Go Green for Earth Day

Being green is easy. You don't need to put in a rainwater recovery system in your yard to be earth friendly, but you can become more eco-conscious by making small changes to your everyday lifestyle. Here are a few suggestions:

• Ride your bike or walk to work or to the store.
• Use reusable grocery/produce bags.
• Use a reusable stainless steel water bottle instead of buying bottles of water.
• Practice the three R's – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
• Don't litter.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Turn off the television when you are not watching it and when you leave the house.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
• Use a low-flow showerhead.
• Water your lawn and garden before dawn and limit length of time and days.
• Make sure your sprinklers are watering your lawn and not the sidewalk.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate, catch a free Earth Day screening of the documentary Bag It about reducing plastic pollution. Transition South Bay LA and the City of Manhattan Beach are sponsoring two free screenings of the film:

• After-school screening: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  
  1400 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach
• Feature-length screening: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  Community Room,
  420 15th St., Manhattan Beach

RSVP to transitionsouthbayla@gmail.com.

Additionally, if you've got household hazardous waste or electronic waste to dispose of, drop by on May 7 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. City Hall is at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd.

Heal the Bay also hosts a Nothin' But Sand beach cleanup on the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. The next few cleanups are in Playa Del Rey, Venice and Pacific Palisades.

You can also give Redondo Beach a hand in the by taking the Wyland Foundation's Clean Water Pledge. Pledge-takers from the winning city can receive tickets to a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game, discounted admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific or Disneyland parkhopper passes. Right now, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach are , respectively.

Want to do more? Check out these sites dedicated to helping us all become more "green":

• Tree Hugger: Seven Must-Read Green Books for Your E-Reader
• Real Simple: Ultimate Guide To Going Green
• Ecocyle: Alternative Cleaners and Recipes