Earth Day is coming up at the end of this week, and keeping a few habits in mind to maintain the earth’s health will be beneficial. 

1.Reduce plastic use

Reduce the amount of plastics you use. Change a plastic water bottle out for a reusable one. Also swap out plastic silverware for real silverware. Reusable bags are also a better alternative to plastic bags.

2. Recycle

If you decide to use plastic make sure to recycle the empty containers. This can be done by refilling the same bottle or even just placing the bottle into a recycle bin after it is done being used. Residence halls have recycle rooms for paper, plastics and cardboard. This will help those who don’t have a place to put their recyclables.

3. Change the light bulbs

Change the light bulbs in your house to energy saving light bulbs. They are great energy savers and they last longer too. These light bulbs can last years.

4. Change your car shopping ways

If you are thinking about buying a new car, consider buying a hybrid car. This is a fuel efficient car. These cars help to eliminate the gas guzzling cars on the road nowadays. If a new car isn’t on the mind, consider changing your driving habits. Driving less in general will help to eliminate the excess carbon monoxide being put in the air. Also just simply slowing down could help save gas from being used so much.

5. Maintain a decent temperature

Did you know that by simply keeping the air conditioning in a home maintained at decent temperature can save you quite a bit of money in the long run? Try bumping up the air 1-2 degrees and the heat down 1-2 degrees and see if it makes a difference in the bill.

6. Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk can help reduce the amount of packaging used for the product. It also helps in the long run because it creates less trips to the store and a lot of the times it is cheaper.

7. Go through the closet

A simple act of going through the closet and recycling some of the clothes helps someone else from having to spend more money on clothes that they really need.

8. Turn the water off

A simple task such as turning the water off when brushing teeth, or taking a shorter shower, or even reusing clothes that aren’t dirty before washing them, can help save water in so many ways.

9. Find a garbage can

Garbage cans are not hard to find in Ames. Instead of just dropping garbage where you please, stick it in a pocket or even hold on to it until you are able to find a trash can.

10. Conserve Energy

When walking out of a room, turn the light off. If you’re leaving for a long time, unplug things that aren’t needed. Contrary to popular belief, energy is still being used, even if the item itself isn’t. Just remember, if you leave the room, turn it off.