- Raven Hernandez is the founder of Earth Rides, an all electric ride-hailing app.
Imagine this: It’s a sunny Tennessee weekend. Neighbors are mowing the lawns, parents are working in the garage, and the kids are riding their bikes down the street. You gaze up at the blue sky. You take a deep inhale and exhale the fresh air.
But what if the sky weren’t so blue or the air so clear?
Many states across the country, including Tennessee, are suffering from severe air pollution. Our blue-sky days could be over if there is no tangible action from governments, corporations, or consumers.
The State of Tennessee currently ranks 23rd nationally on air-qualityComparable to Wyoming, which is first, and California, which comes in last.
Many of the actions we take every day pollute our environment and negatively impact our air quality. It can be overwhelming to know where you should start, whether you’re cooking on a gas stove or driving to the grocery store.
There are two things you can do today to help the Earth and our state get cleaner air.
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There are two steps to cleaner air
The first step is to do your own research. Ask questions.
What kind of cutlery does your favorite restaurant use? Can you choose to have it included with delivery or pickup? Research the options for lawn care if you are not a fan. Best no-mow optionsYou can mowing your lawns in your locality.
The second? The second?
Check to see what your favorite clothing store is using. Fast-fashion practices. Support companies that use business practices that improve, rather than impact, the air and environment.
You have the freedom to choose.
There is always an easier way to help the Earth.
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What is Earth Rides?
Earth Rides is focused on providing rideshares using electric vehicles (EVs) and no hybrids.
Earth Rides’ mission is to encourage and accelerate the adoption clean technologies. Electric vehicles have been around for a long time. proven lower carbon-footprintThey are more efficient than their gas and hybrid counterparts. While electric vehicles may not be perfect they are much more environmentally friendly than their hybrid and gas counterparts.
This is why innovation in the fields of sustainability and clean energies must continue.
Private and public companies alike are investing in eco-conscious business practices that will help create a cleaner and more sustainable future.
For example, the Tennessee Valley Authority has made a commitment to be a state-wide authority for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Stewardship of healthy environment and a prosperous economyBy emphasizing the importance and energy efficiency of solar and wind.
Teslas Gigafactory will be the largest building in the electric vehicle industry and will be powered by renewable energies. Rainwater harvesting and reuse will cool the robots used in Tesla manufacturing.
A central underground storage system will sequester 25 percent of the factory’s roof runoff, which is 1 million square feet. This system is expected to save around 70,000 gallons of water per year. 7.5 million gallons potable city water
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Call to action, fellow citizen
Companies, consumers, and most importantly, the creation of sustainable manufacturing processes is a huge win. Front-line communitiesPeople who live closest to factories
Individuals are the third link in environmental improvement, along with government and corporate policies.
I invite you to make this Earth Day an Earth Year. You can do so by making simple changes to your daily activities and voting with your paycheck to support policies that enhance, not harm, our environment.
We can all work together to make our Earth and air healthier.
Raven Hernandez is the founder of and CEO at Earth Rides, an all electric ride-hailing app. Raven graduated from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. She launched Earth with Peter Smith, her partner, in October 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee. This was to accelerate the adoption of clean tech..