With this year's Earth Day upon us, more people are changing their homes and lifestyles to better the environment.

Earth Day is Wednesday and events to celebrate are planned across the country.

But one home pro says what he's regularly putting into homes is making all the difference in the world for the environment.

"People just weren't ready for it long ago. Energy was still cheap, but now since energy's gone up, people are just calling about it," explained Glen Hill, with Hill's HVAC.

It is a geo-thermal heat pump.

That's what Glen Hill says he's installing these days.

"This is a three-ton. It takes care of approximately 2,000 feet up and the same downstairs," Hill explained as he showed the pump.

While it may take a technician to understand specifics, what it's doing is saving energy and saving you money.

"A $300 bill with a normal heat pump--this would bring it down to $200," he said.

That's helping the environment and helping your wallet.

"People are getting on board with these changes," explained Christian Ryan-Downing, Sustainability Coordinator at WKU. "They're starting to realize it may be easier than they think to live more sustainably."

While "greener homes" are rising, college campuses are taking the lead becoming environmentally friendlier.

Just last month, WKU announced a new energy policy--a major step to reducing energy consumption.

"We're looking at all kinds of ways we can use energy more conservatively. We're looking at ways to use water more responsibly, ways to reduce our waste," Ryan-Downing explained.

She says they're simple steps anyone can take this Earth Week, with one common goal in mind.

"We want our children and our children's children to enjoy the same quality of life as we do," she said.

Christian Ryan-Downing says using energy efficient light bulbs, and re-using shopping bags at the grocery store are great "green starters."

If you're interested in a geo-thermal heating and cooling system, the government's handing out tax credits.

For information, click here.

Earth Week Events:
www.wku.edu/sustainability