In 1969, two momentous events changed our view of the earth dramatically: man set foot on the moon for the first time and Earth Day was formed.

But before Earth Day became a global celebration, it began as a grassroots demonstration in Wisconsin. Frustrated by the government’s lack of concern for the environment, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson came up with the idea of a grassroots college demonstration called Earth Day to bring the environmental issue to the White House’s attention.

Much to Nelson’s and the government’s surprise, 20 million Americans came together on April 22nd, 1970, the first Earth Day, to voice their unanimous concern for the environment. “That is the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself,” said Nelson, who admitted he had little resources to organize such an enormous gathering. Earth Day happened as a result of the determination of millions of eco-conscious Americans.

Before 1970, the environment was a low priority item for the government and the public. While ecology conservation was discussed, virtually no one paid attention to industrial pollution. After Earth Day, public opinion polls changed dramatically, with 25% of the public declaring protecting the environment is an important goal, a 2500% increase from previous years. The environmental issue also finally made it to the White House’s table. Soon after the first Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, whose mission is to protect human health and the environment, was formed.

Fast forward 40 years, Earth Day has become the largest secular world holiday. Earth Day’s global network includes more than 500 million people from 4,500 organizations in 180 countries actively involved in bringing forth change.

The EPA has also grown leaps and bounds, and is now taking on a wide range of environmental issues, including clean air and global climate change, clean and safe water, land preservation and restoration, healthy communities and ecosystems, and compliance and environmental stewardship. Since 1970, the EPA has passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts, and created many programs and partnerships such as the WaterSense program.

As one of the first companies to partner with the EPA’s WaterSense program, every day is Earth Day here at Price Pfister. We are dedicated to sustainable practices, green technologies, and helping homeowners use water more wisely. To learn more about what Price Pfister is doing to help the earth, visit our Water Conservation page.

Ghandi once said, “You must be the change you see in the world.” You’d be surprised to know how changing the small habits you do every day (like fixing a simple leak or turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth) can make a big impact on the earth over time. We’ve got lots of tips and advice for everyday environmentalism. Learn more about how you can make every day Earth day.

Earth Day began because of the determination of ordinary citizens like you who care about the entire world community at large and the legacy we leave for future generations. You’re already taking a first step by learning about environmental issues. You can also pass on the knowledge to your family, friends, and community and get them involved (that’s how 20 million people came together on the first Earth Day!)

Learn more about Earth Day:
www.earthday.net
www.epa.gov/history/topics/earthday/01.htm

Does going green mean having to spend more? Retrofitting your home with new, energy and water-efficient appliances and fixtures can seem like costly projects at first, but considering the long-term return on investment, these changes actually save you more. Additionally, you can reduce cleanup and health care costs as well as damage to the earth. Need real facts? Let’s talk figures:

Choosing energy-efficient products can reduce a third of the home’s energy consumption and save the average family approximately $400 a year. Your savings can be higher than this estimate, depending on your where you live and your current energy use. Use this handy Home Energy Calculator provided by the U.S. Department of Energy to find out your potential savings.

Switching to water efficient fixtures can save 2500 gallons of water a month, and reduce the average household utility bill by $170 per year. Use the EPA's Water Savings Calculator to find out how much you can save.

To encourage customers to upgrade to eco-friendly products, many companies offer rebates, tax exemptions, and recycling incentives for proper disposal of old appliances. To find rebate programs in your area, check out Energy Star’s rebate locator and WaterSense’s rebate finder.

Still saving up for those big upgrading projects? No problem. Here are some no-cost tips you can do right away:

Wash clothes in cold instead of hot water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a washing machine uses up to 90 percent of its energy to simply heat the water in a laundry load, and the higher the temperature, the greater the cost to you and the environment.

Clean the lint filter in your gas or electric clothes dryer. This will help your appliances be more efficient and can save $34 in energy costs a year.

Recycle and get paid. Depending on your location, each aluminum can or plastic bottle can be worth $.10.

Turn lights off when not in use. How much energy and money you can save depends on your light bulb watts and electric cost. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save about .04 kWH for each 40 watts bulb turned off per hour. If your electric rate is 10 cents per kWH, you would be saving $.004 for each 40 watts bulb turned off for one hour.

Saving the environment can also mean saving money, so start going green today!

The future of design is looking greener. Taking cues from Mother Nature, modern green design trends imitate nature’s life-sustaining principles to create more efficient and longer lasting products. After all, nature has had millions of years of experience in creating elegant and ingenious solutions. Why not learn from the master of efficient form and function?

While nature-inspired design seems like a novel concept, it actually has been around for quite some time, but like most ideas, it took awhile to catch on. The earliest known nature-inspired design was Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine, which was modeled after birds. More recent examples include the ubiquitous road reflector invented in 1935 based on the reflector cells in cat’s eyes, and Velcro, which was invented in 1941 based on the hook and loop composition of burrs.

Today, we’re taking biomimicry a step further. Nature doesn’t waste and neither should we. Going beyond form and function, designs now take into consideration the entire product life cycle for optimal efficiency and sustainability. What does this mean to you? You’ll be able to enjoy more eco-friendly options to suit your taste and style, and you’ll have products that last longer and cost less to maintain.

Here are some notable nature-inspired designs available for your home:

Our waterfall-inspired Ashfield trough faucet was designed with both beauty and efficiency in mind. The open, waterfall spout delivers a full and drenching flow while its natural aerating design, in conjunction with an internal pressure compensating flow restrictor, reduce water wastage by 30%. Its vintage-inspired look is a favorite among many of our customers who prefer a traditional, timeless style.

Inspired by the micro-rough surface of lotus leaves, which naturally resists dust, dirt, and water, Ispo, a German company, developed house paint with similar properties to reduce the need to wash and repaint.

Inspired by the principle of entropy, i.e., the tendency towards chaos and disorder, Interface created the Entropy carpet tiles, which as the name implies, are purposely randomly mismatched with varied patterns. The amorphous design makes it easier to replace only the parts of the carpet that get worn out or stained instead of throwing out the entire carpet, thereby reducing waste and increasing your flooring life.

Instead of wasting water and energy to grow and maintain plants that normally thrive in a different climate, why not use plants which have naturally evolved to live in your area? Today’s landscape designs are inspired by indigenous fauna which, in dry climates, are naturally drought-tolerant and require less watering and daily care. The reduced costs of shipment and fertilization all contribute to the long-term sustainable benefits.