April 18, 2016/in Environmental News /by jeng

At Applied Resource Management, we pride ourselves on being environmental professionals. Our services help businesses succeed and individuals thrive, while still protecting the earth that we all share. That’s why we’re excited to spend Friday, April 22nd, celebrating Earth Day.

Founded in 1970, the mission of Earth Day is to celebrate the planet, encourage others to build a healthy, sustainable environment, and protect the Earth for future generations. Saving the planet is a big job, but no action is insignificant. Even small changes can have a big impact!

To help you have fun while saving the world, we’ve put together five fun and easy things you can do today to help spread the love this Earth Day. Remember, we only have one planet. Let’s treat it right.

1. Visit a State Park.
North Carolina, where Applied Resource Management is based, has a great state park system. It doesn’t matter if you prefer recreation areas, lakes, trails, the ocean, or the mountains—the Tar Heel State has it all! If you’re on the coast, check out the native carnivorous plants at Carolina Beach State Park, and if you feel like trekking to the mountains, reserve a spot at Mount Mitchell State Park. The hardest part will be choosing which park to visit first!

2. Be Safe with Electronic Waste.
As technology changes our lives, it also changes our landfills. More than 50 million tons of electronic waste (known as “e-waste”) is tossed each year, and only a quarter of that is recycled. The next time you upgrade your smartphone, buy the latest Kindle, or splurge on a skinnier laptop, make sure you dispose of your old electronics in a responsible manner by taking them to an e-waste recycling facility.

3. Plant a Garden. 
Growing your own groceries is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint (your food doesn’t have to travel across the country to get to your table) and it will also encourage you to eat healthier (let’s just say it’s not easy to grow Oreos and Twinkies). If you get really into gardening, consider installing an irrigation well to keep your water bill down. If you don’t have space for a garden, you can also make an effort to shop at markets and support local farmers in your own community.

4. Just Say No to Junk Mail.
Did you know over 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail? That’s a terrible toll on the earth, and all for a bunch of credit card offers, catalogs, and advertisements you didn’t even want in the first place! The official Earth Day website has some great tools for cutting junk mail out of your life. Pledge to receive less junk mail today, and create a greener lifestyle for your family and home.

5. Install a Geothermal System.
We may be biased, but at Applied Resource Management we think one of the best things you can do for your home and for the environment is to install a geothermal energy system in your home. This is an energy-conscious way to provide heating and cooling in your home, and will also save you money in the long run! If you’re interested in this option, contact us to learn more.

We hope these tips inspire you to live a green life, on Earth Day and every day! For more environmentally friendly tips, like us on Facebook. Happy Earth Day!