Earth Day is right around the corner. It’s a reminder to me to start thinking about how I can make an impact (or less of an impact) on our planet. In honor of Earth Day, here are 35 green tips, shopping suggestions, and earth-friendly green practices anyone can make part of their lives.

1. Lower your thermostat. Buy a programmable thermostat.

2. Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics.

3. Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.

4. Start a compost in your back yard.

5. Buy foods locally grown. Buy locally made products and locally produced services.

6. Buy in season.

7. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. You’ll find more on energy-efficient products and practices at Energy Star.

8. Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).

9. Recycle your newspapers.

10. Car pool.

11. Ride a bike.

12. Walk, jog, or run.

13. Go to your local library instead of buying new books.

14. At holidays and birthdays, give your family and friends the gift of saving the earth. Donate to their favorite environmental group, foundation, or organization.

15. Buy products that use recyclable materials whenever possible.

16. If you use plastic grocery bags, recycle them for doggie poop bags or for small trashcan liners.

17. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper.

18. Consider organic cleaning products like vinegar, borax, and baking soda.

19. If you have a baby, consider using cloth diapers. To sign up for a diaper service to do the dirty work.

20. Consider buying a fuel-efficient car or a hybrid.

21. Landscape with native plants.

22. Opt into a clean energy program. Check out the Green Power Network at the US Department of Energy.

23. Go paperless. Consider reading your newspaper and magazine subscriptions online. Switch to electronic banking and credit card payment, too.

24. Teach kids about the environment

25. Take your batteries to a recycling center.

26. Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute.

27. Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.”

28. Recycle. If you’re not at home, take the extra steps, (literally), to find that recycling can.

29. Reuse. Plastic food containers make good crayon and marker holders. Use padded envelops more than once. Buy your toddler or preschooler’s clothes from a thrift shop and give away those that don’t fit to friends. Goodwill or the Salvation Army can help.

30. Limit the length of your showers. Even better, take a “navy shower,” shutting off the water while soaping up and shampooing.

31. Don’t run the water when brushing your teeth.

32. Wash towels after several uses.

33. Give away your goods and find new ones at FreeCycle.

34. Recycle your technology. Dell, Hewlett Packard, Apple, and IBM, among others, offer recycling programs.

35. Find your local watershed and learn how to protect it.

Earth Day 2007 at Penn Dixie Site

     The Hamburg Natural History Society (HNHS) will be celebrating Earth Day 2007 at the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg on Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 9 AM until 12 Noon. Volunteers will conduct a site cleanup, remove some fallen trees and brush from the nature trails, and plant some shrubs and trees. An Eagle Scout candidate project, to plant trees and shrubs, will be conducted during this event. Scouts, garden clubs, school and civic groups, and the public are invited to participate in this annual Earth Day event. Bring a shovel, gloves, boots and energy to help make some improvements to the Penn Dixie Site. Garbage bags will be provided. The HNHS thanks Waste Management for donating a 30-yard dumpster for this annual Earth Day Event. Call (716) 627-4560 for additional information and directions or for information on 2007 special events, astronomy, Miss Buffalo Nature Cruise and Buffalo Lighthouse Tour, Triple Trek and Science Adventure summer day camps, school tours, membership opportunities, birthday parties and volunteer programs. Visit the Society’s web page at www.penndixie.org for directions and additional information.