Lincoln Earth Day 2010 Events

April 16: Open House, LEED-Certified Remodel of Meridian Park Office Building, 70th and O
Lincoln Earth Day 2010 begins with an open house tour of the newly remodeled Meridian Park office building at 70th and O Streets, sponsored by Lincoln Green by Design and the firm of Davis Design.  This remodel is an excellent example of how existing buildings and infrastructures can affordably remodel to meet tough but cost-effective energy efficiency and “green building” goals.  More information available at www.LincolnGreenbyDesign.com.

April 17: Day of Service
Lincoln is joining with the Earth Day Network’s Day of Service, and is organizing three community wide service activities. Clean up a local stream with Adopt-a-Stream, plant a tree in the Folsom Children’s Zoo, or be a part of recycling with Husker Spring football fans. The Day of Service is linked with the Earth Day Network’s Billion Acts of Green.

April 19-23: Green Wheels
Lincoln Earth Day 2010 is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Green Wheels. In one carbon-reducing week, teams of four will compete to reduce their environmental footprint by riding a bike, taking a city bus, or carpooling to work. Team members will submit the number of miles normally driven from home to work, and record the number of miles not used by utilizing an alternative mode of transportation to work. Winners will be revealed on the main stage of the Day of Celebration at Antelope Park on April 24.

April 21: Make Green by Going Green
Lincoln Earth Day 2010 continues with a luncheon at the Embassy Suites for local businesses and individuals to network and discover the opportunities available to “Make Green by Going Green.”  Cosponsored by Think Green Consulting and Cleaner Greener Lincoln, these options include eco-friendly and energy savings products, available stimulus funds, low interest loans from the Nebraska Energy Office, and the developing Lincoln Green Map.  This is a great occasion to hear firsthand from local businesses that have been active in building a sustainable community, to learn about the products and services available to help them “Make Green by Going Green,” and to discover the value investors and consumers place on businesses that adopt eco-friendly practices.

April 21: "Dirt" Film Showing
A showing of the film "Dirt" will take place at the Hardin Hall Auditorium, April 21st, 7:00pm

April 22:  Earth Day/Day of Conversation
During the official “Earth Day,” Lincoln will hold its Day of Conversation, in which the community will be engage in a series of “conversations” throughout the city to talk about today’s issues with local experts.  These discussions will cover a range of topics including environmental economics to food systems to green building and sustainability. On the Day of Celebration (April 24), the series of conversations will be concluded with a keynote speech from Michael Forsberg, a celebrated Lincoln photographer who focuses on the Great Plains.

April 23: Tree Planting at McPhee Elementary School
Mayor Chris Beutler, along with community volunteers, Stronger Safer Neighborhoods, and McPhee Elementary will be planting 4 trees on G St., between 16th and Goodhue, and one tree on F St. Students from all ages will have an opportunity to learn more about tree planting, including what equipment is used, how deep the tree needs to go, and the planting and staking process. Students will also have the opportunity to place trees in pre-dug holes and help pack in the soil around them.
 
April 24: Day of Celebration

Lincoln Earth Day 2010 week will conclude with a community wide Day of Celebration on April 24.  The day begins with an Earth Day Fun Run 5K, 2 mile, and 1 mile kid’s run starting at the Mopac East Trail head on 84th Street.  Registration begins at 8 am.  

From the Mopac Trail, events will move to Antelope Park, from 2 pm – 6 pm, for the Day of Celebration Festival.  This year’s zero-waste festival will include main stage entertainment (powered by solar power) from local bands and dance troupes, family activities, a kid’s Big Wheel race, an Alternative Transportation Expo, an educational exhibitor booth fair, and an Artists for the Earth event, including a Green Poster display and the 4th “Style Your Sole TOMS” shoe decorating event from local shoe store, The Public.  And you will be able to get there not only via bike, car, and by foot, but also with a special direct bus service from StarTran. Bus route #40 will slightly be altering it's route to accommodate an Earth Day stop.

In order to educate today's consumers, a variety of alternative transportation means will be on display. The Expo will showcase outstanding efforts by government and businesses as well as provide consumers with an idea about the options available to reduce their carbon footprint and use transportation as a method to live more sustainably. On display will be a plug-in hybrid electric with a charging station, Star Tran's new hybrid buses, a CNG vehicle, a vegetable-oil-fuel car, and numerous other hybrids and small cars.

At 4 p.m., at the Auld Pavilion, the community’s series of conversations will conclude with a keynote speech from Michael Forsberg, a celebrated Lincoln photographer who focuses on the Great Plains.  Forsberg will present his photos and his observations on how we can best conserve our local natural resources.

Post Celebration Bike Ride
After the Earth Day Celebration, join us on a bike ride to the Haymarket for a Green Meals tour. For more info go here.

The Day of Celebration ends with a Green Meal celebration in Lincoln’s Haymarket. Beginning at 5 pm, from Antelope Park, organized small group bike rides along Lincoln's bike trails will lead to the Night of Celebration Green Meals. A variety of restaurants in the Haymarket will be participating in Green Meals, offering a featured sustainable menu items and drinks on the night of April 24. Lincoln Earth Day 2010 is a zero-waste event