What is Earth Day, and What Can You do to Support it?

Earth Day feels like it has been around for a while. Which raises the question — when was Earth Day first celebrated? 

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd, 1970. We have a junior senator from Wisconsin, Senator Gaylord Nelson, to thank for creating Earth Day. The idea behind Earth Day was to help bring awareness about environmental issues to the public and inspire people to care about protecting our planet. Right from the beginning, Earth Day was a success. In the first Earth Day celebration, approximately 20 million United States citizens participated in marches, rallies and Earth-related events. Later, Bill Clinton awarded Senator Nelson with the 'Presidential Medal of Freedom' to thank him for founding Earth Day.

In 1990, World Earth Day was born when the movement became global. Denis Hayes contributed to a major campaign involving 200 million people across 141 countries — this helped to elevate talk about environmental issues to a global scale.

Almost 190 countries now celebrate Earth Day, which has become a global movement.

With World Earth Day 2023 fast approaching, you may be asking yourself how you can get involved in making a difference for our planet. When Earth Day is celebrated differs around the world due to time zones differences etc. however, the way that Earth Day is celebrated is often very similar. There are endless ideas, but we’ll list some of our favourites.

Sign up for an Earth Day event.

Many local communities organise Earth Day events that you can get involved in. It's best to check in with your local council or local schools to see if there are any events you can sign up for in your area. Often Earth Day events include collecting rubbish, planting trees or participating in a seminar to learn about looking after our environment.

Minimise your carbon footprint.

There are plenty of small choices you can make to minimise your carbon footprint. For example, many people take public transport or bike to work instead of driving, avoid eating meat or enjoy a candle-lit meal instead of having overhead lights on to celebrate Earth Day.

Plant a tree.

Trees are essential for the health of our planet. They help absorb carbon dioxide, which enables the air around us to be clean and healthy. So, planting a tree is a great way to impact our planet positively.

Message your friends.

Sometimes people forget about Earth Day or didn't grow up participating, so use your voice and get as many people involved as you can! You can even turn it into a fun activity for your friends to share what you are doing this Earth Day and encourage each other to make a difference.

Donate to environmental organisations.

There are so many incredible organisations doing extraordinary things. Find your favourite and support them to continue their work in protecting our planet and promoting a more sustainable future.

When it comes to protecting the environment, even small actions can have a significant impact. We encourage you to participate in Earth Day and make daily sustainable choices to create a more eco-friendly future.

When selecting energy-efficient appliances, a standard rule of thumb is that the newer the product, the more energy efficient it will be. This is because technology continues improving, and appliances' energy efficiency improves over time. Below are three of our favourite energy-efficient products.

For more information on energy-efficient products, check out our eco-friendly appliance buying guide. 

No matter how you choose to participate in Earth Day celebrations this year, we want to thank you for choosing to participate. Every small action in the right direction makes an impact, and together we really can make a world of difference.

Q. Can you tell me when Earth Day is celebrated?

Yes! On April 22nd of every year, Earth day is celebrated globally. 

Q. When was Earth Day first celebrated?

The very first Earth day was celebrated on April 22nd, 1970. We can thank U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson for creating this initiative to raise awareness about caring for our planet.

Q. Why do we celebrate Earth Day?

Earth Day is celebrated to remind all of us that we are citizens of the planet and it’s our responsibility to take care of our home. In addition, Earth Day reminds us that big and small actions can make a difference when we all work together and contribute. Earth Day raises awareness and inspires people to dedicate their time and decision-making towards a better and healthier planet. 

Q. Which appliances use the most power?

Appliances use different amounts of energy based on their make, how old they are and their energy rating. There are, however, some appliances that tend to top the list. For example, air conditioners, electric heaters, refrigerators, clothes dryers and ovens tend to use the most electricity within a household. 

Q. What appliances use the most electricity in Australia?

Heating and cooling is the biggest energy user Australia-wide. Hot water systems and air conditioners tend to use the most electricity.