The Green Home Earth Day Giveaway Contest - Winners!

Thanks for everybody's submissions on all the cool things you've done to green your life! It's been inspiring to see so many great ideas. We enjoyed reading all of your responses, and it was a tough decision to decide the top 100. But here they are. We hope they inspire you as well! If you see your name here, check your email as we are notifying winners now! Keep up the green work!

I placed a barrel under the rainspout from our roof and use this water for: dogs' water, indoor/outdoor plants, rinsing outdoor tools, washing my truck (ok that only happened once, I like the muddy look), rinsing down the dog kennel, and plenty of other uses. I hardly ever have to turn the hose on anymore. We have a severe drought here, so it feels good to do my part, and it's fun to show to friends, some of whom have adopted this method.   - Aaron Ely

One windy, blustery day, our neighbor's 6 foot, cedar privacy fence blew over. Instead of scrapping the cedar fencing panels for firewood, we used the wood to build three, 2'X6'X3' planter boxes! We placed the planters on the sidewalk next to the alley side of our house. The re-purposed fence gave us flowers and vegetables instead of concrete, less rain water runoff and a spruced up alley!   - Aliina Adelman

When I moved to New York in July of 2009, I was hesitant to leave behind the open skies and strawberry fields from back home in Plant City, Florida. Something about the big city made me miss the little things from home, like the trees, flowers, and even just the grass I once took for granted. I decided it was time to bring a little green back into my life in the concrete jungle. It all began with a thousand creepy, crawly friends. After countless hours of internet research, I decided to start a worm compost in my apartment. Since that time, my entire mindset about my personal impact on the Earth has drastically altered. This note is evidence of that since I came across your website while researching green products for my home. The best part about the worm compost is the impact it has had on my friends and family. When my roommate said he wanted to start a compost for himself and then my mom did as well, I was ecstatic. It's these small changes that make the biggest difference. To me it's about changing the culture in America and that means it has to start at home. One step at a time, I hope I can continue to make a difference.   - Amber Valentin

A green accomplishment I am quite proud of was having a grant that I wrote for the Student Campus Greening Fund at my college approved and funded. The grant purchased all the relevant equipment necessary for installing new solar panels on the roof of a main building on campus!   - Amelia Agnew

Although perhaps not the most creative ways of going green, I have taken huge strides over the last year to lessen my affect on the planet. I have stuck to my guns on banning bottled water in my home, I ONLY use reusable grocery totes and when I forget them, I load up the cart instead. I've gotten my boyfriend to finally stop using plastic bags and over a conversation with my mom, she began posting Facebook questions asking why people aren't using them. I like to think that at least one person had made the switch since then! I have installed a self-pressurized shower head to cut back on water. I live in a location where I do all of my local errands by walking/biking. All light bulbs have been changed to fluorescent. Perhaps my biggest accomplishment was actually getting a friend to recycle. Her apartment was already set up for 2 trash cans and during a party I noticed they were both used as trash, when I called her out on it, she just looked at me and said "You're right. Now I feel guilty" She is still recycling to this day!   - Angela Olney

Collect & recycle several neighbors'/parent's trash (compost kitchen/yard waste/clothing & household items to neighborhood charity). No service in our area, so it was up to us!   - April Good

We reduced ourselves to only one car and made all of our bank accounts and bill pays electronic. I even decided to go college online so all of my textbooks are e-books and not printed. Also all the paperwork for my school is online. I have yet to use a sheet of paper for my college and I have been in for a year now.   - Ashley Valadez

My husband and I installed 36 solar photovoltaic cells on our garage roof to generate enough electricity for our use and to make the meter run backwards, installed an on-demand hot water heater and solatubes to naturally light rooms so lights aren't needed.   - Barbara Baker

I recycle tin cans, newspapers and plastic bottles. I sew reusable shopping bags and net bags for my fruits and vegetables. I use citrus based detergents for washing clothes and dishes and general house cleaning. I use wash cloths in the kitchen in order to decrease using paper towels.   - Beth Dalton

Earth Day is the same day as my birthday, April 22nd! And every year on my birthday, my whole family and I go to my school, and put in eco-friendly light bulbs, and pick up trash and pull weeds, and tend to the school garden. Then after thats done we bike ride home, and tend to our own gardens, (where we grow our own fruits and vegetables). I ride my bike to school everyday (except rainy days) and when my friends and I go places, we carpool, so to take a few cars off the road. When I am not using electronic items, I unplug them even if they are off, and I open my curtains and my windows to bring in the breeze and the light, instead of the air conditioning and electricity. every week, my family's recycling bins are over flowing. I love the earth and do anything I can to help!   - Brenna Means

I work at a very large hospital in Springfield, OR and I have educated my coworkers on how to better reuse/recycle and keep things out of the landfill. We save all fruit/vegetable waste and coffee grounds and tea bags for composting, and we utilize a lot of overripe bananas from the nutrition's rooms on each floor for smoothies and banana bread (it's a never ending supply!) We set flattened cardboard boxes aside for people to use at home and for moving, and we send all reusable plastic bags to our local St. Vincent DePaul stores to bag plush toys, etc. I am also constantly turning out lights all over the hospital to save energy, as well as turning off televisions in public areas that have been vacated. We keep our thermostat set to 65 degrees at home, keep the lights off as much as possible, compost and recycle everything, carpool, bike instead of drive, and don't ever buy anything we don't absolutely need. We try to eat as local and organic as possible, and we only mow our yard about half as often as most people and let it stay longer too. We have reduced the amount of grass on our property by about 30% over the last 8 years and so are using a lot less water.   - Brian Eheler

We installed a geothermal heating and cooling system to our home which was built in 1929   - C. Lockwood

Over the last year I've been trying to put green into my everyday life. At home we use energy saving light bulbs and reusable shopping bags. We try not to use paper products, but when we do they are recycled materials. We have switched to only using one vehicle and car pool with friends as much as possible. At work we have switched to recycled printer paper, and at school I use recycled binders and pencils. Being green is very important to me. I've been teaching friends and family easy ways to put green into their lives.   - Caitlin Youngs

Joined a CSA, shopped at farmers markets for 60% of our foods, joined Slow Foods, donated money to enviro orgs, cut back on purchases, replaced carpets with cork and bamboo flooring, and started edible landscaping.   - Carla Hall

I started a recycling program at my job. We now recycle paper, aluminum cans and office supplies. I have also sent out different articles I find about recycling to our employees that they can recycle at home.   - Carla Theobald

Last year I began working at a local Allstate Insurance agency. When I began I noticed one thing, tons and tons of paper files. I sat down with my new boss and pitched him my idea: upload all the physical files to an online database, and from then on, upload the files directly instead of printing them out. He loved the idea and we ran with it. We first converted all of the files to electronic, and recycled about the equivalent of 20 trash cans worth of paper. He no longer prints the files which save about 50-100 pages of paper 5 times a week. Comes out to thousands of sheets a year that are no longer used. Plus they save a lot of money too.   - Carlos Lopez

I have a vegetable garden, and a compost pile. I recycle paper, glass, plastic. I have energy saving light bulbs. I use cloth grocery bags most of the time, and if I get a plastic one, I make sure it is recycled. Our home uses 100% recycled toilet paper. I have put in a request in to the dietary department in the hospital that I work in to stop using styrofoam coffee cups and go with a greener product. I have a ceramic coffee mug myself. In my vegetable garden, I use compost that has come from my compost pile and horse manure that I get from a friends horse. No chemical sprays or fertilizers.   - Carol Miller

I have been greening my life over the past 6 years. Last year I purchased 3 large rain barrels and am collecting rain water for my organic vegetable garden & new fruit trees. It worked so wonderfully, I plan on purchasing 2 more this year.   - Cathy Marsicek

I sold my car and got a job close to public transportation. I eat less meat and try to buy local ingredients. I am phasing out my old cleaning products and starting to use more natural cleaning products. I always bring tote bags to the grocery store.   - Cheryl Trivino

Instead of getting christmas gifts. My wife and I are having people donate a tree in our names to be planted to help restore the national forests. Not sure of the name of the groups that do this. This not only gets more trees planted but it saves paper that a gift would normally be wrapped in.   - Chris Hull

The home I just bought is being renovated in a green way. We gave away the carpet that the old owner installed to someone else who could use it, We are now installing cork padding with bamboo wood over top. We are repainting the walls with no voc paint. We are purchasing energy star appliances. I clean with seventh generation products: dish, laundry, bathroom and kitchen. I also use baking soda for scouring, and vinegar for cleaning. Also, I use earth friendly oxy brite. I use organic cotton and hemp clothing also recycled silk clothing, organic bedding, towels, organic cotton with tally latex bed, dr. bronners soap. I eat organic, I use Mountain Valley Spring water in the glass bottle, no plastic. I recycle. I combine all of my errands in one trip if possible. I use recycled notebook paper. I store food in glass jars instead of plastic. I use a low flow shower filter. One very strange thing I am doing green is taking care of an ant problem by lining the corner of the problem area where they come in with towels that I have placed drops of tea tree oil on. They don't like this and it helps the problem. No poisons no killing.   - Christina Applegate

In just the last few months I have realized my responsibility to the environment and began to change my lifestyle in hopes to inspire others in my life. I purchased a hybid car, planted a garden, and began recycling my household waste. I have been thinking about the packaging used when buy anything in an effort to cut down on my waste-try to avoid plastic at all! I bought re-useable totes for my groceries and have started buying more local goods and tried to avoid big chain stores.   - Crystal Sims

In the past year, my family setup three rain barrels to capture rain water from our roof. We built a raised vegetable garden and began growing our own vegetables, watering them with the rain barrel water. Also, we unofficially "adopted" the streets along the way to my son's school; during the walk to school, we pickup any trash and recycle/dispose of it properly.   - Dan Giard

I switched from bottled water to tap water and honed my inner hand-me-down fashionista, playing with gently worn clothing to satisfy the need to shake up my wardrobe. I retired my old car at 350,000 miles and invested in a used car that gets better mileage, and I rode the bus and walked as much as possible to get to where I needed to go.   - Danielle Williams

We began making our own cleaning products out of Washing Soda, Borax, Baking Soda, Vinegar, Ivory Soap and Lemons. We have planted plants in our yard for the first time in 11 years. We are planting a tree this year. We are learning to watch for products with a lot of packaging and we recycle all the time now. We are purchasing a reel mower this year as well. We are also purchasing organic products from local farmers when we can afford to do so. We are attempting to change as many things as we can and will continue to do so.   - Danielle Wolf

After purchasing my first home I took the following steps to "greenify" it: 1) insulated the attic, to save electricity year round on heating/cooling 2) replaced all light bulbs with CFLs and turn lights off when leaving each room 3) replaced showerheads with water saving ones 4) displace water in the toilet tanks by placing reused large yogurt tubs, filled with water/sand in the tanks 5) replaced bathroom sink faucet with a water saving one. 6) programming thermostat to 55 while house is vacant or I'm asleep and 66 when there. (wearing a sweater instead) 7) check that all storm windows were shut 8) closed off vents to rooms not commonly used 9) purchased energy efficient refrigerator 10) use sink-side compost pail which is emptied into the bin in the backyard 11) wash 70% of laundry in cold water with eco-friendly soap and hung to dry 12) wash fewer loads in warm and dry on medium heat 13) use trash bags made of corn 14) recycle everything, so trash picked up is monthly, recycling weekly 15) use "is it the least amount of packaging" test before purchasing 16) use reusable cloth bags 17) make purchases, combining trips 18) shop local organic grocery store (on the way to work) or farmer's market when in season (within biking distance from home) 19) use a push dust mop on hardwood and powerless push sweeper for carpet. This is just what I can think of, I'm sure there is more.   - Dawn Glaser

I have started using less packaging in my jewelry sold via my website. When I have used up all the packaging I already have, I will eliminate product packaging all together. As a result, I can use smaller mailing boxes, lowering the amount of paper waste. For shipping, I reuse tissue from gifts received.   - Debora Granja

We wash out Gatorade plastic bottles and reuse them as water bottles. We recycle all aluminum, plastic, paper, cardboard, and glass at work. I labeled containers at home to collect newspapers, aluminum, and plastic at home. We reuse ziploc baggies by rinsing them out. I hang most of laundry on an outside clothesline.   - Deborah Lawson

In the last year I have tried hard to maintain a eco-friendly lifestyle. As a middle-class family we cannot afford to buy organic foods but we can still do our part. In my family we always unplug our major home devices at home and use reusable bags at the grocery store.   - Derek Joyce

Bought reusable water bottles for whole family to use on outings. Only purchase biodegradable diapers. Purchase local produce from farmer's markets.   - Desiree Lawn

I started my own garden, started to buy more fruits and veggies that were grown locally, became a vegetarian, bought 2 very cool eco-friendly lunch boxes, unplug small appliances when not using them and I only use re-usable bags when shopping!   - Elizabeth Cruz-Juusola

Planning a reusable, recycled, compostable wedding reception. Changing all our detergents to eco-friendly versions.   - Elizabeth Bienz

I am an architect specializing in environmentally sustainable design. In the past year, I consulted on three project in order to make them more energy efficient.   - Elliot Glassman

I now use biodegradable cleaning products, this spring I planted an organic mini garden & I recycle as much as possible! In my daughters lunches I use rewashable BPA free containers instead of plastic bags.   - Emily Johnson

Always carry my mug, bamboo utensils, and napkins in my bag so I never ever have to use disposables. I dump rinse water onto my lawn to reduce water usage and to reuse my water that I use. I also am car free, which reduces congestion, pollution, and has huge benefits on the community.   - Enci Box

I added a solar power attic ventilation system to reduce the use of my A/C unit. I also carry reusable shopping bags when I go grocery shopping. I use more green products to clean around the house.   - Gilbert Ramos

We got a recycled cat, from our neighbor instead of getting our own new one - i started working from home office so i only drive like 1-2x/wk instead of everyday - we have furnished our "new" home (rental) with nothing new, most everything from good ole craigslist, garage sales, goodwill... - we planted an apple tree in our front yard and grew tomatoes and herbs on our patio - i where lots of green hemp tshirts.   - Gustavo alcantar

My family started to recycle more things around the house that we never thought to recycle before. We are recycling paper, plastic bottles, our tin cans, and much more. We started turning off lights when we didnt need them on, instead we opened the curtains. We started cleaning up our streets in the neighborhood. We decided to be a greener family because we want a greener community.   - Jamie Divine

I wrote a letter to my employer, because I want a recycling program started. The place where I work has over 1,000 employees and a recyling program will decrease the carbon footprint greatly.   - Jan Pundt

We are always trying to find ways to green our groove. Over this last year a greener choice we've really been enjoying is giving up our gas mower for a push mower. There's a nostalgic charm to the quiet whir of the push mower...and you can still hear the birds when your mowing! No more stinky gas fumes and noise. We're hoping the neighbors catch on!   - Janis Freitas

I stopped using toxic products to clean with keep myself healthier and the planet. I use non toxic paint in my home. I am currently trying to buy a water purifier to stop using plastic water bottles which are destroying our oceans. I use the green shopping bags. I use organics as much as I can afford. I'm happy to be informed and make a difference.   - Jeff McCrary

I work at a school that currently does not recycle, we were wasting so much paper, plastics, and cans it made me sick! So I took it upon myself to implement a recycling program. We ordered a Recycling Dumpster and we are getting the students involved! This is going to really cut down on our waste, teach our students the importance of taking care of our planet, and make me feel better about working here.   - Jen Pignataro

I've been good to eat more sustainable meats and meat alternatives (wild fish & tofu, etc.) instead of beef. I also grow my own organic vegetables and share the seeds with my neighbors.   - Jennifer Hoberg

Our family started doing the following things: 1. Recycling plastics and paper products 2. Installed ECO friendly light bulbs 3. Started using reusable bags for all shopping (grocery/clothing) 4. Collecting Rain Water for Vegetable garden and flower beds.   - Jerry Avila

Over the last year we have begun to use a new trash hauler. We are capitalizing on their recycling process. Now, our cereal boxes can become recycled stationery and the pizza boxes will soon be containers for CFLs! Plastic milk bottles will be used to create bird feeders and newspaper can be transformed into weedblock for the garden! Recycling helps to green up the environment and the home.   - Joanne Nugent

I don't like the word "green". it is too much of a fade word for people who are doing the right thing for the wrong reason. So, what have I done for the planet? For humanity? Writing books for kids to teach them to be good to the earth and good to each other. The sooner kids learn that lesson, the better off we will all be. Education is the key to everything.   - John Brooks

I think the best green thing my wife and I have done in the past year is teach our son to recycle. He is 22 months old and when we give him cardboard or plastic scraps we tell him to recycle. When we do this he will walk over to the recycling bin and throw them in and say “all done”. The only way we will make this world truly more green is through our kids. We also use a bucket to scoop out some of his bath water so we can water our plants. Also, my wife likes to paint so instead of getting a brand new canvas we go to Ikea (a furniture store) and pick out scraps from left over tables and cabinets and use them instead, they make great art work.   - Joseph VandenBrock

I have really been commited to composting 90% of my food scraps and increased my garden space.   - JR JespersenChavez

I have set rain barrels under my down spouts and use that water for my flowers. I am using tote bags for my groceries instead of plastic bag.   - Judy Cummings

We had a geothermal system put into our house. It cost a lot in the beginning, but it will even out later on. I know there's no price for saving the earth. My daughter also made me stop using paper plates and plastic silverware. We use low flow showerheads too. It feels awesome helping to save the earth!   - Julie Deem

Just one thing!? Ok, the biggest one is I didn't use a car for 6 months, just walked or biked everywhere (not an easy feat in my area). Finally broke down because of my new job and got a Honda Civic (very efficient :P). But I do still bike and walk unless absolutely necessary. Also, I only bring my own bags when I shop, I bring my own bamboo utensils when I eat out, I recycle everything, and compost all my food waste. Oh and... when I moved across country last year, I built a small dc circuit in my van, installed a solar panel on top, and with that and the alternator was able to power a sink and a small chest refrigerator, along with a few other small devices. The van wasn't biodiesel but... I did everything I could to get the MPG up and drove 55 the whole way.   - Justin Dunn

I started composting and pouring the water used when rinsing vegetables or boiling pasta on my outdoor plants and grass!   - Kara Wheat

We've done a lot in our home over the past few years, in using green approaches to home renovation with products like no voc paints, bamboo flooring, GreeneBoard wall board, and high efficient appliances. This past year we needed new towels, so I sought ought organic cotton and bamboo towels; we've replaced a number of our light bulbs with LED bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs; low flow shower heads; we use our local organic farmers for grocery shopping; use biodegradable garbage bags and conserve, reuse, and up-cycle as often as possible!   - Karin Bartimole

Every year, my husband, 2 daughters and I plant a wonderfully huge garden. We spend many family hours in the garden and share what we produce with neighbors, friends and co-workers. My daughters have learned so much through this process!   - Katherine Frerich

We replaced our windows with new energy efficient ones. We replaced all light bulbs with CFLs, started a compost bin in which we now only create maybe a single trash bag of trash once a week. We switched all of our cat litter over to corn fragments and old newspaper. We bought a hand reel mower for mowing our lawn (no gas or electric) and an electric trimmer. We placed half gallon bottles of water in all our toilet tanks to save water and put aerators on all of our faucets and replaced our shower heads with 1.4 gpm low flow heads. Rather than buy new coffee tables and end tables we sanded and finished our old ones. Even our christmas lights were all solar powered lights!!! In our house we unplug everything that we are not using and turn off others that remain plugged in to avoid vampire usage. We are currently searching for compostable toilets as well. Our house was painted on the interior using no VOC paints made from soy (bought at home depot)!!! We use reusable shopping bags at all stores and even reusable cotton sacks for our bulk grains and fruits and vegetables to avoid plastic bags. We try to use leftover bread bags for litter box cleaning. We use all eco friendly cleaning products by seventh generation and recycled paper towels and toilet paper and trash bags. All green shampoos and soaps including laundary and dish (no sulfates) and tooth paste. WE RECYCLE or FREECYCLE ALMOST EVERYTHING!!!! I just want you to know too that we were able to do alot of this because we did just buy a house in August and we have always tried to live green!!   - Kimberly Smith

I'm currently taking a class in my high school called AP Environmental Studies, where we study the effects of the human carbon footprint on the earth, and ways in which we can help stop the degredation of our planet. I also am involved in my school's recycling club.   - Laura Wold

I've stopped buying water bottles--we use reusable now. I (almost) always use my recycled cloth shopping bags and have switched to earth friendly cleaners in my home. I also try to buy local and support local growers, especially organic farmers! I'm really trying!!!   - Laura Stern

I am working on a project called Haiti Green, which will be directly involved in clean energy projects in Haiti's 2nd and 3rd phase developments.   - Leah Thompson

We started composting at home thanks to our wonderful city of Seattle which accepts food/veg scraps combined in the green waste bin!!!!! We started a veggie/herb garden from seed! The kids really enjoy watching the seeds germinate, grow into baby plants and then to toddlers, and so on until we can use them into the kitchen to eat! We increased the amt of raw foods our family is eating on a daily basis and juice quite regularly. Overall, our family is healthier because of all these changes. And with two kids only going to the doctor once for a yearly check up truly is a testament of preventative health care in the form of greening your home and changing your life! Some day soon, we hope to been urban gardeners with a few chickens out back as well.   - Lisa Kugler

I changed my dishsoap to one not harmful to the environment. I'm growing my own veggies. I stopped drinking bottled water. I started a blog on vegetarian eating and green living, which I have maintained since January. So really nothing too awfully creative, but it's something. :)   - Lisa McGoldrick

I am taking courses online that show me how to be green. I turn the major valve to the water line when I am not using it. I keep my thermostat at 55 degrees, except in summer, I turn it off and also, my pilot light to the furnace. I recycle all fruits and vegetable back into the environment. I recycle all paper and glass. I mulch with leaves. I close drapes at night and open them to let the sun in on sunny days, except summer, they are shut. I have changed all my bulbs to CLF's. I use night lights in my porch lights at night. That is all I can think of right now.....   - LN PAT

We have reduced our weekly garbage to less then one 13 gallon (compostable) garbage bag. We reuse/recycle far more than we throw away. Next step: reduce the amount we recycle!   - Lucia Kubik

I received permission from our Administration to email monthly "Green Tips" to all the 450+ employees at our educational organization. I send out information to inspire employees to "go green" in their school programs and at home. Now, every time I am at a meeting with fellow employees I haven't met before, I hear "hey, you're the Green person!", (which is really funny to me as my birthday is actually Earth Day!!) I love hearing great stories about how people are inspired by these tips. (I heard more than one anecdote after my tip on "phantom energy loss" of colleagues who went home and started unplugging appliances!) Go Green!   - Lynn Seftner

I have become more aware of the massive amount of waste that it being generated in our everyday lives. Talking about this in our everyday lives to others helps spread the word to recycle, conserve, stop wasting paper and try to get everyone to cut down substantially on the use of plastics. I am working with my daughter to have her upcoming wedding as earth friendly as possible. We started by using invitations that are printed on recycled paper, to giving packets of flower and vegetable seeds as wedding favors to using compostable cups, napkins, etc for her wedding celebration.   - Marianne Polchowski

After years of being too busy for green I took the time to compost. My wife, Kate got me a composter from Greenhome for my 50th birthday (when I made bad jokes about my age, she said it could double as my coffin) and I put it in the back yard and started dumping coffee grounds and eggshells into it. To speed up the process, I became a vegetarian, started meditating and quit drinking. Then I found that I could buy a weekly box of kale from the co-op garden on our street in Dover. Now twice a day my 13 year old son Aidan dumps a bag of shreds from fruits and greens we collected from our Breville juicer. Although at first he found the bubbling and seething mass that was growing in our hot black composter, he soon became fascinated by the transformative process. My wife is happy that we can augment the soil behind the rhododendrons where the dog and cat play 007. My son has come around to the green thing too. He now graphs the progress and knows exactly how much soil will be required to put me 6 feet under.   - Mark Bush

We bought a whole bunch of canvas bags and keep them in our cars. Now we always have them on hand when we go shopping and don't have to use plastic bags.   - Marsha Saenz-Jones

Remove my entire front and back lawns. Installed a meadow type landscape in the front and am having a Kitchen Garden seating area in the back. NO TURF GRASS. Water use went from 35/40 units a billing period to 9 units.   - Marshall Hart

I collect and take recycling from work to the recycling center near home. I collect anything that can be recycled (styrofoam, plastics, etc.).   - Martha Reed

Lots!!! I give organic bouquets to those in need of flowers, serve on the Town's Conservation Commission, bought my soon-to-be-married niece a book on green weddings, serve on the Town's Recycling Committee, have taught my 60 co-workers that if they don't recycle at work, they will answer to me, volunteered at HazWatse, helped the Town sell composters, try to keep my own carbon footprint small, am doing a massive clean-out of my home, and find new homes or lives for the things that must go, go to the Town's large events and pick the recyclables out of the garbage, garnering enough attention that many of the guilty will never again throw a recyclable in the trash, continue to try to convince the custodian at work that the green cleaning products we have bought really do do the job, and am very conscious of packaging and greenness when I shop, which is not often! Will be showing "No Impact Man" at the library where I work for Earth Day, and purchased 20 copies of the "Magic School Bus Gets Recycled" to give to all the elementary school libraries in Town for Earth Day. That's all I can think of for now!   - Mary Heffernon

Going green is a process. I first started 12 years ago when I was diagnosed with lyme disease. Earth Day was just about recycling to me then. In my efforts to get healthy and lead a more balanced life, I started my green journey selfishly as a way to combat my illness. The more I learned, the more I discovered how my choices impacted the environment. As I began my process to lead a healthier life, I learned about cleaning products and living more consciously. My own mother even teased me about using vinegar to clean my windows! Now with easier access to greener cleaning, I replaced that old spray bottle. However as years went on I started to drop my some of my green habits. I had 4 kids and moved a lot for my spouse's job. Last Earth Day, my spouse deployed overseas for a year, leaving me with a 6 year old, 3 year old and twin 1 year olds. I started to use paper plates to save time. My trips to the farmers market were a rare event due to effort involved. I used reusable water containers in my kids lunches, but also bought more plastic wrapped snack items. I am now working to tip the scales back by: limiting paper plates, starting a garden in the yard with the kids, learning about composting, buying garbage bags that disintegrate in the landfill, consignment shops for the kids outgrown clothes, CFLS, and unplugging unused appliances. Recycling, reusing, reducing.   - Mary Lynn Hafner

I recycle every thing I can either through a city program, a store program like Publix plastic bag collector or Gimme 5 or a mailing program. Also I use the energy saving light bulbs. I carry around a PeopleTowel to use instead of napkins, and paper towels. Also I use a resure coffee mug, ice coffee mug, and a stainless steel reuseable bottle. I try to learn new ways all the time to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.   - Megan Panagopoulos

I love to think GREEN and promote GREEN lifestyles. Since last Earth Day, to preserve my promise to the earth, I have purchased Bamboo flatware from Green Home. My fiance and I always take them with us when we go out and dine! Saving the earth....one bite at a time :-)   - Noel Edwards

I have done several. I recycle everything I can. I precycle often too. I reuse a plastic cup for take out drinks every day. I take my own silverware to restaurants where I know they use plastic. Just this week I emailed a local county solid waste dept to ask that they put recycling bins at the local beach and at a local upcoming street festival.   - Paul Elder

Installed CFL's, weatherstipping, inline water filter, recycled, composted waste, reduced consumption, used mass transit, installed low maintenance landscaping, and built a LEED silver certified MLB ballpark.   - Paul Johnson

I work at an apartment community with an owner that supports all green initiatives. We switched to 100% chlorine free paper, and use recyclable products in the office when available. We're in the process of a lighting retrofit and switching out our water guzzling toilets on turns. Your website has given us plenty of ideas for future things to do as well. Beginning in May we will be giving all our new residents recyclable bags to do their grocery shopping which will reduce waste brought back to the community and the landfills. Also, provide them with green cleaning supplies so the water and filtration system doesn't get polluted. We also provide recycle on site and recycle bins will soon be purchased for all the apartments to encourage more recycling. We have at tons, more ideas too.   - Rebekah Gifford

Volunteered for a festival and when I noticed that the aluminum cans and cardboard had been put in the wrong dumpster, went dumpster diving and recovered approximately 6 trash bags worth of cans and a bunch of boxes.   - Rob Murphy

I organized the hospitality headquarters for the Cleveland International Film Festival to buy in larger packages, use biodegradable serviceware, and recycle. In the end we diverted 1-1.5 tons of material from landfill, composted 6 cubic yards of waste, and created less than one bag of trash per day.   - Robert Stockham

The city of Los Angeles distributed rain barrels this year, and thanks to them, I can now save some healthy, unchlorinated rain for at least the baby phase of my summer tomatoes. Soon I was inspired to also save some household water (such as all that nice cold water normally wasted before I step in the shower), and I thought of using that same barrel for the shower water. But no - bad idea to put chlorine into the rain! So I bought a second barrel, specifically for the chlorine stuff, and now I fill a bucket in the shower with cold water and then, after my shower take it outside to empty in the second barrel. That I can still keep the garden hose mostly turned off even when the saved spring rain is all gone.   - Rod Moore

Wallpaper using eco friendly flour, water, aluminum potassium solution and old magazine covers as the wallpaper.   - Sara Nephew

I had a home energy audit and installed new energy saving windows in my home!   - Sara Sankowich

I have started to grow organic sprouts (3 varieties at any one time) for fresh greens in winter to stop dependence on truck-transported greens.   - Sarah Deming

Everything I do, I do green! Cut up old t-shirts for hankies; only bike or public trans; catch drips from leaky faucets to water plants; all my own organic gardening; buy predominantly used stuff other than green home products of course!   - Scott Badenoch

Our family of five have stopped buy bottle water and started using water container to re-fill with water everytime we're away from home. We also, use green cleaning products to reduce chemical contamination in the house.   - Sergio Flores

I stopped using paper products for note taking and eating out. I type my notes into my iPhone and I only use stoneware to eat. I do not buy plastic water bottles, instead, I use a reuseable steel bottle for my liquids. At school, I am encouraging my teachers to use less paper for the classroom.   - Shannon McKinnie

I save my misprinted paper and use it for scrap paper; used "Bio Bags" for my dogs waste; recycled my newspapers, magazines, plastic and cardboard food and beverage containers; and re-purposed items whenever possible. I re-purpose lots of items as embellishments in my scrapbooking!   - Sharon Morrow

We use a portable dehumidifier in our basement. It needs to be emptied twice a day. I empty the water into the washing machine.   - Sheila Nelson

Set up a vermicompost bin at my kids elementary school. We are in the process of building a salad table to use the compost in!   - Stephanie Schultz

I am a teacher in a middle school and I started a new class called "Go Green". In this class we discuss various environmental issues, ways to be more eco-friendly, and what the government is doing to "go green". However, the most important thing we do in this class is act. Each group of students picks an environmental topic they are interested in helping, they research the problem, find the effects, and then come up with an action plan. The students have launched several campaigns to make our school more eco-friendly; such as change our styrofoam lunch trays and plastic utensils to either reuseable ones or ones that are biodegradable, change the cleaning products and pesticides to ones that have natural ingredients, replace the faucets with ones that are water-savers and shut off on their own so water is not wasted, and getting the principal to dye her hair green if one hundred students or more walk or ride their bicycle to school on Earth Day. These are just some of the plans that the students have acted upon. This class has also made me take a closer look into my own home; I have stopped using harmful cleaners and use a mixture of vinegar and water or the steam cleaner to clean my home, I have started eating organic foods, I even got my husband to use reusable bags when he goes food shopping.   - Stephanie Aurilia-Miller

I changed (almost all) my home lighting to LED. Not only did my electricity bill go down, but I have a happy husband because he has not had to change a lightbulb since we did this! He is also happy that he no longer has to figure out how to get rid of the burned out bulbs!   - Susan Weisbart

My family started recycling baggies to cut down on use. We now wash them out, let them dry and re-use them when necessary. We also started using plastic containers in place of baggies whenever possible.   - Susie Stotland

Reduced household waste significantly with the use of huge city-wide recycling bins, compost all natural garbage, planted a garden from seed (using the compost product) with my young daughter, "hyper-miling driving", incorporated bicycle day for all errands, teaching child to use less water...to name a few!   - Tamara Bieri

Recycled my cardboard and newspapers for the first time.   - Tammy Hudson

I organized a green display for our church. After service our congregation holds a coffee hour. We provided local green products to snack and used eco-friendly cups and plates. Alongside this, I prepared 3-4 informational display boards, exhibits of simple green projects, a light-switch cover (turn off the lights!) for kids craft, etc.   - Tanja Cooper

I clean my home with products I purchase from greenhome.com.   - Teresa Campbell

I continue to make all of my own home cleaning products. Since I have been doing this for years, I have started teaching classes. I also just built my own vermicomposter and have started composting in my apartment.   - Thomas Hensel

We use a combination of cloth diapers and g diapers which are able to be composted. We also recycle clothes by handing them down to the next child as well as shopping in thrift and consignment stores rather than buying new. We recycle, we reuse shopping bags and use chemical free cleaners.   - Tikatia Morris

Started collecting cans and bottles with our kids, recycling them, and giving the money to the World Wildlife Fund!   - Tim Donnelly

We are teaming up with another local business in our town and our coop and making a garden. We will be donating the produce to the homeless shelter down the street. Everything is eco friendly and organic.   - TinaMarie Jensen

I work for juvenile court and last year we took at-risk youth out into the community to assist at cleaning up our parks. It was wonderful and the kids were educated on the importance of not littering and recycling. Besides that we have recently transformed our home. We make our own laundry detergent and clean with ActiveIon. We continue to look for new ways to be more Earth Friendly! Thanks, Tricia Dayton OH   - Tricia Lucido

I live in an apartment, so it's difficult for me to do any home renovations, but I already recycle and use reusable bags at the store. Over the past year, I have started to eat more organic and local foods. I have joined a CSA, and love how great the food tastes. By subscribing to a CSA, I have not only reduced the amount of carbon used to produce my meals, but also reduced the amount of waste generated by not buying pre-packaged products.   - Vanessa Hayes