, a retail store or even a manufacturer take back program. All of these are better than your trash can.

4. Make sure your electronics have an ENERGY STAR label. It can cut energy use by 50%, which equates to a cheaper bill for you, in addition to being better for the earth.

5. Use rechargeable batteries (yes even the AA and AAA kind). They can last up to three years longer.

6. If you haven't already, switch over to compact fluorescent light bulbs. "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."

7. Spring for the Warranty. When buying electronics buy the warranty. "Warranties allow for your electronics to be fixed instead of replaced, meaning they stay out of the waste stream. They also encourage you to keep products for longer, which is better for the environment."

Want even more tips? I know you do. Go to the U.S. EPA Web site.

Also cool, is this winning photo of the Nature and Wildlife category in the 2008 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Earth Day Photo Contest. Check out other winners and finalists.

"Realm of the Deer
Alex Saberi,
London, England

Taken early one autumn morning in Richmond park (London's biggest and best park). I had been stalking these guys every morning due to the rut and the mists. The sun was coming up behind them, backlighting the leaves and mists."

Also pictured: The unofficial Earth Day flag via Wikipedia.