FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2008

For More Information:
Robert Lazaro, PEC, Director of Communications
571.225.0198

What You Can Do to Protect Your Community Everyday Including Earth Day

This April 22nd marks the 38th anniversary of Earth Day in the United States. On that date 38 years ago millions of Americans took to their neighborhoods to help clean up their community. And, while Earth Day is credited with bringing the environment to the forefront as a key issue for Americans to act upon, the Piedmont Environmental Council reminds concerned residents that we must be vigilant everyday to protect the natural beauty of our countryside and our neighborhoods.

Here are three suggestions for residents to consider on how to protect our environment on a daily basis.

Change a Light Bulb

Did you know that a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFLs) uses 75% less energy than a standard light bulb? Change as many as you can and make a real difference.

-Change 6 bulbs and save $340 in electricity bills
-Change 12 bulbs and reduce as much pollution as an acre of forest.
-Change 18 bulbs and prevent as much pollution as removing one car from the road for a year.
-Visit our web site at www.enlightenva.org on how you can help save energy, money and protect the environment. Enlighten offers people an opportunity to register the number of bulbs they have replaced by making their individual action part of a larger call for change and sending a message that Virginians demand energy strategies that include strong conservation measures.

Buy Local Foods

Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries. Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life. By buying local foods you will:

- Strengthen Your Local Economy
- Support Endangered Family Farms
- Safeguard Your Families Health

Visit your local Farmer's Market today and help protect our environment and the hard working farming families that make our region a special place to live. PEC is proud to support the Buy Fresh, Buy Local program in the Albemarle community and is expanding the program throughout Northern Virginia.

Protect our Lands

To date nearly 300,000 acres in the nine-county Piedmont region have been placed in voluntary conservation easement. An easement is a voluntary land preservation agreement between a landowner and a land conservation organization that is designed to protect the agricultural resources, forest resources, scenic open space, or wildlife habitat that may exist on the property.

Land conservation helps protect the watershed for the Chesapeake Bay, addresses global warming by protecting our tree canopy, continues Virginia's historic legacy by conserving battlefields and critical historic resources, ensures clean and plentiful water supplies and provides recreational opportunities for all to enjoy.

For more information on conservation easements, visit the PEC web site. A schedule of Earth Day activities and upcoming events is available here.