Happy Earth Day!
April 22, 2022 will be 52 years we have celebrated Earth Day, taking time to honor and care for this planet we call home. As many of you know (or maybe not, but now you do), every year Earth Day has a theme. Some from the past have been ‘climate action’, ‘protect our species’, and ‘restore our earth’. This year the theme is ‘Invest in our Planet’. So what does that mean for us as individuals, as a community, as a society, and as a species?
Each of us plays a role in protecting the planet. Little things like minimizing food waste, trying to avoid single use plastics when possible, driving more fuel efficient (or electric) cars, and making your home energy efficient all have an impact. With 7.75 billion people on earth, if even a fraction of us make some small changes, we will ensure that we pass on the planet to the next generation better than we found it. So accept that carpool offer, skip the fruits wrapped in plastic, change out those old light bulbs to energy efficient ones, and for those who can, consider going solar to produce your own energy and minimize your impact.
Community Involvement
As a community, we have a duty to step up and make local legislation to protect nature. Some new communities being built are already including solar panels in their building plans, people are opting for more natural green spaces instead of paved over parking lots, and we are doing better year after year at protecting wooded and natural areas. But we can always do better. Growing plants on your balcony, tending to a small garden, using a community garden plot, and speaking up if the city wants to clear a stitch of woods to add a parking structure, anything we do to benefit the earth will only benefit us and those who come after us.
What we can do
As a society, we need to hold companies accountable. We as individuals can only do so much when large companies are allowed to ignore the effect they have on the environment. With this years theme of ‘Invest in our Planet’, we can shape society by Investing in companies we believe in. Instead of working with a company doing nothing to help, or actively causing harm, put your money where your beliefs are. A great example, as we see summer coming and the sun showing its face again in full, is solar. Those of us who want to help the planet and minimize our footprint need to be investing in these sorts of things, solar, electric cars, anything that will help minimize the harm we do the planet. And we as consumers can shape our society by speaking with our wallets. Where we invest is where the general societal interest will go. I for one am choosing to invest in the planet I call home, and I hope you all will too.
And as a species as a whole, as the human race, what can we do to help mother earth? We can be aware of our impact, we can tend to nature and care for it, we can choose ethical options for food and clothes. Buying local minimizes the burn of fossil fuels to transport goods, supporting smaller farms encourages greener farming techniques, and doing something like getting solar or an electric car both saves money and helps the earth every single day. We all have a little bit of ‘I want to save the world’ in us, it’s okay if you only save one part of it. And its okay if that part is yours. Every little thing helps, every action has an effect that causes a ripple, creating bigger and bigger change. So lets take this year, this Earth Day, and start that ripple effect. Lets all Invest in our Planet, one choice at a time. Learn more here about solar shingles and Homefix Custom Remodeling can work with you to Invest in our Planet!
Do Your Part
To learn more about this year’s official earth day and other ways you can help, check out this website- https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/