Yesterday we talked about reusing items in order to celebrate Earth Day. Now, on actual Earth Day we are going to work on reducing what we use. Arguably, that’s the most important of the “R’s” and the one we could all work on a little harder. 

So today we are proposing a “go dark” day. Spend a day using as little electricity as you possibly can. Since this is the middle of the week, and we realize most people will still have work they need to get done, it’s hardly feasible to expect a day with no electricity. And please don’t unplug your fridge for the day and waste all of your food. But there are things we can do to work towards reducing our electricity usage. 

Here are some basic tips to do throughout the day: 

• Don’t use your phone, or put it to Do Not Disturb so you only get emergency notifications
• try to cook without the microwave or electric stove, get creative with your meals
• Unplug most of your appliances and think about how many use power even when they are off but still plugged in
• Have the windows open if it’s a nice day out

If you are working from home, try these tips:

• Move to be near a window and use the natural light instead of electricity
• Use a laptop or something that conserves more energy
• If it’s nice out, open the window and listen to nature instead of music while you work
• Go about your normal routine, but just be mindful of ways you can reduce your energy usage

Here are some fun activities to do that don’t include electricity: 

• Play board games or do a puzzle
• Read books, magazines, a physical newspaper, or some comics
• Do some crafting you’ve been putting off or learn a new one!
• Light candles when the sun goes down 
• Go outside and play (still keep up social distancing though!)
• Put up a fort and pretend you are camping in your living room
• Have an earth day “fashion” show with stuff made out of recyclables and such

Obviously, it’s very difficult to actually go a whole day without using any electricity, but that’s what makes this such a great activity. Get the whole household involved and make a game of seeing just how little you can use throughout the day. Think about a normal day for you and how much electricity we use all the time. Make it a gratitude practice about how we can take these things for granted, and think about how we can all do our part to reduce our energy use. 

Maybe don’t take photos or tag us on social media, because of the whole going dark thing? But do have a great day and check back tomorrow for tips on reducing food waste! 

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