Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd to show support for environmental protection, but there are plenty of things you can do in your day-to-day life throughout the rest of the year to make a difference. Here are eight simple actions you can take to be a part of the change.

  1. Calculate Your Foodprint: Understanding the role you play in the planet’s wellbeing is key to living a more sustainable life. Use these foodprint calculators to learn how your food choices are impacting the environment.
  2. Switch to Paperless Billing: You can reduce your paper consumption by opting to do paperless billing. Residents at Cowgill communities have the ability to pay their rent online, thanks to a full-service digital portal.
  3. Recycle Right: Recycling is only beneficial when it’s done correctly, so familiarize yourself with your city’s recycling rules. If you live here in Lexington, you can find this information on LexingtonKY.gov.
  4. Practice Sustainable Fashion: Overbuying clothes means tossing out clothes. Instead, shop your friends’ closets for special occasions, give old t-shirts new lives as dust rags, and donate anything that doesn’t fit.
  5. Use a Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated and reduce your plastic consumption with help from a reusable water bottle. You might even save some money if you stop buying bottled water at the grocery store.
  6. Stop Using Paper Towels: Try using dish rags instead of paper towels. If you want to keep paper towels in your home, consider storing them out of sight, like in a cabinet or under the sink, so you’ll be less likely to reach for them.
  7. Walk or Bike When Possible: If you aren’t going far, consider walking or biking instead of driving. It’s better for the environment and doubles as a workout!
  8. Plant a Tree: Wildfires, invasive insects, and disease have left our forests in need of tree planting. You can help by donating to the National Forest Foundation. They plant a tree for every dollar donated.