Earth Day is here again! Started in 1970 to educate the public and bring the community together on environmental issues, this annual event is a great opportunity to celebrate our planet, while educating ourselves and others about the impact we have on it, and what we can do to preserve it.

Do you know what your impact is on the planet? The little decisions you make every day, can make a big difference. Driving your car to work, watching television, running the microwave, taking a hot shower, charging your cell phone. Each little thing adds up. Check out this web page to play a fun game and find out how big your environmental footprint is. It may surprise you.

This year the Earth Day Network is working towards a Billion Acts of Green. You can go online to their site, www.act.earthday.com, and pledge to do an act of green, something to help the environment on Earth Day. Search their database for events close to you, from park clean ups, recycling drives, festivals, and even a rally in Washington DC, you can find out how you can help in your community. Can’t find anything? Start your own event. Here are some ideas:

• Organize a Get to Work Green Day. Ride bikes, busses, and carpool with other people in your office.
• Hold a Letter Writing Party. Have friends over to write letters to local legislators and representatives and let them know about environmental issues in your community, and how you need their help and support. Use this great tool to find your U.S. Representative, and how to contact them!
• Organize a community clean-up. Clean up your local parks, lakes, ponds, schools, and ditches. Everyone pitching in together can make for a much cleaner and happier community.
• Take a Healthy-Home Audit. Remove all toxic cleaning supplies from your cabinets. Change light bulbs to more energy-efficient ones. Fix leaky faucets and running toilets. Set up recycling and compost bins in your kitchen.
• Plant a garden in your home or community. Community gardens can be a great place to bring people together while growing healthy food for you and cutting down on your environmental footprint.

This Earth Day, take a moment to appreciate all that this planet has given you, and give something back! What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day this year? Follow us all week long on Twitter and Facebook to get more ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day in your home, Earth Day events across Colorado, and more!