Kill your television

Earth Day isn't the only game in town this week. April 20-26 is also TV Turnoff Week—another shot at turning off, getting up, getting active and getting green.

In the United States and other industrialized nations, screen time continues to increase every year. In some countries, averages are climbing up to 9 hours per day for recreational screen time. ScreenTime.org notes that on average, people watch four hours of television a day, topped off with another four or more hours of computers, games, video, iPods and cell phones.

Of course, you'll save energy by turning off your screens. Make sure you actually unplug your TV, to prevent it from sucking standby power as a so-called vampire appliance.

Why else should you turn off your TV? In a word: time. Time to think, time to read, time to create ... time for that hobby you don't have time for anymore ... time to get outside, time to exercise, time to plant a garden ... time for spring projects ... time for your family. You'll find that all this time adds up to more than a different set of to-do's. Moving away from screens means moving toward action, energy, people and community—all eco-friendly aspects of a more sustainable, more connected lifestyle.

So take your pick this week: Earth Day, or TV Turnoff Week. Unplug and reconnect. Either way, you win.

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