What can YOU do? in your home (or business) in your yard for your community. to reduce your impact on the environment

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1 What can YOU do? in your home (or business) in your yard for your community to reduce your impact on the environment

2 in your home Recycle What? #1 and #2 plastics, paper, glass, spiral paper cans, junk mail, aluminum cans, flattened cardboard, gift wrap Why? Recycling Website Reuse of materials Save Natural Resources $$$$$

3 in your home or business Shopping Chose products that: Make the best use of energy resources Are reusable or recyclable Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide Are made from recycled material Use a minimum of materials in design and packaging

4 in your home or business Saving Energy Utility Bills Know your energy How Much Track changes Energy Efficiency Website

5 in your home or business Saving Energy Insulation Weatherstripping DIY What do you have in the attic? October 2008

6 in your home or business Saving Energy HVAC Adjust your thermostat 70 deg max winter 76 deg min summer 1 deg = 3% savings Programmable Thermostat

7 in your home or business Saving Energy Lighting Automatic controls Occupancy sensors Timers CFLs

8 in your home Home Water Use Leaks- 13.7% Other, Baths, Dishwasher- 5.3% Toilets- 26.7% Faucets- 15.7% Showers- 16.8% Washing machine-21.7%

9 in your home Water Savings 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

10 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

11 in your home Proper Grease Disposal Pour grease in a lidded container Throw in trash Only water down your drain! None of these: Grease, oils Paper, diapers Medications Grease Free Program

12 in your yard Waste Management Composting Soils Home Yard Care Piedmont Naturescaping Habitat and Natural Gardening

13 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

14 in your yard Air Quality : Landscaping Tree placement Deciduous on south side of property. Evergreens on north side of property.

15 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.

16 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

17 in your yard Water Quality : Animal Waste Animal waste contains bacteria that is harmful to our streams and lakes Animal Waste

18 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

19 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

20 in your yard Water Conservation Identify and repair any leaks Your landscaping Consider drip Native, drought-tolerant plants Limit the turf Choose Bermuda or zoysia Get Your Mulch

21 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

22 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

23 for your community Water Quality : Used Oil Recycling Household Hazardous Waste Website One gallon of used oil can pollute an acre of surface water

24 in your community Water Quality Paint and other household hazardous waste is toxic to our environment. Properly dispose of household items. Call 311 Reporting Pollution

25 for your community Storm Drain Marking Help others be aware of the storm water pollution problem

26 for your community Adopt-A-Stream Volunteers are needed to help keep our streams clean Adopt-A-Highway Program

27 Mecklenburg County Going Green Partners YOU!