50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. It's a wonderful time to appreciate our planet and help make a change, no matter how big or small. We're gathering ideas, 50 to be exact, that will be shared via Talgov.com, social media and WCOT (channel 13) all month. These ideas can help residents celebrate Earth Day without venturing far from home.

In the Kitchen

1. Buy from local food sources (farmers' markets, local grocers, co-ops, etc.)
2. Eat more vegetables. Try a meat-less barbeque!
3. Reduce food waste by planning meals in advance and always eating your leftovers.
4. Start a compost bin to reduce the amount of food waste you throw away.
5. Replace single-use plastics and paper products (e.g. plastic utensils, paper plates and plastic baggies) with reusable alternatives.
6. Use dish rags and cloth napkins to eliminate using paper towels.
7. Cut regular kitchen sponges in half.

In the Yard

8. Install a rain barrel to gather water for use in your garden.
9. Install a rain garden, which can help ease localized flooding issues that can lead to soil erosion, drainage problems and other issues.
10. Landscape your yard with native, pollinator-friendly plants, such as Black-eyed Susan.
11. Start a home vegetable garden.
12. Learn about tree health and Tallahassee's urban forest. Use this information to help you assess trees in your yard.
13. Add some green to your living space with indoor plants There are even options for those who do not have a green thumb.
14. Provide suitable habitat for birds and other wildlife in your yard.
15. Do grass-cycling, which leaves grass clippings on the lawn as you mow to act as a natural fertilizer.
16. Water your lawn in the early morning when temperatures and evaporation rates are low. Remember that 30 minutes twice a week is all your lawn needs. Skip watering altogether if it's rained recently.
17. If you have to replace yard-care equipment, do so with electric battery-powered versions – or perhaps even hand-powered versions.
18. Participate in the City Nature Challenge 2020 by sharing photos of nature around your home.

In the bathroom and laundry room

19. Fix leaks to save water.
20. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot. Bonus tip: Only wash full loads.
21. Line dry your laundry.
22. Choose energy-efficient appliances when upgrading. The City offers a variety of rebates for ENERGY STAR appliances.
23. Instead of using regular disposable diapers, try cloth diapers or a more environmentally friendly disposable diaper.
24. Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth. Bonus tip: Swap disposable razors for reusable ones.
25. Lower the temperature on your water heater.
26. Install a low-flow showerhead.

Around the House

27. Calculate your household's carbon footprint. Use the results to develop a plan to reduce it.
28. Sign up for Tallahassee Solar.
29. Replace older light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs.
30. Don't turn on lights for as long as you can — open your curtains and use natural light.
31. Reuse glass jars. Use them to store leftovers, hold dog treats, etc. When they've reached the end of their useful life, recycle them.
32. Reduce paper waste. Print fewer documents. Print on both sides of the paper. Reuse misprints and scraps for notes, coloring pages and more.
33. If you have a working fireplace, keep your damper closed when not in use. This will help keep cool air within your home during warm weather months and warmer air in during winter.
34. Upgrade your ceiling insulation. The City offers grants to help with the cost.
35. Take advantage of energy efficiency rebates if you have to replace or upgrade a central AC, heat pump or water heaters.
36. Get a free home energy audit from the City of Tallahassee Utilities.
37. Use rechargeable batteries.
38. Switch to paperless billing.
39. Unplug electronic devices when you're not using them.
40. Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
41. Check your air filter. A clogged filter reduces cooling efficiency, reduces comfort and increases operating costs.
42. Repair broken items instead of buying replacements.
43. Don't throw away broken electronics. Recycle them at the City's biannual Cash for Trash events or at other community locations, such as the Leon County Hazardous Waste Center (7550 Apalachee Parkway). You can also make an Electronic Waste Pickup Request with the City.
44. Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows.

Out in the World

45. Limit the number of errands you run, only going out to pick up the essentials and combining what might have been multiple trips into one.
46. Use reusable bags for shopping and other activities. Bonus tip: You can make your own out of an old t-shirt.
47. Keep up with your vehicle maintenance. It will extend the life of your vehicle and help with gas mileage and emissions.
48. Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing them off.
49. Stop smoking or ban smoking in your home. Used cigarettes are a common cause of litter, and smoke greatly impacts indoor air quality.
50. Participate in the Earth Challenge 2020 Citizen Science Initiative, which includes a mobile app to encourage everyday people to become a citizen scientist.

Bonus

51. Watch an Earth-themed movie with the family and talk about why we celebrate Earth Day. Brainstorm new ways your family can recognize Earth Day not only during the month of April, but every day.

Clean Energy Resolution

The City continues to be a leader in the field of sustainability. In spring 2019, the City Commission adopted the Clean Energy Resolution, putting into action the organization's commitment to environmentally friendly practices. The resolution outlines the City's goal of moving the organization and community to 100 percent net renewable energy by 2050, including setting milestone markers.

Progress is already being made toward these milestones. StarMetro, the City's mass transit system, purchased 15 new, all-electric buses as part of a partnership with Florida State University in 2019. This change means one-third of the City's daily bus fleet runs on electric. It also created one of the first all-electric campus bus systems in the nation.

Solar Energy

In 2018, the City brought its first commercial solar farm online, and construction on Solar Farm 2 was completed in 2019. Other utilities in Florida are looking at the City's solar program as a best practice, and the City was recognized by Environmental American as a Solar Star. Learn more at Talgov.com/Solar.

Energy Efficiency Programs

The City has the strongest Demand Side Management (DSM) Conservation program in the industry. These programs help customers use energy and water more efficiently, preserving natural resources. Through DSM programs, the City has provided over $26 million in incentive payments. These incentives have helped customers upgrade to ENERGY STAR appliances, add ceiling insulation, install energy-efficient HVAC systems and more, while generating nearly 500,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) in energy savings. This has made it possible for the City to defer over 100 megawatts (MW) of additional generating capacity that would have otherwise been needed.

A unique element of the City's DSM efforts is the REACH program. This nationally recognized program installs energy-saving measures, provides energy-saving products and offers hands-on education to historic and lower-income neighborhoods – all at no cost to the customer. Since its inception in 2010, REACH has serviced more than 9,400 homes.