Today is Earth Day! For most of us it’s still a pretty regular day: We still go to work, we still take kids to soccer practice, we still do all the ordinary, every day things we always do. But the way we do things can be a little more earth-friendly today, and with a little effort, every day to come.

1. Don’t cook dinner (and don’t eat out!). Save a bit of energy and eat a dinner that doesn’t require any cooking (sandwiches, cereal, raw veggies, etc) or better yet, eat last night’s leftovers–cold! While it’s true that cooking or reheating a meal doesn’t cost that much or use that much energy (about 2.8% of electric use for homes that use electric stoves), the point is to begin thinking about your energy consumption and be more mindful in your consumption.

2. Stop and smell the roses; literally. Get outside! Enjoy nature! Take your kids, your spouse, your dog, and spend some time outside. Planet Earth is a fascinating place. From urban to rural and everywhere in between, there’s something to discover and enjoy in every corner of the world.

3. Smile at and say hello to a stranger or go out of your way to help someone. What could this possibly have to do with Earth Day? Well, while its true that a smile will not necessarily increase sustainability or that holding the door for a mom with her hands full won’t help reduce climate change, these things do require that you step outside of yourself and make an effort for someone else’s benefit, which is essentially the crux of the philosophy behind the Earth Day movement.

4. Ditch the dryer. Your clothes dryer is an energy HOG, responsible for a whopping 12% of electricity usage. Yes, dryers are convenient, but they aren’t essential. If everyone in the U.S. air dried their laundry, we would collectively save $9 Billion in just one year!

5. Don’t Throw Things Away. There are so many ways to dispose of your unwanted goods that don’t involve the garbage can! Animal shelters are always in need of towels and bedding. Charities and thrift stores depend on your donations to fund local programs. There are even companies that will reward you to return used food packaging, torn/stained clothing, and other items that would otherwise end up in a landfill. At Ecogoodz, we too, depend on your donations to thrift stores and charitable organizations. We are a used-goods wholesaler. Thrift stores often can’t sell all of the donations they receive. What they can’t sell they pass on to us. We, in turn, send it overseas to developing nations, where it can be distributed locally. We handle wholesale used clothing, wholesale linens and kitchenware, wholesale paired shoes, toys, and accessories.

6. Get a library card. Borrowing books, CDs, and/or movies is an earth-friendly alternative to purchasing. Public libraries are one of the great American institutions and (in our opinion) are far under-utilized considering the wealth of information they possess and their potential for positive environmental impact.

7. Buy secondhand. Not only are secondhand items less expensive to you (versus buying new), but the purchasing of used goods decreases demand for new goods made from raw materials. From cars to clothes to furniture to housewares, opportunities abound for bargain hunters and/or earth friendly consumers.

8. Think (and then act)! This, more than any of the others on our list, has the potential for the greatest impact. Take some time today to consider what you can realistically do to become more earth-friendly in your every day life. In the words of Lao Tzu, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step.” Your seemingly small, consistent efforts will have a greater total impact than a single, large effort.

It’s easy to “go green” on Earth Day. It’s the other 364 days of the year that we really need to be concerned about.