Go Green City

We all know that going green is the cool thing to do nowadays. Find out some easy tips on how everyday citizens, real estate construction sites, and even businesses can help improve our environment by making it a safer place to live.

* Many cities will offer residents incentives to use less energy. Look for and work towards rebates that your current city may be offering such as $25 off this month’s bill if you use less energy than the previous month. Not only will you be able to take advantage of the rebate, but you’ll also be helping your city be more eco-conscious.

* Utilize the recycling program your city has organized. Recycling as a whole costs less to operate than waste collection, landfilling, and incineration and drastically reduces emissions, saves energy and reduces pollution. Did you know that every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees and that the energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for four hours

* Compost. Larger cities will usually offer a compost service that comes on the same day as your garbage and recycling. Composting is a great way to cut back on the amount of garbage you produce which in turn reduces the amount of garbage that goes to landfills and cuts back on the production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Cities can then use compost to prevent pollutants in stormwater runoff from reaching surface water resources, prevent erosion and silting on embankments parallel to creeks, lakes, and rivers, and even prevents erosion and turf loss on roadsides, hillsides, playing fields, and golf courses.

* Use sediment control measures around your home and work site. Natural erosion stormwater runoff from your home and worksite can negatively affect water quality, wetlands, wildlife and natural vegetation around your city. If you notice that following a storm excessive debris and runoff is leaving your property, it is important that you install proper devices to keep this excess debris from entering the drainage and water system. When sediment gets into the water system, it takes longer and becomes more expensive to purify that water for drinking. It also can get washed into the lakes and oceans causing excess flooding in times of high precipitation.

* Help beautify your city by picking up trash wherever you may be. Whether it’s around your property or while on a walk, avoid littering and try to pick up trash is one of the simplest ways to help greenify and beautify your city!