Earth Month: Saving the Environment and Money
- Hi Neighbors
- Apr 26, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 26, 2021
For Earth Month, all of us at Hi Neighbors want to share a few tips and tricks that will help to reduce your carbon footprint but also save you money. Who doesn’t love that? Our number one recommendation is to try out composting! If you’re not sure what it is or how to do it, read a bit below or stop by the Queens Botanical Garden to ask about the program and how you can get started at home.
Compost
Composting can be such a small shift but make such a HUGE impact! According to GrowNYC, over 1/3 of NYC waste is made up of organic waste (food scraps) that could be composted! This will cut carbon emissions and travel distances for the DSNY haul significantly, and it turns what was once seen as waste into black gold; or extremely rich and reusable fertilizer/soil for your houseplants and gardening projects!
If you are looking to start composting in Flushing look no further than Queens Botanical Garden. They offer to drop off every day from 8 am-5 pm at 42-80 Crommelin Avenue, Flushing, NY. They can accept: fruits, vegetables, eggshells, coffee, tea (no staples please), nuts, bread, grains, and pasta. Don’t forget to remove stickers and rubber bands from your donations. They also have weekly volunteer opportunities on Mondays from 9:30-12:30 where you will get to learn about composting and help in the process of breaking down scraps. More info available here: https://queensbotanical.org/event/compost-volunteer-days/2021-05-03/
Lights/Plugs
When you’re not using an appliance or charger at home, make sure to unplug it! This not only will save energy and help cut down on your carbon footprint but this is something that will also save you money in the long run!
Also, don’t forget to switch your light bulbs out. If you haven’t looked yet, LED bulbs will last ten times as long as compared to regular incandescent bulbs and they use 67% less energy too! This means that they are giving you more time and saving you more money all while helping save the planet.
Travel
Be aware of how you travel. Cars are convenient to get to places in a more direct manner BUT they can be extremely harmful to the environment (especially when you are sitting in long traffic lines or continually circling the block looking for parking.) Think about trading out your drive around town for a bike ride or a walk to and from some of your favorite local shops and restaurants. Also, how lucky are we that we live in a large city that has such a robust public transportation system! Make sure to look for timetables and weekend service with MTA on the subway or bus network.
Bringing Reusable Bags/Be Plastic Wise
Being plastic conscious will help you in making critical choices about where you shop, the things you buy, and how you are using (and reusing) plastic goods. Try to ditch single-use plastic bags, tableware, and packaging on simple items like fruits and vegetables.
If you are curious about what more you can do to eliminate plastic in your day to day life or why it is so important to do so, look to the NYU Sustainability Summit, “Plastics - investigating how plastics seem to infiltrate all aspects of our lives and exploring strategies for enabling a plastic-free world” happening on Tuesday, April 27th from 6-8 pm. More information is available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainability-summit-tickets-148370190233
Volunteer with Parks:
Finally, there is nothing better than getting involved with your community and getting yourself some fresh air and more connection with nature! Look no further than an NYC Parks Dept. event happening in the upcoming week.
Friday, April 30th 9:30-12:30 Forest Park Tree Planting
Saturday, May 1st 10-12 Alley Pond Park Ephemeral Walk/Tour
Sunday, May 2nd 10-11:30 City Nature Challenge: Biodiversity Hike
Monday, May 3rd 9-11 Monday Sweep at Forest Park
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