I remember when I was a kid, Earth Day meant that we would all be getting a little pine tree sent home with us to plant in the yard and that we all got to spend a little more time outside for recess – which was awesome for us kids! Now-a-days, Earth Day means the same thing but on a much higher scale.

Every year on April 22 for 44 years, over a billion people in 190 countries take action for Earth Day. People from all nationalities and backgrounds around the globe – from San Francisco to San Juan, Beijing to Brussels, Moscow to Marrakesh – plant trees, clean up their communities, contact their elected officials, and more—all on behalf of the environment. Created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Earth Day works to repair the damage already done to the environment and to establish guidelines to help make a cleaner and safer environment a reality.

Earth Day 2014 will focus on the unique environmental challenges of our time. As the world’s cities are growing in population, the unwelcoming reality of climate change becomes increasingly more present, and it is more important than ever to create sustainable communities. Earth Day 2014 will seek to do just that through its global theme: Green Cities. With smart investments in sustainable technology, forward-thinking public policy, and an educated and active public, the goal is to transform our cities and forge a sustainable future. Next to the collective action of a billion people, nothing is more powerful.

As the global organizer behind Earth Day, Earth Day Network creates tools and resources for you to get involved with Earth Day in your community. Check it out here: http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/

One of the big thoughts to take away from Earth Day every year is how to better enjoy the natural world around us and how to lower your carbon footprint. Why you ask? To help save the environment, of course, but to also save you and your company money.

Here is a short list of some ways that you can protect the environment and your company right now:

1. Use energy efficient light bulbs and turn off lights when not in use
2. Turn off or unplug appliances when they are not in use
3. Turn down central heating and water heating by just 2% – this will make a significant saving
4. Find alternate ways of transportation, bike or carpool to work, if possible
5. Recycle items that can be recycled – paper, plastic, aluminum, etc
6. Install insulation to save on energy costs
7. Don’t litter – properly dispose of trash and waste
8. Go outside and enjoy nature for a moment

If you are looking for training on how to comply with environmental laws, then check out Summit’s engaging online program, Environmental Awareness, which covers:

• Waste minimization, disposal and recycling
• Hazardous material handling
• Material storage
• Engineering controls
• Housekeeping practices

Have a safe day, and remember to go green every day, not just Earth Day!