Five Environmental Initiatives Remain in American Express Members Project

The Members Project, American Express’ summer contest where members vote on which cause campaign they want to support and the winner receives up to $5 million, still has five Environment & Wildlife projects in the running after reducing entrants to the top 25. In fact, Environment & Wildlife projects currently make up three of the top six projects in voting.

While Earth 911 does not endorse any of the environmental projects over others, here is a brief description of each (in alphabetical order):

Harvest the Sun: Proposed by member txcnguy, this project would entail implementing solar-friendly policies and incentives in an effort to get 100% of buildings to use entirely solar power. By following in the path of states like California and New Jersey and their incentives for going solar, using renewable energy through solar panels would allow buildings to be entirely self-sufficient energy-wise.

Plant a Million Trees – Global Reforestation: Proposed by member amwalker, this project would involve planting millions of trees all over the world to compensate for those destroyed by natural disasters, overdevelopment and rain forest destruction. Together with American Forests, this project would provide grants to local organizations to plant trees in specific areas to help restore ecosystems.

Restore Our Bee Population: Proposed by member sbrustkern, this project would supplement the bee population that has collapsed for mysterious reasons with the propagation of a replacement, the Orchard Mason Bee. Bees provide pollination for approximately 85% of the plants we consume, and this project will research alternative pollinators and invest in honeybee health problems.

Save Lake Winnipesaukee: Proposed by member stevpreston, this project was made famous in the American Express commercial as the lake where Ellen Degeneres’ bathing suit burst into flames. It is also a lake in New Hampshire that serves as the state’s major water resource and attracts millions for water activities. The project will develop a website and natural resource center for the lake, among other things.

Wind and Solar for Residential: Proposed by member jmmb66, this project would create a power generating unit small enough for every home which will act in place of solar panels and provide solar energy to electricity companies. The system would be placed outside and provide heating, cooling and electricity for a home, with the goal of a small community of homes all generating power.

The next voting deadline is Sunday at 11:50PM EST, at which point finalists will be narrowed down to the Top 5. Voting ends for the contest on August 5 at 11:59PM EST, with the winning project announced on August 7.