With Earth Day being in the month of April, we here at GCES spent a lot of timelearning ways we can reduce our own carbon foot prints. We shared what we learned, including great articles, tips, and videos so our followers could learn with us. With all that research, we were able to put together a pretty awesome series of tips, we titled “Easy Ways to Save The Planet.” These daily posts were designed to help people reduce the amount of energy they use, waste they create, and save money! While we have the industrial side of it covered, here, these are things you can easily emulate. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Wi th this being Day 1 of our, series we decided to keep it simple with #Recycle. Looking for ways to improve on the basics of cardboard, glass and paper? Well look no further, those little K-cups of coffee can be recycled! It is estimated that 17 million K-cups end up in US landfills every year. Keep watching for more easy ways to save the planet from your pollution control partners at GCES.

It’s Day 2 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. #REDUCE. Buy less, consume less and save more $$$. 90% of textiles can be reused and recycled which would greatly reduce the 26 billion pounds of clothing that goes into US landfills each year. Keep watching for more easy ways to save the planet from your pollution control partners at GCES. #EarthDayEveryDay #SaveThePlanet #GCES

Day 3 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Reuse and Repurpose! Each year, over 17 billion toilet paper rolls are thrown into landfills. One way to reduce this waste is to repurpose and reuse them. Toilet paper rolls can be used to organize cords, as seed starters for your garden, or as craft materials for kids. The possibilities are endless.

Day 4 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Compost! By composting leftover food scraps at home, you reduce waste, and help the planet. Composting helps soil retain moisture, encourages the growth of bacteria beneficial for plant growth, and reduces methane emissions from landfills.

Day 5 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Did you know that reducing your speed from 70mph to 50mph uses 25% less gas? Fuel economy dips significantly once you go above 55 mph, so driving slowly not only saves you fuel, but reduces emissions, along with your carbon footprint.

Day 6 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Turning the heat down in your home by 10-15 degrees reduces your bill by about 10%. You also use less energy this way, which reduces the amount of waste you produce. Throw on a sweater, and enjoy that savings!

Day 7 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. For some parts of the world, summer can be brutal, and air conditioning is a must. However, some nights, and even days, may be more mild than others. Turning off your AC, and relying on open windows, fans, or even pools to keep you cool, can make a huge difference in the amount of energy you use, and waste you produce.

Day 8 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Turning off the water during those two to three minutes you’re brushing your teeth can save two to three gallons of water each day! With much of the world experiencing water shortages, that makes a huge difference!

Day 9 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay Replacing older appliances with new Energy Saver models, the average family of four can save about $110 on utility bills, per year. On top of saving money, you are significantly reducing your family’s carbon footprint.

Day 10 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Replacing your current light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs can save you a significant amount on money, and reduce the amount of waste you add to landfills. The lifetime cost to use a fluorescent bulb is about $28, compared to the $120 cost of a traditional bulb, which will need to be replaced much more often.

Day 11 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Did you know that each year, approximately 30-million trees are used to make books, for US readers, alone? That is A LOT of deforestation. By using libraries, we reuse the books already printed, and reduce the demand for more.

Day 12 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Used car oil contains many dangerous contaminates, like lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, dioxins, benzene and polycyclic aromatics. But oil doesn’t wear out, it gets dirty. This means it can be cleaned, and reused. Reducing waste, and the potential that those dangerous contaminants end up in the ground, or water supplies.

Day 13 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Did you know that driving a 10-mile round trip, 5 days a week, in an SUV produces 1.9 tons of CO2 emissions, alone? Biking to work doesn’t just help you build some super cool tan lines, but it helps reduce pollution, and make a healthier planet. So get riding! Spandex not required.

Day 14 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay.When purchasing food, it is especially important to buy locally. Purchasing locally grown or made foods reduces the need for transport, which cuts dependency on fossil fuels. This helps in the reduction of air pollution, reduces green house gas production, and promotes local economies. So go ahead and buy that pie from the local farm-to-table bakery. Your pants might not thank you, but the earth will.

Day 15 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Some communities offer curbside pick up for recyclables, but not all. If your area does not offer this service, find a local recycling facility to bring all of your recyclable goods to. And we don’t mean just soda cans, and beer bottles. You can recycle batteries, plastic, paper, glass, aluminum, steel, motor oil, tires, refrigerators, and computer printers. If your community does not have a place to bring all of these goods, push your local government to provide one… it’s important.

Day 16 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. You know those family packs of hamburgers you see at the grocery store, and you think “Who could possibly need that many burgers?!” Well, you do… if you want to help save the planet, that it. Cooking large quantities of food at a time reduces the amount of waste and emissions created by food packaging. One-third of all greenhouse gas emissions comes from the agricultural process, including the production of packages. So give your neighbor Becky a call, and invite her and the family over for dinner tonight!

Day 17 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. It takes 12-million barrels of oil, to make the 100-billion plastic shopping bags Americans use each year. Each American family takes home roughly 1500 per year, alone. By reusing the bags we were given, or purchasing the very inexpensive reusable bags sold at nearly all stores, you can significantly reduce your family’s carbon foot print, and the planet’s reliance on oil. We suggest keeping a few extras in your car, so you are always prepared… you never know when the urge to shop will strike!

Day 18 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Did you know that it takes 3x the amount of water to produce a bottle of water, than a glass of water? Or, that plastic water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate plastics, which never fully break down; they create tiny particles that absorb toxins, which contaminate and harm bodies of water, and their inhabitants. So go get yourself one of those cute reusable bottles, and continue hydrating.

Day 19 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Did you know that another term for “standby power” is “vampire power?” Leaving you electronics in standby mode, when not using them, still uses power and energy. To reduce this use, hit the off switch, whenever you are not using them. Power strips, with off buttons, are very helpful in reducing power waste around the house. So don’t be afraid of vampires, just turn off your electronics.

Day 20 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. I bet you didn’t know that there was a way to save the planet, and your love life, all with one easy move! Turning off the lights, and eating a meal by candlelight saves electricity, which reduces power plant emissions. So get that romantic evening started, and know that you are doing your part in reducing energy waste, and pollution.

Day 21 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. To professionally install insulation the average home in the Northeast, it cost about $1500. This seems like a large sum of money, right? I bet it seems a lot more practical when you find out that adding insulation to a home saves you about $600 per year, on heating costs. That means that without proper insulation, $600 worth of heat is wasted. That is money saved, and reduced gas or oil emissions. Its a win-win.

Day 22 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay.When you are shopping, make an effort to support companies that have adopted eco-friendly policies. Studies have found that these companies are as much as 16% more productive, which means you may be getting a better product, at a better price… all well helping to reduce your carbon footprint. We see no real downside, here!

Day 23 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Considering switching your home to solar energy? Do it! On top of the thousands of dollars that they save you in electric, they reduce your carbon footprint, and increase the value of your home. More money – less problems.

Day 24 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. It is estimated the the fridge takes up about 25% of a home’s total energy use. Cleaning the coils behind your fridge reduces the appliance’s energy consumption by 30%… this is a pretty large cut in your home’s total energy use. Do this every 3-months, to save the maximum amount of money.

Day 25 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. A single round trip flight from NYC to LA produces 20% of the greenhouse gases your car uses in an entire year. Cars and trains are much more environmentally friendly than planes, and choosing to use these methods of travel can make a huge difference in your carbon footprint each year.

Day 26 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. This may sound a little silly, but growing and gifting plants, instead of cutting or buying flowers, is a nice and easy way to reduce greenhouse gases. The agricultural business is the main source for greenhouse gas emissions, and flowers, though beautiful, are not as useful as most other plants grown with purpose. Growing and gifting a plant also requires a lot more thought and planning, and is a much more personal gift.

Day 27 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. The three-way catalyst in a 3 way catalytic converter actually removes carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides from petroleum vehicle exhausts. This allows you to go a lot further, while emitting a lot less of those dangerous pollutants.

Day 28 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Ocean animals are in danger from being caught on things like 6-pack rings, which can cut off circulation or airways as the animal grows. Cutting the rings helps to reduce the chance of entanglement, and death. There is even a company who has invented rings that biodegradable quickly, and are safe for animals to eat. Sounds chewy.

Day 29 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. Did you know that paper, Styrofoam, and polystyrene cups are not recyclable? And while their cardboard holders, and plastic lids are recyclable, it takes a lot of energy to complete that process, which produces pollutants. By keeping your own mug at work, or bringing a travel mug, you reduce your office’s overall waste, and your own carbon footprint. My work mug says “Working like a mama llama!”

Day 30 of easy to implement ways to help the planet in celebration of #EarthDay. How many of us have purchased a gym membership, and then forgot it existed. Life gets in the way, work gets in the way. So cancel the membership, and walk to work! Combine the thing you want, with the you have to do. This not only saves you money on that unused gym membership, but it reduces the amount of emissions you create by driving… it also helps you get that beach bod ready!