Spencer to celebrate 'Green Day' Oct. 7

Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen and Curtis Dean, marketing and community relations for SMU, join Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson as he signs a proclamation declaring Tuesday, Oct. 7 "Green Day" in Spencer. (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron)

Green Day is a joint effort of SMU and the city of Spencer to increase awareness among Spencer citizens of the role they can play in saving energy, conserving resources, recycling, and protecting the environment. On Oct. 7, citizens are being urged to do several things to show their commitment to these goals.

Green Day will officially kick off with a ceremony at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct, 7. The Spencer Recycling Committee will unveil their new efforts to increase recycling in Spencer. SMU will present a check to the Spencer Community Schools for its energy efficient lighting retrofit project.

Spencer residents are encouraged to:

* Walk, ride a bike, or carpool to work. American energy independence will be achieved not only through finding new domestic sources of energy, but by conserving what we have now. Every gallon of gasoline saved by Spencer drivers on Green Day will help reduce dependence on foreign oil, and saves 20 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

* Start recycling and recycle more. The Spencer Recycling Committee is launching a major new effort to increase participation in the city's curbside recycling program. The committee is designing new informational materials to educate citizens about what can and cannot be recycled, and is launching a new website, www.spencerrecycles.com - to provide citizens with detailed recycling information.

* Change a light. On Green Day, SMU customers are invited to bring an incandescent light bulb to SMU and receive a free compact, flourescent in return. Replacing just five light bulbs with CFLs could save over 250 kWh of electricity a year, and keep over 500 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

* Recycle flourescent lamps. Flourescents of all types contain trace amounts of mercury. If thrown in the trash and sent to the landfill, it could pollute the groundwater. SMU accepts CFLs, and other flourescent lamps for environmentally-friendly recycling free of charge at their Customer Service Center.

* Pick up and install an energy and water conservation kit. Kits are provided free of charge to Spencer residents and help save energy and water.

Also on Green Day, teams of SMU employees will be visiting several non-profit organizations in Spencer to install energy saving devices.

Throughout Green Day, snacks and refreshments will be available at the SMU Customer Service Center at 712 Grand Ave., and customers may register for door prizes, including an iPod Nano.