Earth Day 2020: 10 Top tips to be more green

During the current crisis we have seen how nature has flourished in our absence. This has made it clear how we can have such a huge effect on our environment and how the choices we make will have a vital impact on the world around us. Today is Earth Day 2020 and the theme for this year’s Earth Day is climate action! There are lots of ways you can get involved in Earth day; just because we are staying inside doesn’t mean there is no room for change! Join us today in making a difference and help us to save our planet!



You don’t have to make huge changes to your lifestyle to help the environment. All changes, no matter how small will really help to make a difference. Here are a few of the things you could do to live more sustainably:

1. Turn off lights and unplug electrical appliances when you’re not using them.  

Many appliances consume energy even when you are not using them.  It can also cost more than £50 a year! Unplugging electronics and turning off lights when you are not using them is a small change you can make that will have a huge effect on the environment!

2. Turn off the heating when you can.  

In the winter or on a cold day, try layering up or putting on a jumper before you turn the heating on. This will not only save loads of energy and help the environment, but it will also stop you getting huge household bills!

3. Driving  

At the moment this isn’t too much of an issue but when we can eventually get out again try to use alternative methods of transport if you can. For example, on a nice day you could walk to the post office or corner shop rather than drive there! Other ways to be sustainable while driving are to accelerate gently and reduce your speed, so you don’t use so much petrol.

4. Waterwise 

Be waterwise! While lots of us are spending more time at home due to the current crisis it is important that we try to save water where we can. Visit waterwise.org to find out how you can save water.

5. Washing clothes 

While washing your clothes, try to be green and use cold water when you can. You can also save a lot of energy by hanging your clothes outside to dry or drying them on a drying rack instead of in the dryer. Take advantage of the nice weather, they’ll be dry in no time!

6. Reduce your waste 

Try to recycle, reuse and repair items when possible, avoid using plastic and throwing things away, as large amounts of rubbish have a huge impact on the environment. Click here to find out how you can reuse and recycle efficiently.

7. Don’t waste food  

Food that you throw away ends up in landfill and breaks down to create greenhouse gases. Try to avoid throwing food away and freeze leftovers when you can. In Britain, if we stopped wasting food, we could avoid 18 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide being emitted each year. This will also save you a lot of money!

Find out more about how to avoid food waste here.

8. Support Fairtrade  

Fairtrade requires companies to pay sustainable prices. This means producers are paid better prices and given decent working conditions, allowing them to be more sustainable. Fairtrade allows for a reduction in energy and greenhouse gas emissions, it improves soil and water quality and prevents producers from using harmful chemicals during production. Find out more about Fairtrade here.

9. Grow your own 

Growing your own vegetables is a great way to help the environment and live a bit more sustainably – It doesn’t require too much effort either! Visit our blog ‘How to garden without a garden,’ to find out what vegetables you can grow indoors!

10. Join the Earth Day movement and get involved! 

Visit the Earth Day website to find out how you can get involved! Volunteering is a great way you can take action to help the environment. Sign up on the Earth Day website for information about activities you can do at home or online and help spread the word about climate change!

There are loads of events happening online and loads of ways you can get involved in the fight to save our planet! If you wanted to, you could even create your own online event and bring people together to help make a difference!


COMPETITION ALERT: Herts environmental service are hosting their own Spring Photo Competition, in which we can spread the word about looking after our environment. All you need to do to get involved is post a photo on Instagram of Springtime, using the hashtag #HertsSpringTime2020. The winner will get posted on the social media pages so follow @hertsgreenmovement on Instagram and keep an eye out!