KOLO-8 kicks off Green For Spring April 22, as we celebrate Earth Day… where we’ll attempt to make you more aware of just what Going Green means. This is our month long adventure where we plan on helping Nevadans take on the task of going Green. We, the Daybreak show, will divulge any information that we find useful, that we are able to correctly answer, and that we think will make Going Green fun for you. We invite you to comment on our blogs, posting any ideas and tips that you may also have. Welcome to Green For Spring!

To some… Going Green simply means conservation… recycling… using all natural products… and even switching to organic foods. But there are actually several ways you can help make the planet a better place. Whether or not you saw “An Inconvenient Truth,” chances are you’ve been hearing about the Earth and the dangers it’s presented with on a regular basis. So regardless of your beliefs… consider this little jolt of motivation:

You stand to save some serious money while you’re saving the planet.

You, all alone, as one human being, can decrease production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by thousands of pounds each year.

In doing so, you’ll end up spending less on your gas bill, your energy bills, and in some cases, even your taxes. Check out these simple steps you can take:

1. Be efficient with water: Adjust your water heater, turning the setting to warm, at 120 degrees. Use water savers on shower heads, install a home purification system to cut down on plastic water bottles, or use drip irrigation for landscaping.

2. Increase energy efficiency in our household: Find a company that will perform an energy audit. Look for SEERS (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of 14.5 or higher. Remember to clean air filters in heating and cooling systems regularly.

3. Buy a programmable thermostat: These allow you to adjust settings so you aren’t wasting energy when you are sleeping or not home.

4. Replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescents (CFLs): These can save you up to 75% of electricity used by your other bulbs.

5. Do laundry efficiently: Front loaders use less water and 60% less energy than top loaders. Use cold water. Use energy saving settings.

6. Think about your refrigerator: Don’t put this in direct sunlight or next to the stove or dishwasher – it will make it use more energy to keep it cool.

7. Driving less, not so fast, and watch your idling: Carpool, telecommute, walk or bicycle. Drive 55 mph instead of 65 mph to improve your mileage and reduce emissions. Keep your tires properly inflated. Don’t let your engine idle for more than 30 second – it will burn more gas.

8. Map out your errands: Consolidate drives to locations in the same area with multiple errands. Park in one spot and walk to nearby destinations.

9. Mow your lawn with care: They may not use much gas, but they create their fair share of NOx, a main ingredient in smog. Opt for a low cost manual reel mower.

10. Enjoy local food: Support local farmers market, buy organics, plant your own vegetable garden and fruit trees. On average, a pound of food in the U.S. travels over 1,300 miles.

11. Teach children: Educate them on how the planet works, how ecosystems work together, and how we, as humans, affect it. Help them grow into responsible adults who will set lessons for future generations.

And that's just a few of the simple, everyday things you can do to improve the quality of your life and others around you. Now, what do you think? What are tips you may have? What works for you? We would like to know your thoughts!