There’s no better time than right now to promote environmental awareness and to look for practical ways to help protect our planet with the 53rd annual Earth Day.
This year’s Earth Day celebration is set for Saturday, April 22, and millions of people around the globe will participate in wide-ranging events to show their support for this most worthy of causes.
While there are an endless variety of ways to lend a helping hand and focus efforts on taking better care of Mother Earth, we’re excited to share just a few ideas to get started:
Pick up Litter – Help clean up the planet by spending time picking up litter around your neighborhood, school or local park. You can also encourage friends to pick up litter in their own area.
Plant a Tree – Trees can help with soil erosion and contribute to dealing with carbon emissions. So, make your mark and give the next generation a greener future by planting a few trees this Earth Day. The best part is you can do this just about anywhere.
Carpool – This is a brilliant idea to celebrate Earth Day. It can be an excellent way to help minimize vehicle emissions. Carpooling will also help reduce fuel consumption, which is a benefit to the environment.
Recycle – Make sure to properly recycle where you can, including things like paper, glass, metal and plastic, as well as electronic items such as cell phones, laptops and televisions.
Unplug Your Devices – A vast majority of the energy that powers our homes comes directly from fossil fuels. If we unplug our electronic devices, we will help reduce our home’s energy demands and carbon emissions. This Earth Day, spend more time outdoors enjoying all nature has to offer instead of scrolling through screens on our cell phones, laptops and other electronics.
Energy-saving Light Bulbs – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports if every household in the U.S. replaced just one standard incandescent light bulb with an energy-efficient one, the nation would save about $600 million annually in energy costs.
Compost Bin – Composting is an excellent way to feed the soil and organisms in the soil and plant life, while reducing waste. Teach your family about composting while setting your first bin together.
Reusable Shopping Bags – Being prepared with reusable bags is a key to reducing a major source of waste – plastic. This could also be a family project. Buy some plain canvas totes and decorate them with fabric paint to help make saving the planet more fun.
Adopt-A-Highway Event – These types of programs not only work to help clean up local environments but also help to educate the public on the importance of proper trash disposal.
Reusable Coffee Cups – Saving just five cups and lids over the course of a week amounts to nearly 300 during the year. Multiply that by the number of people just in your office and it adds up quickly. Give everyone in the office a company-branded mug on Earth Day to help reinforce the message.
Earth Day Fast Facts
What: An annual event to help demonstrate support for the environment
When: Saturday, April 22
History: First held April 22, 1970, it now includes wide-ranging events coordinated around the world by EarthDay.org, including one billion people in more than 193 countries.
Planting the Seeds: The history of Earth Day dates to 1970 when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day to help raise public awareness about environmental issues and promote environmental activism. Since then, Earth Day has become a global event with celebrations and events taking place in more than 193 countries. Today, Earth Day is celebrated in many ways, including community cleanup events, tree plantings and educational events. And it provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and governments to take action.