As I reflect on this year’s worldwide Earth Day theme—energy—I’m standing outside the Omega Center for Sustainable Living. It’s one of those early spring days where the sun feels like a quiet gift, warming my face as I take it all in.
This building I’m standing next to is not just any building. It’s a certified Living Building—one of the greenest in the world. For 15 years, it’s been powered entirely by the sun, thanks to 215 solar panels. Inside, our Eco MachineTM naturally treats the wastewater from across our campus.
But here’s the thing: A Living Building never stops teaching.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from working with it is that everything is connected. Every pipe, every panel, every plant—it all works together in a larger system that supports life. That includes me. That includes you. And it reminds me that energy isn’t just about power—it’s about relationships.
We often talk about how we generate energy—solar, wind, hydro, geothermal. But there’s another side to the story: how much energy we consume.
Energy fuels our lives. And in turn, the way we live determines how much we need. That’s the part we don’t always talk about.
It’s called embedded or embodied energy—the total energy it takes to make and use the things we rely on every day. It’s in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the devices we use, and the way we move through the world. From raw material to recycling bin, it all adds up.
So what does that mean for us—right now, on Earth Day?
It means we have a choice. Not just once, but every moment. We can choose to live more intentionally, with more awareness of the amount of energy we are taking and how much we are conserving.
Maybe that looks like washing your clothes in cold water. Maybe it’s asking yourself: Do I really need another new shirt? Or maybe it’s just taking a quiet moment to notice how connected we are to the systems that sustain us.
Of course, individual awareness matters—but it’s not the whole picture. We also need big, bold policy changes to meet our growing energy needs. Because how we use energy is at the root of both the problem—and the opportunity.
So this Earth Day, I invite you to reflect on both sides of the energy equation—generation and consumption. Let the sun on your face remind you of what’s possible. And if you’re curious about how to take that next step, visit EarthDay.org for practical ways to support a green energy future.
With gratitude,
Robert "Skip" Backus
Omega CEO Emeritus & OCSL Founder
