Earth Week and Earth Month are being celebrated in April 2016 with events in Iowa City. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Earth Week and Earth Month are being celebrated in April 2016 with events in Iowa City. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The University of Iowa Office of Sustainability and Johnson County Green Team have events under way this April to celebrate Earth Month and Earth Week 2016.

Additionally, Friends of Historic Preservation in Iowa City and the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center will hold a screening of Blue Vinyl at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.

The movie looks at PVC siding, a toxic housing material, and its environmental impacts. Friends of Historic Preservation staff will be on hand following the movie to discuss why, in particular, plastic siding is inappropriate and damaging to older structures and alternatives to plastic siding. The screening of Blue Vinyl will take place at the East Side Recycling Education Center, 2401 Scott Blvd, SE in Iowa City. Admission to the screening is free and free popcorn and other refreshments will be available.

Find a list of events happening at the University of Iowa here and read on to learn about the free events hosted in Johnson County:

Johnson County, Iowa — The public is invited to attend two free events—one on energy on April 20, and one on gardening and local foods on April 22—as part of Earth Week activities hosted by the Johnson County Green Team. Event attendees will have the opportunity to win door prizes. In addition, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors will issue an Earth Week proclamation on April 14 that will be received by several University of Iowa student groups.

The County’s first-ever Energy Fair will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in the first-floor “Betty Sass” conference room of the Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque St. in Iowa City. Visitors may drop in anytime during the event to learn how to lower their energy bills and reduce energy waste. “Professor Therm,” the University of Iowa energy conservation cheerleader, will provide tips through demonstrations. Representatives from Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, Linn County REC and Green Iowa AmeriCorps will be available to discuss rebates, audits, and more. ECO Iowa City will highlight CFL light bulb disposal and links between recycling and energy. Door prizes include LED light bulbs. Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the building; bicycle parking is available as well.

The “Ask-a-Farmer” panel on gardening and local foods will take place from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Friday, April 22, in the second-floor conference room 203B-C of the Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque St. in Iowa City. Shanti Sellz, the county’s local foods and planning specialist, and experts with Johnson County Master Gardeners will provide tips and answer questions. Attendees will have a chance to win a free vegetable plant plus plant their own seedling. Free parking is available in the open air lot north of the building.  Bicycle parking is available in the nearby covered ramp.

The Green Team is organizing the events with support from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors will issue the Earth Week proclamation at its formal meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the County Administration Building. The UI Environmental Coalition, UI Gardeners, and UI Net Impact undergraduate chapter are scheduled to receive the proclamation.

For more information about the County’s Earth Week 2016 events, contact the Green Team at 319-356-6083 or greenteam@co.johnson.ia.us. Learn more about the County’s sustainability programs and policies at Johnson County Go Green.