The Impact of Earth Day on Our Environment

Each year, on April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day. But, although it may be hard to believe, Earth Day is a relatively new concept.

After the devastating 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif., U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin wanted to find a way to raise public consciousness about air and water pollution. Senator Nelson organized a “national teach-in on the environment” and with others, built an organization to promote events across the country.

And so it was…on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans came together to rally for a healthy, sustainable environment, and the annual Earth Day celebration in the U.S. was born. Then, in 1990, Earth Day grew to become a global event, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries.

Now, 44 years later, Earth Day efforts are led by the Earth Day Network organization, which works with more than 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

Introducing ENERGY STAR

The growth and success of Earth Day over the years has resulted in other efforts to make the U.S. more environmentally-friendly, including the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Earth Day, and these acts, has led more Americans to become conscious about their own affect on the environment.

In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But have you ever wondered how a product earns the ENERGY STAR label? To earn this respected label, a product must contribute significant energy savings nationwide and deliver increased energy efficiency with the features and performance demanded by consumers. If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient version, the purchaser must be able to recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings within a reasonable period of time.

When it comes to home air conditioning systems, ENERGY STAR-labeled HVAC systems have optimized performance to help you save energy and money on Phoenix AC repair bills and your monthly energy bill, while improving the comfort of your home. They also help prevent harmful carbon pollution and reduce other greenhouse gases. To receive ENERGY STAR certification, an air conditioning system must have a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) that makes it more than 15 percent more efficient than conventional models.

Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing, your top Phoenix AC contractor, is offering several incentives to help you update your home cooling equipment – to be more eco-friendly and save money. Visit ChasRoberts.com to schedule an appointment online or call (602) 943-3426 in Phoenix, (520) 618-1884 in Tucson or (505) 264-7257 in New Mexico.