How We're Celebrating Earth Day

Advice to live more sustainably, from NPR's Life Kit.

Shannon Wright for NPR On NPR’s Life Kit podcast, we’re all about breaking down big changes into small steps — all to improve our lives. We talk to experts for tried-and-true advice about health, finances, parenting and more.   But not all change is good, and this week, we’re thinking about one of the biggest changes of all: climate change. Today, in honor of Earth Day, we’re sharing small steps you can take to live more sustainably.  You can start on your next trip to the kitchen. Food waste accounts for as much as 10% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. Here’s some advice to cut down your contribution:  Don’t be fooled by the “sell-by” date on your foods. Most of these dates are about when foods are freshest — not when you should throw them in the trash. This USDA app can help you keep track of how long food really lasts. (And this Life Kit episode can help you decipher the buzzwords on food labels.)  If you are worried about food going bad, your freezer is your friend. Almost anything can be frozen. Instead of tossing food scraps, try composting. Even if you don’t have the outdoor space to compost on your own, you can drop your scraps off at local facilities or even get them picked up. Look up “compost pickup service” in your area. Julia Simon for NPR Ready for more?  Look around the rest of your home. Buildings account for about a third of the greenhouse gas emissions from the United States. Luckily, there are ways you can reduce your home's impact. This new Life Kit episode walks through some options.  Start small, experts say: Are you using LED light bulbs? Can you open windows instead of turning on the air conditioning? After that, it’s time to think bigger: The episode has ideas for replacing major appliances and getting professional advice. You can even get the whole family involved — if you need a hand, Life Kit has an episode about helping your kids understand and take action on the climate crisis. Have other ideas for living more sustainably? Let us know — we always want to hear from you. -Clare Lombardo, Life Kit Digital Editor Newsletter continues after sponsor message Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy