This episode shares five simple ways to help the environment: use fluorescent light bulbs, carpool, dispose of your garbage in an environmentally conscious manner, turn off your air conditioning when you're not going to be at home, and paint with light colors.

If you have acted on any of the ideas you heard on 52 Ways this year, please email me at juliemz@comcast.net to let me know.  I'll share all the stories of listeners making a difference on the final episode.

The jewel cases that most CDs come in are made of PVC, a plastic that can cause environmental and health problems.  To prevent these issues, you can donate your old jewel cases to your local library, use them for fun art projects, or give them to GreenDisk (www.greendisk.org), a company that will recycle them.

Tuesday, April 22, is Earth Day!  To protect our planet, you can help prevent junk mail and reduce your consumption of plastic shopping bags.

Visit www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/junk-mail.htm for more ideas about reducing junk mail and specific information about the ideas mentioned in this podcast.

Visit www.reusablebags.com for more information about reducing the use of plastic shopping bags.

To find Earth Day events in your area and more about this holiday, visit www.earthday.net.

Happy Earth Day!