Earth Day Houston to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Earth Day

TXU Energy to Present Houston’s Official Party for Our Planet

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Houstonians are set to go green at Earth Day Houston, presented by TXU Energy. More than 10,000 patrons are expected to attend the City’s largest celebration of Earth Day scheduled for Saturday, April 3, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Green. Festivities kick off with the Earth Day Houston 5K at 8 a.m. followed by a day-long celebration with family entertainment, environmental education, and the addition of the Green Expo area full of family-friendly green products and services.

The FREE one-day celebration, which this year celebrates the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, will focus on the merits of mindful, sustainable living while educating and encouraging Houstonians to preserve, conserve and enhance our city and the Earth. Developed by the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP) and Mothers for Clean Air, Earth Day Houston is presented by TXU Energy in collaboration with Discovery Green and various green nonprofit agencies.

Planned activities include the Earth Zone featuring interactive environmental awareness activities highlighting land, air, water, and renewable energy. Sysco is sponsoring a Farmers Market with Urban Harvest, in support of locally-grown produce. The H-E-B Kids Energy Zone and Stage will host kids’ entertainment and recycled art with CityArtworks, while Discovery Greens’ popular water feature and playscape energizes kids of all ages.

Also on tap, Museum of Contemporary Art Houston (MOCAH) will erect four large mural panels for interactive onsite painting for the entire family. The mural’s collaborative effort highlights air, land, water and renewable energy sources for a hands-on artistic interpretation by each guest to relate to their own experience with the environment.

In honor of the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day, TXU Energy will provide more than 1,000 tree seedlings for festival guests and will announce a donation of trees to be planted throughout the city. TXU Energy partners with Texas Trees Foundation to maintain the TXU Energy Urban Tree Farm, the largest non-profit urban tree farm in the nation.

Green Bank’s Environmental Education Zone, full of learning activities for kids developed by representative agencies of the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, will also distribute a Sustainability Bingo card. Festival guests are encouraged to visit the air, water, land, and renewable energy zones to learn about each zone. Completed Bingo card holders will be eligible to win tickets to several green-friendly local excursions courtesy of Green Bank.

New this year is the addition of the Green Expo, an area of more than 20 booths featuring the latest in consumer-friendly green products and services including an electric car provided by CenterPoint Energy. Joining this area are 1,500 students developing sculptures made from recycled materials as part of CSTEM (communication, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) student engagement projects. Live music with Leah White & The Magic Mirrors, Beetle, Allen Oldies Band and the Norma Zenteno Band, plus plenty of food and beverage on site will round out the day’s events.

Supporting GHASP/Mothers for Clean Air is Presenting Sponsor TXU Energy, H-E-B, Green Bank, Mike Calvert Toyota, CenterPoint Energy, Bud Light, Sysco, Waste Management, Discovery Green, Standard Renewable Energy, Port of Houston Authority, and the City of Houston. Green agency partners are Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Blackwood Land Institute, Bayou Preservation Association, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and Urban Harvest. Earth Day Houston media support is provided by The Greensheet, KIAH-TV, Channel 39, Houston Community Newspapers, KSEV 700 AM Radio “Thirty Green”, Houston Family, Houston House & Home, and Change magazines. Additional support is provided by MOCAH, CityArtworks, and CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc.

Event proceeds benefit the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention/Mothers for Clean Air, a non-profit whose mission is to improve Houston’s air quality and educate the public about the hazards of air pollution.

For more information about Earth Day Houston Festival, 5K & Green Expo, visit www.earthdayhouston.org or call [phone].

ABOUT THE EARTH ZONES

AIR ZONE

Produced by GHASP/Mothers for Clean Air, the Air Zone will include a smelly scavenger hunt, where participants will use VOC detectors to find a hidden air pollution source; plus the Air Zone asks: How can I reduce my exposure to mosquitoes? Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) Mosquito Control has the answer. Through an interactive display, you will learn how to decrease the common mosquito breeding sites around your home to reduce your risk of mosquito-borne disease. Also available will be informational handouts on mosquito control and personal prevention measures.

LAND ZONE

Produced by Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Land Zone will provide activities that attract visitors to learn and apply the 4Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and respect the Earth. Enjoy games and learn about composting, urban gardening and linear forest education, plus giveaways and Earth Day incentives.

WATER ZONE

Produced by Bayou Preservation Association, the Water Zone will have interactive activities for all ages. The “Eyes on the Bayou” will display a pile of trash gathered from Houston’s bayous; learn from special games, puzzles and maps where our watershed (bayou) is located and how water goes “From Storm to Source.” Interact with mascots as they roam the zone demonstrating the impact of oils and poisons on our bayous; plus meet “Deputy Drop” from the City of Houston Water Department and “Grease Buster” who will illustrate proper disposal of grease from your home.

RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONE

Produced by the Blackwood Land Institute, the Renewable Energy Zone will host the “Field of Greens,” a display representing the many types of renewable energy sources used today and in the future.

BUD LIGHT STAGE SCHEDULE
11 a.m.	-	Leah White & The Magic Mirrors
12:45 p.m.	-	Beetle
2:30 p.m.	-	Allen Oldies Band
4:15 p.m.	-	Norma Zenteno Band

About TXU Energy

TXU Energy is a market-leading competitive retailer that provides electricity and related services to more than 2 million electricity customers in Texas. TXU Energy offers a variety of innovative products and solutions, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs, including exceptional customer service, competitively priced electricity service plans, innovative energy efficiency options, renewable energy programs and other electricity-related products and services. Visit txu.com for more information about TXU Energy. REP #10004.

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