Ways to Go Green for Earth Day with Social Media

by Elias Shams
It is 40th annual celebration of Earth Day and a lot going in Washington, DC.  Both environmental non-profits and green corporate social responsibility programs have ramped up efforts to promote environmental action.

Here’s a look at just three of the many tools and great  initiatives for environmental action taking place on the social web. Hopefully social media will help raise awareness all over the world.

1. One Billion Acts of Green

As part of this year’s 40th anniversary effort, the Earth Day Network is promoting its Billion Acts of Green initiative as a means to give people a reason to take action on behalf of the environment, and then be counted. The end goal: Send a message to world leaders for urgent, meaningful change for the planet.

Interested parties can participate online using a widget that will cross-post updates on twitter and Facebook.

2. The Save Your Water Calculator

Underwriter Laboratories introduced the “Save Your Water” consumption calculator with metrics based on the U.S. EPA’s daily household water consumption statistics. Once people calculate their water consumption, they can make a pledge to enact simple lifestyle changes and conserve water. For each of the first 15,000 pledges received, UL will donate one dollar to Water for People.

3. 350 Launches 2010 Activities

Last October’s 350 day brought global attention to the carbon dioxide pollution problem with over 5,200 actions in 181 countries. Since then, the 350 crew listened to the global community and recently created and announced a community-powered plan for 2010. The effort features social tools as a means to tie a community together and “Get to Work” building real climate solutions in participants’ hometowns with a culminating day of action on October 10th.

350’s ultimate goal is to achieve global action to lower the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million. NOAA estimates the current CO2 pollution ration at 390 parts.

It is a great thing that social media is being utilized to help promote environmental awareness. As more and more people participates in various social media sites, this is one way to spread the message.