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It’s Easy Being Green

 

Plant a Tree!

Trees filter the air, buffer noise, and provide homes for wildlife.  A single tree will absorb over a ton of harmful carbon during its lifetime.  Organize a tree-planting event or just plant one in your yard.

Stop Junk Mail

The average American receives nearly 40 pounds of junk mail each year. Visit the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse website for a comprehensive list of ways to get off mailing lists.

Don’t Litter!

Never throw anything from your vehicle, from paper to apple cores!  Cigarette butts are litter too.  Leave parks and picnic areas cleaner than you found them.  Keep secure lids on your garbage cans.  Clean up after your pet!

Consciously Buy Less

Reducing the amount of things you buy can decrease the amount of trash you make. Think: buying a 24pk of water bottles each week versus reusable water bottles and/or a water filter. Or buying boxes of food storage zipper bags regularly versus using plastic/glass containers. Or buying regular size items versus bulk items.

Be a Smart Driver!

Car exhaust contributes to ozone smog and cars use valuable natural resources.  Keep your car tuned up and working properly.  Make sure that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure.  Combine errands to reduce the amount of driving your need to do.  Whenever possible walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation.  Participate in a regional ride-sharing program.

Save Energy!

Save money, protect air quality, and preserve resources with smart energy use.  Program your thermostat to cool when you need it and not when you don’t.  A fan to circulate air uses 1/10th the energy of an air conditioner.  Turn off unneeded lights and only run full dishwashers or washing machines.  Make sure your appliances and electronics are Energy Star rated.  Weatherize your home!

Conserve Water!

Repair your leaky faucets.  A running toilet can use 200 gallons of water a day.  Switch to low-flow toilets or low-flow shower heads.  Turn off the water as you brush your teeth.  Sweep your sidewalk or driveway instead of hosing it down.

Prevent Pollution!

Dispose of household chemicals properly.  Use them appropriately.  Switch to alternatives like citrus based cleansers for household projects.  Use compost or grass trimmings for natural fertilizer.  Overuse of lawncare products end up in storm drains which pollute our streams and rivers and end up in the Chesapeake Bay.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Each person in our service area throws away an average of 7 pounds of trash each day.  Reduce the amount of trash items you purchase (like single serve containers), Reuse old items as something new, and Recycle items like aluminum cans and newspapers.

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