What can YOU do?
… in your home (or business)
… in your yard
… for your community
…to reduce your impact on the
environment
August 2009
… in your home
Recycle
What?
#1 and #2 plastics, paper, glass,
spiral paper cans, junk mail,
aluminum cans, flattened
cardboard, gift wrap
Recycling Website
Why?
Reuse of materials
Save Natural Resources
$$$$$
August 2009
… in your home or business
Shopping
Environmentally
Preferable
Purchasing Guide
Chose products that:
‹ Make the best use of energy
resources
‹ Are reusable or recyclable
‹ Are made from recycled material
‹ Use a minimum of materials in
design and packaging
August 2009
… in your home or business
Saving Energy
Utility Bills
‹
August 2009
Know your energy
– How Much
– Track changes
– Energy
Efficiency
Website
… in your home or business
Saving Energy
Insulation
‹
Weatherstripping
– DIY
‹ What
do you
have in the
attic?
October 2008
… in your home or business
Saving Energy
HVAC
‹
Adjust your
thermostat
– 70 deg max winter
– 76 deg min summer
– 1 deg = 3% savings
‹
August 2009
Programmable
Thermostat
… in your home or business
Saving Energy
Lighting
‹
Automatic controls
– Occupancy sensors
– Timers
‹
August 2009
CFLs
… in your home
Home Water Use
Leaks13.7%
Other, Baths,
Dishwasher- 5.3%
Toilets26.7%
Faucets15.7%
Showers16.8%
August 2009
Washing
machine-21.7%
… in your home
Water Savings
6
6
6
6
WaterSmart
Website
Detect and repair toilet leaks
Low-flow shower heads
Reduce shower time
–One minute, each customer = 2
million gallons
Faucets off while brushing, washing
hands, shaving
August 2009
Sanitary Sewer Overflows:
Grease is the leading cause!
Tree roots grow into pipes
Rocks & debris
dumped into
manholes
Rain enters
manholes
and
wastewater
pipes
Grease poured down drains becomes a sticky solid
August 2009
… in your home
Proper Grease Disposal
6
6
6
Pour grease in a lidded
container
Throw in trash
Only water down your drain!
None of these:
Grease Free
– Grease, oils
– Paper, diapers
– Medications
August 2009
Program
… in your yard
Waste Management
‹ Composting
‹ Soils
‹ Home
Yard Care
‹ Piedmont Naturescaping
‹ Habitat and Natural Gardening
August 2009
… in your yard
Yard Waste : Water Quality
Leaves, branches and
grass clippings can
cause blockages and
other problems when
dumped down storm
drains
Yard Waste
Website
August 2009
… in your yard
Air Quality : Landscaping
Tree placement
‹Deciduous
on south side
of property.
‹Evergreens on north side
of property.
August 2009
… in your yard
Air Quality : Landscaping
– Ask your landscapers to come after
noon, especially on poor air quality
days.
– Decrease use of lawn equipment
‹Decrease turf grass area
‹Replace gas-powered equipment
with electric or hand-powered
equipment.
August 2009
… in your yard
Water Quality : Fertilizers and
Pesticides
Excess make
their way to
our creeks and
lakes through
the storm
drainage
system
Lawn Care
Website
August 2009
… in your yard
Water Quality :
Animal Waste
Animal waste
contains bacteria
that is harmful to
our streams and
lakes
Animal Waste
August 2009
… in your yard
Water Quality :
Rain Barrels
Reducing the amount
of water that runs off
property also reduces
the amount of storm
water pollution
reaching our streams
and lakes Rain Barrel Sales
August 2009
… in your yard
Water Quality :Car Washing Activities
Car wash waste
water is full of
contaminants that
are harmful to
aquatic animals and
habitat
Car Washing
August 2009
… in your yard
Water Conservation
6
6
Identify and repair any leaks
Your landscaping
– Consider drip
– Native, drought-tolerant plants
– Limit the turf
– Choose Bermuda or zoysia
– Get Your Mulch
August 2009
… for your community
Build a “clean trip” community
–Bike or walk for trips within
your neighborhood
–Coordinate with neighbors to
carpool to work or school
August 2009
… for your community
Build a “clean trip” community
–Avoid idling your car
–If no sideways, investigate
traffic calming mechanisms (so
residents feel safe)
‹Signs
‹Speed limit
‹Road-humps
August 2009
… for your community
Water Quality : Used Oil Recycling
One gallon
of used oil
can pollute
an acre of
surface
water
Household Hazardous Waste Website
August 2009
… in your community
Water Quality
Paint and other
household
hazardous waste
is toxic to our
environment.
Properly dispose
of household
items. Call 311
August 2009
Reporting
Pollution
… for your community
Storm Drain Marking
Help others
be aware
of the
storm
water
pollution
problem
August 2009
… for your community
Adopt-A-Stream
Volunteers are
needed to help
keep our streams
clean
Adopt-A-Highway
Program
August 2009
Mecklenburg County
“Going Green” Partners
YOU!
August 2009