The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center once again showcased its commitment to our planet and conserving our natural resources by hosting an Earth Day celebration on May 2^nd. Earth Day is an annual event established by Congress on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally including 1 billion people in more than 192 countries. Because Earth Day occurred on a Saturday this year, it was originally scheduled for April 26th, but was rescheduled to May 2^nd when storms appeared on the original date.

The rescheduled date of May 2^nd turned out to be a beautiful day to celebrate – a wonderful return to an in-person event. There were displays of honey production including pollinator information, solar photovoltaic and lighting information, electric vehicles on display, and lot of other information about conserving water, conserving energy, and preserving our natural resources. The annual tree giveaway was also a success, as over 600 trees were distributed to attendees of the event.

Special thanks to the AMC-3 team, Employee Engagement members, and the True Sky Credit Union for helping plan and execute this event. This year’s celebration was especially fun with live music and karaoke from many talented employees. Many of you displayed your hidden musical talent! The fun was capped off with the return of food trucks and Blue Sky’s food trailer, providing many delicious selections.

To keep our conservation of resources at the forefront, here are some suggestions to help in being mindful of Mother Earth:

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Cut down on what you throw away. Look at your trash can. Can that paper be recycled? Could you use a washable coffee cup instead of the Styrofoam disposable? How about bringing a thermos instead of a plastic water bottle?
• Volunteer. Volunteer for cleanups in our community. The FAA sponsors a cleanup near the MMAC every year. There are many ways to get involved.
• Educate. Teach your children and help them in building sustainable habits.
• Conserve Water. Plant drought-tolerant gardens. Turn off the water while shaving and brushing your teeth.
• Conserve Energy. The Department of Energy estimates savings of about 1% for each degree of thermostat adjustment per 8 hours. Adjusting the thermostat by 10 degrees while you’re at work could save you 10% annually.
• Shop wisely. Buy less plastic and keep a reusable shopping bag with you.
• Use long-lasting light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


Employees take their turn during the lunch hour at performing karaoke.

• Use your city’s Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. Batteries, fluorescent and LED light bulbs contain materials that are harmful to our environment and should not be thrown in the landfill. Most cities have a special program for recycling these items and disposal of used oil, pesticides, and oil-based paint.
• Plant a tree.

We can all have an impact on the environment by making environmentally-friendly decisions on a day-to-day basis. Each of us can continue the spirit of sustainable practices by turning off our computers and lights when leaving work, participating in the Aeronautical Center Recycling Program, and reporting potential water leaks or energy waste to the AMP trouble desk at ext. 4-3687. With your help we will continue making a difference, protecting our nation’s natural resources, and taking care of our planet.