April 22nd marks Earth Day, a yearly reminder that asks all Americans for their civic participation in conservation and green friendly practices. This year, University of Phoenix is offering ten simple tips to help you go green, not just for Earth Day, but all year long!

• Change your driving. Pick one day a week to walk, bike, use public transportation, or carpool when commuting to the office or running errands. When driving, make sure to follow the speed limit! Exceeding the speed limit by 5 mph on the freeway results in an average increased fuel bill of six percent.
• Consume smarter. On average, an American generates about 4.4 pounds of trash each day. To reduce waste, use re-usable coffee mugs and shopping bags and make sure to recycle whenever possible!
• Eat locally. Closer proximity to where your food is produced reduces the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. On Earth Day, try and eat foods produced within 50 miles of your home.
• Conserve water. Water consumes almost one-fifth of California’s electricity use; so take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing your teeth and use water-efficient landscaping.
• Unplug unused electronics. Electronic appliances use electricity even when turned off, and by eliminating these electricity vampires you can save 6 to 26 percent on your average monthly electricity bill.
• Change your lights. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent lights can save $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb’s lifetime.
• Maintain your thermostat. This summer, set your thermostat to 78 degrees to save 5 to 20 percent on cooling costs.
• Increasing energy efficiency at home. Keeping air filters clean will not only reduce carbon emissions associated with energy use, but can save $150 dollars per year. Purchasing an EnergyStar appliance will ensure smart energy conservation.
• Reducing junk mail. The energy to produce junk mail in the U.S. is equal to the greenhouse gas emissions of 2.8 million cars. Canceling unwanted mail and catalogs can significantly reduce this number.
• Spread the green word. Share these tips with your friends, family, and workplace to ensure a better environment for future generations NOW!