April 2007

Don't just celebrate-take action!

Earth Day is held each April 22 to call attention to safeguarding the natural environment. Started in 1970 with 20 million participants, the event has grown to include more than 500 million people in 175 countries.

April 22 is also the birthday of Julius Morton, the founder of Arbor Day. Arbor Day is a national tree planting holiday observed in most states on the last Friday in April.

Observing Earth Day is only half the picture. Taking action to actually help the environment is what really counts.

Here are easy ways to do your part:

• Save water-repair leaks, don’t let the sink run while brushing teeth or shaving, take showers rather than tub baths and don’t over water plants.
  
• Reduce/reuse/recycle-buy products with less packaging, use cloth napkins, donate extras rather than discarding and recycle household throwaways.
  
• Save energy-turn off lights, insulate your home, use compact fluorescent bulbs and buy efficient appliances.
  
• Purchase green power-every kilowatt-hour produced by more environmentally-friendly sources is one less kilowatt-hour that has to be generated by traditional means.

As a Walton EMC customer-owner, you have the green power option. Each 150 kilowatt-hour block is only $2.95 extra on your power bill each month. That amount of electricity will power two refrigerators.

Landfill waste, chicken litter, low impact hydro dams and solar cells are the sources your cooperative uses to secure its green power supply. All of the green energy is generated right here in Georgia.

An ongoing study in North Georgia will reveal whether wind power will be added to our green power mix. If average wind speeds are sufficient, Green Power EMC, our green power supplier, will begin a project to erect wind turbines.

To get green power, call us at 770/267-2505 or click here.

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