Why We Have Earth Day and Our Earth Day Promotion
For the last few years,
Earth Day, April 22nd, has become a phenomenon. Global meetings, events, retail sales and celebrations now mark the month of April, all in the name of Earth Day. But if you’ve ever wondered just where the party started or how Earth Day came about, read on.
How Earth Day Began
Earth Day is not without its various origins. It is widely
circulated and understood that the official Earth Day began in 1962, when Senator Gaylord Nelson wanted to “…persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue [environmental problems] by going on a national conservation tour.” That idea was not a success, but it was the seed that spawned the beginning of the idea of an official Earth Day. 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day that took place on April 22, 1970.
Self-proclaimed Earth Day founder John McConnell
writes that his original purpose was to provide a date for the world to rededicate themselves to the care of the Earth, and that the day would fall on the March Equinox, recognized on March 20th. The intent was defined and detailed in his
Earth Magna Charta. Peter Tamaras, head of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, requested that McConnell write an
Earth Day Proclamation. McConnell presented his Proclamation to the mayor of San Francisco, and on March 1st, 1970, Mayor Joseph L. Alioto issued that Proclamation as the Earth Day Proclamation of San Francisco.
Another influence was almost certainly the celebration of
Arbor Day, which has its own interesting
history. In the 1840s, Nebraska pioneers had few trees to build with or for use as fire. One of these pioneers, J Sterling Morton and his wife, planted trees around their new home. Mortan later became secretary of the Nebraska Territory and proposed that citizens new to the state set aside April 10th as a day to plant trees. Nebraskans planted about one million trees that first Arbor Day. In 1882 Nebraska changed Arbor Day to April 22nd, Morton’s birthday.
Earth Day Today
Earth Day is now recognized globally as a day to discuss and celebrate our relationship with the natural environment, either individually or with a community. Well over 500 million people in more than 140 countries now
participate in Earth Day events. Since the advent of the Internet, Earth Day organizers and retailers alike have found it a powerful tool for promoting the causes of Earth Day to people around the world.
Why We Celebrate
As an energy-conscious indoor comfort company and official
EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner, Service Experts is dedicated to the:
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promotion of clean indoor air
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reduction of residential and commercial energy usage
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sustainability of the environment
The
Free Programmable Thermostat Earth Day Promotion is our way of providing every homeowner an easy, inexpensive method of dramatically reducing their home’s energy consumption. The event will create the same environmental effect as planting 14 trees or taking 2 cars off the road for every single homeowner who makes one small household change*.
We will install a free programmable thermostat in every North American household within one of our service areas, for any consumer who schedules a home heating or cooling tune-up during the month of April.
It's estimated that up to 75 percent of North American homes do not have programmable thermostats. Most homes between 15 and 25 years old still use the original mercury-based models, which are toxic if not disposed of properly. Service Experts will remove the home’s old thermostat, and properly dispose and recycle it at no charge. In fact, Service Experts will accept for disposal mercury-based thermostats from any homeowner regardless of whether they book a Service Experts heating or air conditioning tune-up. You can turn in mercury-based thermostats at any
Service Experts location or to Service Experts technicians performing service in your neighborhood.
We hope you participate in this year’s Free Programmable Thermostat
Earth Day Promotion. Have a great Earth Day 2009.
©2009 Service Experts LLC. Limit one thermostat per tune-up. Company reserves the right to withdraw offer if any conditions exist in the home preventing proper installation of new thermostat. Offer may not be combined with any other offer. Some restrictions apply. Call for details. Precision Tune-Up appointment must be scheduled by 4/30/2009, actual appointments may occur after 4/30/2009. *Source: U.S. EPA, American Forests
Posted: 3/29/2009 4:00:01 AM by Sam