Earth Day was created back in 1970 to celebrate our planet and raise public awareness and now, Earth Day is celebrated in over 190 countries.

Traditional Earth Day events usually involve getting together with others in the community to clean up garbage or plant trees. If your neighbourhood hasn’t organized anything yet this year, you can still celebrate the natural world by taking action at home. Here are a few ideas:

Turn Down the Heat

One easy trick to lower your energy costs is to turn down the temperature on your hot water heater. This easy adjustment that you likely won’t even notice can make a noticeable difference!

April Showers

If you don’t already have one, now’s a great time to get a rain barrel as it will collect water that drains from your roof which you can use to water your garden or wash your car.

Let It All Hang Out

Drying your clothes outside on a clothesline not only means your laundry will smell fresh but it will also save your clothes from wearing out as dryers break down clothing fibres.

Fix Your Leaks

A leaky faucet that drips every few seconds can waste over 1,000 gallons of water each year which can be costly, especially if it’s a hot water leak.

Light It Up

Energy-efficient lightbulbs such as halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) typically use 25 – 80% less energy than other bulbs.

Reconnecting with nature is a great way to give back to our environment. The health and wellness benefits of enjoying time outside are well documented so this Earth Day, set some time aside to take a family bike ride, plant a tree in your yard or pick up litter on your street.