It's about gaining a heightened understanding of the earth's fragility. Appreciating our beautiful planet for what it is, not what we want it to be.

We all know it's highly suggested that we ride our bikes and wear our eco-friendly whites to observe Earth Day, but going beyond that, what does the day truly mean? Heading out to the backyard to play with the worms and soil your hands?

Not exactly. But there are a few notable things you can do to celebrate Earth Day like the responsible urbanite that you are.

Turn out the light

Yes, you heard us right. Follow the lead of prominent downtown businesses — 150 million square feet of office space — by flipping the switch to the Off position on Thursday night for LightsOut Houston.

Security lighting, obstruction lighting and emergency lighting will be the only illumination you'll see in Class A, B, and C office buildings downtown and all government-owned buildings this evening.

Why? To show you how much electricity we really do waste after quittin' time — and how a little bit of darkness doesn't hurt anyone.

Lights out at 10 p.m.

Befriend a trash can

And fill it with its favorite things — garbage!

You don't have to go all over town with a trash grabber and bag, mind you, unless you're so inclined. But let the kids at Reagan High School inspire you. They're assisting janitors for the day on Thursday to help manage the trash situation around their campus.

Now imagine you're the waste disposal hero at your office. We see a glittering, silver trash can crown with your name on it in your near future.

Run for your life

Or, rather, for the Memorial Park Conservancy.

Ruggles Green is sponsoring an earth-friendly jaunt through west Houston's CityCentre, the Green 6.2 race, on Saturday at 8 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit our city's prime outdoor space and surrounding environs.

Doing good for you and the environment just became a win-win.

Invest in our future

Whitney Houston once expressed the belief that the children are our future. If you couldn't agree more, take yours (or a borrowed set) to the Children's Museum to get 'em reducing, reusing and recycling while they're young.

Now through Sunday, the kiddos will have the opportunity to celebrate the planet with exciting hands-on activities and workshops at the museum's Earth Day Bash.

With special presentations by the American Chemical Society, Arbor Day Foundation, Houston Audubon Society and the Environmental Protection Agency, it's practically a cinch to put the seedling for smart consumption in their heads early.

Party like it's Earth Day

Maybe not Earth Day itself, of course. Houston's official Earth Day shindig kicks off on Saturday (the day after the official Earth Day) and runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at — where else? — Discovery Green. It'll be the first big bonanza at Discovery Green after the Big Dance Concert Series, except entirely eco-centric.

From the Environmental Education Zone, recycled art activities, a Green Expo, an Eco Landscaping Zone, the Kids Energy Zone and all zones in between, you'll want to party for the ozone until the hole is history.