When the 10th annual Earth Day Celebration takes place on Friday, everyone who attends has the chance to learn easy ways to change our world. Little lifestyle changes at home and at work or school can make big changes in our environment.
Our Earth Day Celebration will be from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the YMCA soccer fields at the corner of Mary Lou Drive and Tupelo Trail. It is all about environmental education that we’ve disguised as fun.
You can learn a lot in just a few hours. This eclectic mix of exhibits and displays, games, crafts and entertainment all focuses on making a difference for our planet. The activities promote ideas and how-to’s about water conservation, stopping pollution, recycling and waste reduction, growing plants and food, and how litter is crippling our world.
Here are a few water conservation tips provided by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs:
• Minimize the use of garbage disposals. They require a lot of water to operate properly. Start composting to dispose of food waste.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow stream of water. Use the dirty water to run your disposal, if necessary.
• Fully load dishwashers. They use the same amount of water no matter how much is in them. Normally a full dishwasher uses less water than washing by hand.
• Buy dishwashers with water and energy saving options.
• Unlike your dishwasher, the amount of water your clothes washing machine uses is adjustable; adjust according to the load size.
• Look for a water-saving washing machine. Frontload machines use less water than top load machines.
• Install a hot-water recirculation device. By recirculating water that would otherwise go down the drain, you can save 2-3 gallons of water for each shower or 16,500 gallons a year. This may mean average annual savings of $50 on your water bill and $40 on electricity.
• Install water-softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.
• Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a garden.
• Reuse fish tank water on your plants; it makes nice fertilizer.
• Verify that your plumbing is leak free. Many homes have hidden leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
• Repair drips by replacing washers. If your faucet drips one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
• Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
• Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water.
To find out more water conservation or about Earth Day, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at 880-4888 or klcb@coastalnow.net.
Swida is the director of Keep Liberty Beautiful.