Here’s some links to read up on some activities for today:

CNN World Quiz

Earth Day Network

Some information behind Earth Day

The EPA’s take on Earth Day

Fun Kids Activites to teach about Earth Day

Want to Volunteer To Help Your Community? – Bridging The Gap

• Ford’s new five-year global waste reduction strategy calls for a 40 percent per vehicle reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill between 2011 and 2016 – equal to just 13.4 pounds per vehicle worldwide
• The new five-year global waste reduction strategy encompasses Ford’s overall “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment that applies to all facets of the company, from the vehicles it makes to the facilities where they are made
• Plan builds on the success the company saw between 2007 and 2011, when the amount of waste sent to landfill per vehicle dropped from 37.9 to 22.7 pounds – a 40 percent reduction

 DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 28, 2013 – Cutting waste-to-landfill at Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant has always been important to workers there, but they weren’t satisfied until last fall, when a small, diligent local committee played a major role in solving a nagging 10-ton problem.

The solution – a way to keep 10 tons’ worth of 8-foot-long, 350-pound fabric coolant filters from being landfilled monthly – means the Van Dyke facility is Ford’s first North American zero waste-to-landfill transmission plant and now diverts a total of 15 tons of waste-from-landfill monthly.

Moreover, the solution exemplifies how Ford already is making progress on plans to reduce the amount of waste-to-landfill from its facilities worldwide as outlined in the company’s new five-year global waste reduction strategy. Under the plan, waste-to-landfill will drop to just 13.4 pounds – or by 40 percent – per vehicle by 2016.

The comprehensive strategy covers all angles of Ford’s waste reduction plans – from working with global suppliers to use more eco-friendly packaging, to enabling employees such as those at Van Dyke to play an active role in coming up with ways to help Ford reach its goals. Even kitchen waste is addressed.

“Reducing waste is a crucial part of our strategy toward building a world-class manufacturing system,” said John Fleming, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. “By applying standard waste reduction processes across our global facilities, we are, through our actions – and not just words – improving the quality of life where we do business.”

There can also be financial benefits: In 2012, Ford generated $225 million in revenue through the recycling of 568,000 tons of scrap metal in the U.S. and Canada alone.

The resulting financial and environmental benefits mean Ford’s new five-year global waste reduction strategy encompasses the company’s overall “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment that applies to everything from the vehicles it builds to the facilities where they are made.

The new strategy also builds on the success the company saw between 2007 and 2011, when the amount of waste sent to landfill per vehicle dropped from 37.9 to 22.7 pounds – a 40 percent reduction. Reductions were accomplished through the launch of new initiatives and programs, such as paint waste recycling at facilities in Australia, Thailand, India and Spain.

Ford plans to continue reducing the amount of waste-to-landfill by emphasizing prevention, minimization, reuse and recycle of waste whenever possible. Specific actions include trying to reduce or eliminate the amount of certain kinds of waste from entering Ford facilities in the first place.

Other actions identified as key near-term goals for waste reduction at Ford facilities around the world include: 

• Identifying the five largest volume waste-to-landfill streams at each plant, developing plans to reduce each and tracking progress
• Minimizing waste by leveraging the Ford production system – a continuously improving, flexible and disciplined common global production system that encompasses a set of principles and processes to drive lean manufacturing
• Improving waste sorting procedures to make recycling and reuse easier
• Investing in new technologies that minimize waste, such as dry-machining
• Expanding programs that deal with managing specific kinds of waste like metallic particles from the grinding process and paint sludge

 Dave Lewis, environmental engineer at the Van Dyke plant, said he believes one particular aspect of the new global waste strategy could yield the best results – enabling and encouraging local personnel to affect change.

 “It’s very empowering to be able to address a problem that is so important – and not just to our plant or our company – but society in general,” says Lewis. “Without the power to implement such change, some of the best solutions could never see the light of day.”

Between 2010 and 2012, Van Dyke kept 111 tons of waste from landfill. Van Dyke became a zero waste-to-landfill plant in late 2012 after the environmental committee there figured out on their own how to deal with giant, 8-foot-long, 350-pound fabric coolant filters that were creating 10 tons of waste a month.

The local committee worked with Ford’s Powertrain Operations and the Environmental Quality Office to develop a way to properly manage the waste filters by finding separate recyclers for the used filters and the materials they contained post-use. A video showcasing Van Dyke’s waste-to-landfill reduction efforts can be found here: http://youtu.be/eurWc0QoFwI.

Robert Brown, vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, said Van Dyke is being used as a model for Ford facilities around the world, exemplifying how Ford will succeed in reaching the goals outlined in the new waste reduction strategy.

“We are always evaluating how our operations handle waste around the world, and we consider Van Dyke just one of many successes we’ve had,” says Brown. “We use Van Dyke’s waste reduction efforts to not only exemplify what can be done, but what should be done.”

Ford’s push to establish more zero waste-to-landfill facilities globally is one element of the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Other initiatives include: 

• Greenhouse gas emissions: Reduce from manufacturing facilities by 30 percent per vehicle between 2010 and 2025
• Water use: Reduce the amount used in the manufacture of each vehicle by 30 percent between 2009 and 2015
• Energy consumption: 25 percent reduction in average consumption per vehicle globally between 2011 and 2016

 About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 171,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency make laws that are meant to keep harmful chemicals out of our homes and the environment, but these laws aren’t always complete or enforced properly. Unfortunately, people have to be discerning when they shop to make sure they’re not exposing their families to toxics.

Here are some tips for reducing your family’s exposure to toxic chemicals:

Reduce plastic use. Many kinds of plastics contain endocrine disrupters that can cause all sorts of health issues from obesity to liver problems. Read the blog My Plastic-Free Life for practical ideas on cutting back.

Make friends with the ingredients list. Environmental Working Group has a large database of products ranging from cosmetics to cleaning materials, ranked by toxicity. Before you buy, plug the product into their database to make sure it’s safe for your family. Better yet, make your own cleaningand personal care products at home!

Ditch triclosan. While Johnson & Johnson recently decided to remove the antibacterial chemical triclosan from its line, it’s still used in a wide variety of American products. Check that your hand soap, toothpaste and other personal care products don’t contain this ingredient known to cause antibiotic resistance, allergies and other side effects.

Avoid food treated with antibiotics. Widespread use of antibiotics for livestock has led to the growth of superbugs that cause illness in humans and decrease the effectiveness of certain drugs. Buy organic meat and dairy products or switch to a vegetarian/vegan diet.

Use non-chemical methods of rodent control such as rat traps and make sure the pest control companies you hire don’t use unsafe products. Up to 15,000 children under age six are exposed to dangerous levels of rat poison every year.

Choose healthy furnishings. From VOCs in paint and fiberboard laced with formaldehyde to flame retardant chemicals in sofas, it’s no wonder indoor air pollution is often worse than what you’ll find outside. Inhabitat offers some advice for ensuring your furniture is free of toxic chemicals.

• About 120 million pounds of damaged vehicle parts have been processed through the Ford Core Recovery Program since its inception; program celebrates 10 years in 2013

• Reusing parts as often as possible helps control costs and quality while conserving valuable resources and giving new life to vehicle components otherwise likely destined for a junkyard or landfill

• In the last two years, bumpers and headlights were added to the list of parts recycled or remanufactured through the program; about 26,000 headlight units were collected in the last year alone.

From using soy beans, recycled plastic bottles and used denim in the new Ford Fusion to efforts to keep old parts from the landfills, Ford is making great strives to become greenest.  Click here for more information.

 What do you wear to work? Synthetic fabrics may require expensive dry cleaning involving potent chemicals that can contribute to air and water pollution when not handled properly. The alternative?

• Check the label. Avoid clothing that requires dry cleaning. Choose cotton and wool. Natural fibers are easier to care for at home. Often they can be washed in cool water and hung out to dry, reducing chemical use and energy, too.
• Try fabric blends. Fabrics that are a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers can usually be laundered at home.
• Dress down. Fancier outfits seem to require more dry cleaning than casual wear. Encourage your office to implement a “casual day” on Fridays.

Dressing Right For Mother Nature

You can dress like you really care for the earth – by buying clothing made from fibers produced with few or no pesticides.

• Organic cotton clothing includes t-shirts, blouses, stockings, and sweaters. Some organic cottons require little or no dyeing because they grow in pale colors, such as green, brown and white.

• Fabric made from fast-growing, low-impact hemp is being used in gloves, jackets, shoes and sandals, among many other fashion mainstays and accessories.

• Energy-saving recycled polyester is being made into pullovers, jackets, vests, and footwear.

Look for natural clothing alternatives, particularly in eco-catalogues, at various outfitter shops and on the Internet. Check consignment shops and yard sales for perfectly good “recycled” clothes, especially for kids!

Windows waste plenty of energy and money. Experts say as much as 25% of your home’s heat can escape through leaky windows. Here are simple things you can do to make your existing windows save energy and keep your home a little cozier:

• Install weatherstripping on drafty doors and windows. Storm doors and windows should have weatherstripping on all movable joints.
• Use stretch-seal, heat-shrink plastic sheeting kits for windows as an inexpensive and easy way to seal warped or single-glazed windows.
• Use window quilts or shutters over your windows to keep the cold out in the winter and the heat out in the summer. An uninsulated drape can cut window heat loss by one-third. An insulated drape can reduce it by half.
• Remove, clean, and store window air conditioners. If this isn’t possible, wrap the unit with a thick layer of fiberglass insulation and seal it with plastic sheeting and duct tape to keep out moisture.
• Apply glazing compound to leaky wooden windows where the glass meets the frame and seal where the frame meets the house. If you have aluminum windows, you may need to replace the weatherstripping, available at most hardware stores.
• Don’t try to seal cracks in the glass. Instead, replace the whole pane.

 Adding a sweater and keeping your thermostat set a couple degrees cooler are smart ways to save some energy. But there are many ways to save energy that will conserve resources and save you money.

• Install a programmable thermostat. Being able to turn down the heat for large chunks of time, such as at night or while at work, can make a difference in your overall energy consumption. Consider turning off the heat to rooms that are not heavily used — you’d be surprised how much even these small steps can help to reduce utility bills.

• Perform regular maintenance. If you have a forced air furnace, make sure to clean or change the furnace filter about once a month. Most furnaces will need to be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year.

• Insulate your home. The best way to quickly save energy is by installing good insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends an R-49 rating for attics. Visit www.energy.gov to learn more about these ratings.

• Plug leaks and holes. In addition to insulating your attic and walls, another easy energy saving step is to winterize windows and doors by caulking and weather stripping. Feel for cool air around windows, electrical receptacles and pipe and wire entry points.

Holidays are the most traveled days of the year, and many of us find ourselves stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic when we’d rather be home and having second helpings of the feast. Whether you’re just heading to a friend’s house for dessert or traveling across the country to see your family, here are a few ideas to help you save money and travel efficiently.

When you’re driving, do what you can to remain calm and drive carefully. Aggressive driving can lower your highway miles per gallon (MPG) by 33%, and city MPG by 5%! Performing vehicle maintenance prior to driving, like changing your oil and properly inflating your tires, can also greatly improve the efficiency of your vehicle. Greater efficiency means less fuel is consumed.

If you’re traveling by air, pack lightly or just carry one bag on the plane. Any extra weight causes an airplane to lose efficiency and use more fuel to travel. You can also purchase inexpensive carbon offsets to help mitigate the impact of your air travel.

Avoid crowds and high-traffic roadways to reduce your carbon impact and save money. Traveling on off-peak days can save you hundreds of dollars at the airport or prevent you from sitting in traffic on congested highways. Put your vacation time to good use by traveling off-peak; you’ll save time, money, and have a little time to relax before you go back to work. Need another reason to take more time off? Americans lose a half billion vacation days every year – don’t lose your well-earned time off!

And, it should go without saying, but… Don’t drink and drive. This may not seem like a tip that has anything to do with the environment, but it does! Share cabs with your friends, hire a party bus or nominate a designated driver to take a group to and from the festivities. By acting responsibly and encouraging your fellow travelers to do so, not only will you prevent accidents but you’ll lower your carbon impact by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

Hosting a Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Years Eve party can be a daunting undertaking for you – it can also be hard on the environment. If you’re playing host this year consider these tips to help make your festivities earth-friendly.

Party prep.

We all go a little crazy with the housecleaning when we’re anticipating a crowd of guests in our home. Keep in mind that using certain household cleaners can greatly increase the air pollution in your house or apartment, making the air you breathe irritating and even unsafe for your family and guests. Considering using safe, non-toxic cleaning methods and products can help. Make sure to also properly ventilate with fans and open windows if it’s not too cold outside.

Serving food? Of course you are. Use your regular dishes and flatware instead of buying paper or plastic. This can dramatically reduce your waste. If you have to use disposables, try biodegradable paper plates and compost them along with your leaves, produce scraps, and coffee grounds.   As you’re planning the menu, consider basing it around local and seasonally-available food. Foods that travel across states or around the globe to get to you have high carbon footprints. When you’re sprucing up your home with decorations, reuse last year’s if you still have them. Want to keep it simple and natural? Gourds and pumpkins make excellent and colorful accents, and finding them is easy this time of year. They can usually be purchased at almost any store, including your local farmer’s market. Plus, they’re decorations that can be composted – and sometimes eaten – once you’re done with them.

During the party.
Saving energy on home lighting isn’t just for regular use overhead lights and floor lamps anymore. There’s even environmentally-friendly holiday lighting! LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, are available for both indoor and outdoor decorative lighting. LED lights are cooler to the touch, last 10 times longer (some come with a guaranteed 50,000 hour bulb life or a lifetime warranty), and they use 80% less energy than your standard string lights. Consider LED flickering lights to inspire a cozier feel.

Help your guests contribute to the green effort by providing clearly marked trash receptacles for different types of party waste – paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, food scraps, liquids, etc.

Clean up.

After the guests have left, you’re faced with the daunting task of throwing out food scraps, packaging up leftovers, and cleaning up piles of dishes. Even this part of the day can be environmentally-friendly! Much of your food waste can be composted in an indoor composting bin – just combine your veggie scraps, produce peels, coffee grounds, teabags and more with some of the autumn leaves you’ve been raking up, and you’ll have an excellent foundation for nutrient-rich soil. Be careful not to put any meat or bones in your compost pile. Save those items for leftover sandwiches, soups and stews.

And finally, relax – you don’t have to worry about hand washing your dishes! Using a dishwasher is actually more environmentally-friendly than washing each dish by hand. You’ll use much less soap and about 80% less water. If you rented the linens or plates for a formal party, send them back dirty. Rental companies are required to wash the items upon return, so there’s no need to wash them before you send them back.

Americans will spend billions on feeding their guests this Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, with most of that money going toward food. Wouldn’t you like that money to go back into your local economy? Here’s how you can buy locally, save some time, and give some love back to the environment during the holidays.

Produce.

Farmer’s markets may seem more prevalent during the summer and fall seasons, but many markets move indoors during the winter months or farmers sell their organic produce through larger grocery stores. This means that much of your holiday meal can be found locally and in season thanks to local growers. Beans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, eggplant, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, squash, and more are staples and stay in season throughout much of the winter. Buying locally not only puts money back into your region’s economy, but it also reduces your food’s carbon footprint because many grocery stores ship fruits and vegetables from across the country and even overseas.   If you’re shopping at a regular grocery store, look for stickers and signage that tell you where your produce is from – and if it’s organic – before you choose. You can also use the U.S.D.A.’s national farmer’s market directory to find a fresh foods market near you.

The Organic Turkey.

Millions of turkeys are consumed throughout the holidays, but have you ever thought about where that delicious bird comes from?

Sadly, almost all mass produced turkeys in America are raised in a factory or farm under poor, crowded conditions that involve overfeeding with the aim of producing larger birds, faster. These conditions are deplorable and unhealthy for the animals and the people who eat them, but there are alternatives.

Vegetarian feasts are always an option, and we’re not just talking tofurkey – check out these delicious vegetarian menus from Gourmet. But if you’re not willing to face a meatless holiday, consider purchasing a Heritage turkey or an organic turkey. These birds are raised naturally, fed organic food, and allowed to grow at a normal, healthy rate. The natural slow-growth method means the turkeys are better for you and your family, plus they taste a lot better! You can often find them at local farmer’s markets, regional farms, and specialty grocery stores.   Check out LocalHarvest, an online organic and local food store to find a fresh, organic turkey farm near you or consider purchasing a Heritage turkey. What is an organic turkey? An organic turkey is one that is raised humanely, grass fed, and allowed to roam free (free range).

It’s easy to incorporate local, seasonal foods into your desserts. Sweet potatoes, rhubarb, and pumpkins are in season from late-fall to early-winter in most of the country. If you like to do the cooking yourself, check out these organic pumpkin pie and rhubarb pie and other recipes.  They’re tasty, healthy and fun for the whole family to prep and bake.

Festive Beverages.

Last, but definitely not least, you can even make environmentally responsible choices when buying alcohol. Technically, beverages can’t be certified as organic because more than 60% of their content is water, but there are many breweries and wineries adhering to organic, environmentally-conscious standards when producing their products. Is wine on your menu? Consider the carbon footprint of your vino! Try arranging a tasting of local options for your guests, if you’re lucky enough to have vineyards in your region. Many parts of the country have local wineries that produce delicious, organic products each season. If close-to-home varieties aren’t available to you, check out The Daily Green’s guide to organic wines to help you make some great green, healthy picks.