Last Sunday was Earth Day 2012. That day, many of us took a moment for contemplation, and stepped back to reexamine how we use the natural resources that our amazing planet offers us.

Perhaps we took time to think about the some of the historical events led to the first Earth Day in 1970. A colleague of mine, for example, went to Rockville, Maryland, to visit the cemetery where Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, is memorialized for generations to come. For those of you unfamiliar with Carson's work, she was one of the 20th century's most influential American writers on conservationism, and her bestselling book Silent Spring—which envisioned a future where environmental pollutants devastated wildlife and human lives alike—led to the ban of DDT and other harmful pesticides. [More]

Are you doing anything special this week, or this month, to save energy and money? If you're looking for ideas, check out the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Earth Day website for energy saving ideas, or read Elizabeth's Earth Day resolution post for inspiration.

Tell us your Earth Day plans! [More]

Earth Day is just around the corner! And while it might not be a major day for most people, I still think it's kind of fun. I think every special day is an excuse to do something you normally wouldn't! (And, speaking of little somethings, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website is going to have a small page up to commemorate Earth Day this year. Look for that next week.)

This Earth Day, I'm buying a new bicycle!

Now, before I start, let me get this out of the way: Bikes and I have not historically gotten along. When I was a young girl, I was so thrilled to have learned to ride a bike that I invited my best friend over to watch. Then I ran her over. I biked to school when I was in high school, but I stopped after I ran over an innocent student and, a few weeks later, got hit by a car. In university, a friend lent me his bike. I was on it all of ten minutes before I ran over the first other person to show up on the walking path. [More]

Happy Earth Day! Today, April 22, marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. Check out these resources from the Department of Energy to help you celebrate, get in the Earth Day spirit, and take action:

• Earth Day Interactive Animation
  Explore how you can save energy in your home and your community, and then learn more about America's energy resources


• Earth Day Website
  This page from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy highlights other great resources to help you be energy efficient and Earth-friendly


• Earth Day 2011 Outreach Materials
  These materials from the Federal Energy Management Program will help you develop a workplace energy awareness program and "Act Now; Together We Can Create a Greener Future."

Happy Earth Day! If you haven't already shared how you're celebrating, be sure to let us know in the comments!

Allison Casey is a senior communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its Web sites. [More]

Tomorrow is Earth Day! We've already written about how you can resolve to make Earth Day last all year, and ways you might encourage your coworkers to save energy for Earth Day. Now that the day is almost here, tell us:

How are you celebrating Earth Day this year?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments. [More]

Earth Day is less than a month away, and now is the time to plan for it! We always like to encourage personal energy savings, but since you have almost a month until Earth Day, why not check out Amy's entry from Monday for some resources on how you can help your coworkers save energy as well? You can find all the materials you need to get your own energy awareness program up and running—just in time for Earth Day!

How will you encourage your coworkers to save energy this Earth Day?

And while you're encouraging your coworkers to save energy, we'd like to encourage you to help us make Energy Savers better! We want your feedback—please take our survey!

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments. [More]