Earth Day will be thirty- five years old on April 22, 2005. The first earth day was in 1970 and marks the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and he proposed the first nationwide environmental protest “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda”. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. At this time – Americans were using leaded gas in massive V-8 engines, industry emitted toxic smoke and sludge with no fear of consequence, air pollution was accepted as a sign of a strong economy, and the environment as an issue was generally non-existent. But Earth Day changed all of this. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, air and water pollution, toxic dumps, the extinction of wildlife, unlimited use of pesticides and herbicides, and the loss of wilderness – all realized that they shared common values. Earth Day 1970 enjoyed an unusual assemblage of support. Organized labor provided the bulk of financing for the effort and Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban and rural dwellers, industrial leaders and labor leaders, and people from all walks of life gathered together for this first Earth Day celebration. The first Earth Day also led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the passage of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, And the Endangered Species Act.
But that was then and this is now. After thirty years of relative bipartisan and international support for the environment we are now witnessing an assault on the environment from an administration and a Congress that seems determined to ignore science and significantly weaken the Clean Air and Water Act, limit the legal enforcement capability of the EPA, and pretty much dismantle all of the positive impact and results of that first Earth Day held thirty-five years ago. This is more than ironic considering the problems that face us as a nation and as a world community. Problems such as global warming, rocketing and out of control energy prices, the continued dependence on foreign oil and the burning of fossil fuels as energy resources, increased carbon dioxide emissions, a continued lack of subsidies for the renewable energy industry, a refusal to upgrade fuel efficiency standards, and so it goes.
Scary times for sure but also a time when the importance of Earth Day is magnified and the need for individual choice and decision-making intensified. Here are some things that all of us can do to help protect our environment and to honor the noble outcome of that very first Earth Day:
- Celebrate Earth Day in your community. Go to www.earthday.net to find activities and events in your area.
- Plant a tree. Trees provide oxygen, can provide energy efficiency opportunities, provide natural habitat, and are a natural way to minimize carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
- Reduce waste in the home, in your business, and in your personal lifestyle.
- Reduce energy use. Practice energy efficiency in the home and reduce home energy consumption by making better energy decisions.
- Vote for candidates locally, statewide, and nationally who will give environmental protection a priority.
AECP DIRECTOR SELECTED TO SERVE ON GREEN COUNCIL BOARD
AECP Executive Director, Billy Weitzenfeld, has been selected to serve on the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) SW Virginia Organizing Chapter’s Board of Directors. Mr. Weitzenfeld will Chair the Education Committee. This organization exists to promote green building practice and application within the southwestern region of Virginia and, as a chapter, will be responsible to the national USGBC organization.
AECP SCHEDULES WORKSHOP
AECP has scheduled a workshop on the process involved in obtaining a Virginia Contractor’s License. The workshop is free to all AECP members and will be held on April 27 and 28 in Lynchburg, VA at the Mobile Home Training Center. An agenda and registration form have been sent out via e-mail to all AECP members. Please contact Billy Weitzenfeld at 540-745-2838 or aecp@swva.net for more information.
ENERGY TIP
With warm weather approaching it is important to provide your air conditioner with the following maintenance:
- Check for refrigerant leaks
- Check all filters for cleaning or replacement
- Clean air conditioner coils
- Check all electrical contacts and connections for corrosion and wear
- If it is a forced air system – be sure that all ducts are sealed and properly insulated
- If you are buying a new system – buy one that is Energy Star certified