The calendar says Earth Day was Sunday, but a walk through Tate Plaza today might convince you otherwise.

An Earth Day Celebration – featuring hybrid vehicles, an energy efficient toilet and an environmentally active band – is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today to promote energy conservation on campus.

“We don’t want to bore people with educational displays,” Lisa Hoffman, a senior from Mandeville, La., said.

Four local car dealerships are each bringing two of their hybrid vehicles for students to examine, Hoffman said.

There also will be two speakers – one from Chevrolet and one from Toyota – to talk about how hybrids work and potential new technologies, she said.

“I feel that many students are aware of environmental concerns, yet are not knowledgeable of ways that they can get information on environmental issues and individually make a difference,” Mattea Fleischner, a senior from Hot Springs, Ark., said.

The Earth Day celebration will feature several examples of conservation efforts, Fleischner, the event’s lead organizer, said.

Hoffman and Fleischner are both members of UGA Unplugged, a student-led initiative to encourage members of the University community to help conserve energy on campus.

The event will showcase Planet Smoothie’s biodiesel bus tour, SinkPositive’s energy-efficient toilet, conservation efforts at the University and more, Fleischner said.

In addition, the event will include a live performance by the band Grogus, which has been active on environmental issues in the Athens area, she said.

“Over the semester, UGA Unplugged has been conducting surveys and focus groups among University students,” G.P. Ooi, a senior from Malaysia and a UGA Unplugged member, said.

The results from these research efforts show a growing concern for environmental issues, and this celebration of Earth Day has the potential to raise environmental consciousness among the University community, Ooi said.

The Physical Plant and the Energy Conservation Executive Committee are co-hosting the event with UGA Unplugged.