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SALT LAKE CITY — How will you Earth Day this year?
Employees of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality are participating in the "12 Days of Earth Day" through their embrace of activities that can be done both at work and at home.
Celebrated in more than 190 countries and in its 44th year, Earth Day — Tuesday, April 22 — honors the planet and peace, encouraging people to make choices that benefit the world around them.
For DEQ employees, the list of actions they are taking is as diverse as the agency's regulatory oversight. Workers are taking public transportation, carpooling, walking or biking wherever possible, and have made a commitment to conserve water as well as take a household hazardous waste inventory, according to Amanda Smith, department director.
The agency also advises that residents can stop junk mail delivery, reduce their home energy use and schedule car maintenance to improve fuel efficiency. A list of 12 actions residents can take to be Earth friendly all year long is posted on the agency's website.
DEQ also launched a new blog that highlights staff, current events and Utah issues that are key to the environment.
Elsewhere, SolarTek Solutions is going to be raffling off a $1,000 discount toward the purchase of a solar system at the Alta Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Alta Ski Resort.
The Hogle Zoo is hosting a "party for the planet" on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Live Green SLC Festival is set for May 3 at the Salt Lake City Library.