2017 Lenten Environmental Calendar

Ash Wednesday
Give up bottled water for Lent…and then forever?

Turn off lights in classrooms before leaving.

Don’t turn up the heat, put on a sweater – it’s almost Spring!

Take the EPA Pledge to reduce your carbon footprint:
Global Climate Change Pledge

Recycle properly – paper is always recycled

Unplug chargers when you aren’t using them-they actually use energy!

Go on a litter patrol of your house, yard or street.

When buying fruit and vegetables, try picking ones that are grown nearby so trucks and planes don’t work overtime to get them to us. Or, visit a local farmer’s market!

Re-use paper by turning it over and printing on the other side!

Don’t waste paper at school. Take only what you absolutely need.

Most plastic can be recycled, but rinse first.

Time yourself and take a 5 minute shower this morning or tonight.

Ask your mom and dad if you can carpool home with someone to save gas!

Buy less new stuff and re-use things you own that still have some life in them.

Create a compost indoors with a 3×3’ plastic bin!

Only take food you will eat. Watch what you are throwing away.

Bring lunch in reusable containers.

To school or home, remind your parents or carpool driver not to idle (sit w/engine on), it causes asthma!

When you wash dishes, put some soap in a bowl with water instead of running the faucet.

When you brush your teeth, don’t let the water run.

When doing yard work, rake leaves, don’t blow them. Blowing leaves makes allergies and asthma much worse.

Get out and appreciate a local park and pick up trash that you see.

“Upcycle” (convert) a paper towel roll into a kaleidoscope!

Instead of throwing away a cup of water, put it in your pet’s bowl or water a plant.

Turn off the TV or video games when not in use.

When visiting parks, try to “leave no trace” meaning don’t leave anything there that you brought.

If you’re going to a baseball game, take metro instead of driving!

Enjoy a weekend outside and plant some flowers!

If you have a backyard, try not to mow grass too much or use a hand mower. Water less often and only in the morning.

When spring cleaning, use a broom to sweep your walk, not the hose.

Eat leftovers for dinner! (or ask your mom/ dad to pack you leftovers for lunch)

Collect plastic bags to recycle at the grocery store.

As bees start to reappear, please don’t hurt these pollinators – they make our food grow.  

Replace old light bulbs with energy saving CFL or LED bulbs.

Go get ice cream with your family…and bike or walk there together!

For Spring break, try a National Park. You can explore nature & experience history with your family. See why they’re called “America’s Best Idea”!

As it gets warm, open windows instead of  AC.  Enjoy the breeze!

Reuse a snack bag that wasn’t holding a messy food.

Roll down car windows instead of turning on the air conditioner.

If you gave up red meat for Lent, give it up for good to reduce methane? It’s 3x as powerful a planet heater as CO2.