Thousands of Indiana residents savored the flavor of their chocolate covered bacon at the Indiana State Fair while completing the state's Hoosiers Care pledge or watching the daily Use Your Brain interactive quiz show in the Our Land Pavilion.         

"The Hoosiers Care initiative has been extremely successful in discussing how small changes can positively impact the environment and save money at the same time," explained Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Commissioner Thomas Easterly.

Since the initiative was unveiled at last year's Indiana State Fair, over 6500 Hoosiers have completed the pledge.

"Whether it's turning off the water when brushing your teeth, or unplugging electronics when they aren't in use, one small thing, multiplied by six million Hoosiers, can make a big difference," Commissioner Easterly said.

In addition to the Hoosiers Care booth, the "Use Your Brain" daily recycling-themed interactive stage show quizzed visitors of all ages on their environmental knowledge. Twenty-one year old Katie Mitchell of Indianapolis was one of the game's participants.

"This was a lot of fun and I learned a few new things," Mitchell said. "I would definitely recommend participating in this show."

Because the Hoosiers Care initiative has been underway for over a year, the partners are interested in learning if any of the pledge-takers have changed their habits and asks them to report on the change by visiting the "Share Your Story" section on the Hoosiers Care Web site at www.HoosiersCare.IN.gov. Besides the pledge, an online energy savings calculator and other cost-saving information can also be found at the Web site.

About Hoosiers Care
The Hoosiers Care initiative is a collaborative effort of six state agencies, including: the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Office of Energy Development, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

About IDEM
IDEM (www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.                         

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