Earth Day as we know it was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Senator Nelson declared, “ The battle to restore a proper relationship between man and his environment, between man and other living creatures will require a long, sustained, political, moral, ethical, and financial commitment- -far beyond any effort made before." Forty-three years later, we now have numerous landmark pieces of legislation passed, such as, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act as well as the creation of the EPA.
Earth Day gives us a reminder to take stock of our daily choices & habits, a chance to make resolutions to be a greater part of our world’s environmental solution. As a mother of 4 children, I am given pause when I think of the changes I see in the world in my lifetime, and I reflect on what future generations will see and inherit. When John and our daughter, Mary, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa last fall they were face-to-face with rapidly melting glaciers and disappearing snow pack. The effect of the disappearance on communities that rely on the snowmelt for water was irrefutable. Yet, at the same time there is great hope, as we are fueled with scientific knowledge, and have countless opportunities as individuals to adjust our habits, and make a pronounced difference.
It is the belief in each of us making a collective
difference that has taught me to continue reading & learning, and trying to
adapt my habits. I try to avoid using disposable bags in our lunch, or while
shopping, and we avoid using single use water bottles. In our backyard we dry our clothes on the
line, have a vegetable garden and use a rain barrel to water it. We support/buy
from community based farms. I drive a hybrid,
and try to use bio-friendly cleaning supplies. We have a programmable
thermostat and now keep it a bit lower in the winter, and a bit warmer in the
summer. Some initiatives cost more – such as buying locally & organically;
many save money, yet all are better for our planet and our health. While I don’t
see myself as an environmentalist, or a tree hugger, I want to make my
contribution to the stewardship of our world.
. 
In 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council was founded to
promote LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), www.usgbc.org/leed. It is a voluntary point-based program in
which homes, commercial buildings and communities can be certified as “green”
buildings. The goal is to build
structures that use a holistic approach to sustainability, taking into account
not only energy costs for heating and cooling operations, but the impact of
harvesting and transporting materials to the project site, and the use of
products to repair poor construction. We are proud that JL Architects has four
LEED Accredited Professionals on staff.
If you would like to read more
about helping the environment, here are some additional links:
The impact of the meat industry on our environment: http://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2012/11/meatless-mondays-as-a-program-for-environmental-stability-and-public-health
The environmental benefits of buying locally: http://www.environmentforbeginners.com/content/view/110/1/
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The banning of water bottles on college campuses (and towns): http://www.mnn.com/money/sustainable-business-practices/blogs/college-campuses-ban-bottled-water
Plastic bag bans: http://www.howstuffworks.com/how-many-cities-have-a-ban-on-plastic-bags.htm
, Lastly, an interesting quiz: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/
Tell me what you think, or share your ideas!
-Lisa Lister
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