Forty-two years ago, on April 22, 1970, over 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day. At that time in history, there was growing public concern about ecological crises. For Gaylord Nelson, a Senator from Wisconsin, it was time for a change. Through the combined efforts of the U.S. government, environmental activists, and concerned citizens, what began as a day to raise awareness, advanced into a global movement to protect our planet.

As part of Urban Engineers’ (Urban) corporate commitment to sustainability, its Green Committee will be hosting special activities associated with raising awareness about Earth Day. Commencing on April 20th, these activities will include:

• Interactive exhibits for employees to learn creative, budget-friendly ways to “go green” at both work and home.
• Innovative learning presentations which highlight aspects of Urban’s commitment to sustainability.
• Employees will be encouraged to sign a pledge to “go green.” A Green Committee goal is to achieve a company-wide commitment to sustainable practices.
• Employees are being encouraged to reduce the carbon footprint of their commute by taking an alternative mode of transportation to work when feasible. Suggested alternatives include walking, biking, public transit, and carpooling.

“Urban continues to make great strides toward reducing the environmental impact of its offices,” said the Green Committee’s Leader, Helene Brennan, PE, LEED® AP. “With these activities, we hope to demonstrate easy, cost-effective, yet highly sustainable measures for everyone to make Earth Day their every day.”

“As engineers, we are focused on designing sustainable infrastructure that will be both economical and positive for society, but we sometimes forget to extend that focus to our daily lives,” said Sustainability Project Manager, Adam Shelly, PE, LEED® AP. “These Earth Day activities are a great opportunity to take a step back and reflect upon our individual impacts.”