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TopIssue: 3Fall/2010
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In This Issue
Sustainable Action Plan
The Carbon Corner
Autumn Green Homes Tips
Sustainability Commission News
Mythbusters! Should You Warm Up Your Car?
Top Picks

 

GREEN Cover

 

Did you know the Frederick News-Post initiated a new quarterly publication titled,

green, in October 2010? The quarterly is dedicated to promoting sustainability and green living and will feature a guest column from our office. Email story ideas to

 

Copies are around town at coffee shops and grocery stores; you can always grab a copy from our office or the News-Post's headquarters. Also, we're hoping that the FNP will make the publication available electronically in the near future.

 

Resources 
 




Fall 2010 Banner Photo 1

                                                                                                                                        Photo by Dan Benson

Greetings!   
    

Fall signals transition into winter. Crisp morning air and falling leaves instigate projects and preparations necessary before cold weather sets in. What projects and preparations have you started?

 

At the Sustainability Office, we're been incredibly busy preparing for what's ahead. In late August, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) unanimously adopted a Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations and directed our office to track progress with the support of employees appointed to the Sustainable Action Team. This 5-year action plan provides a coordinated strategy that will:

  • Ensure a greener, healthier built environment; 
  • Increase our energy and water efficiency and energy independence;
  • Improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Protect our natural systems and green infrastructure;
  • Encourage the growth of markets for environmental products and services;
  • Increase employee participation and decision-making in workplace sustainability; and
  • Reduce FCG expenses over the long-term. 

Sustainability is about using resources wisely and we commend the Board for their leadership in conservation and efficiency. While the Action Plan provides direction moving forward, there are many projects already underway that deserve recognition.  On October 28th, the Management Services Division reported financial savings to date from our conservation initiatives. Jessica (Stoner) Reckley reported to the Board that the County has saved $930,000 over the past 5 years from fuel and energy conservation and we now have $391,470 in on-going annual savings from our efforts. This figure does not factor in the major projects about to commence through our U.S. Dept. of Energy / Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding managed by our office.

 

Finally, I am really excited to share with you that our office was selected by the Chesapeake Bay Trust as a host organization for the inaugural year of the Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program. Tyler Harshman, a Washington County resident and recent college grad, was placed with our Office and will serve as a volunteer for one full year. Tyler's focus will be community initiatives in energy and green building; he will assist staff with implementation of the Frederick County Green Homes Challenge program.

We've had a productive and rewarding fall so far, with many accomplishments and partnerships made. If you're interested in receiving more frequent updates on our progress, I urge you to attend the monthly Sustainability Commission meetings held on the 3rd Wednesday @ 3:00 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of Winchester Hall. There are many other opportunities to get involved in Sustainable Frederick County initiatives - contact me directly if interested!

 

Enjoy our fall e-news . . . and I wish you well in your fall projects and winter preparations!


Hilari Varnadore
Director, OES
LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations

Action Plan CoverOn August 26, 2010, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations. The plan provides a coordinated 5-year strategy for the integration of sustainable practices into Frederick County government (FCG) operations and decision-making processes. A 32-member Sustainable Action Team assisted the Sustainability Office in preparing the Action Plan. Appointed by division directors and approved by the County Manager's Office, team members inventoried best practices, set goals and guiding principles, then recommended implementation of specific activities or actions.

 

After adopting the plan, the Board decided to implement the first action in the plan, from the Leading by Example chapter. Resolution No. 10-24: Organizational Commitment to Sustainability was unanimously adopted by all five Commissioners.

 

You can review the County's Sustainable Action Plan and Resolution No. 10-24 by going to our Sustainability Resources page on www.SustainableFrederickCounty.org.


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THE CARBON CORNER: Your Car and its Carbon Emissions
Car with Black Balloon

It's difficult to think about the effect your car has on the environment when you can't "see" your carbon dioxide emissions.  Because carbon dioxide is a clear, odorless and tasteless gas it is just not easy to tell it is there. But try to imagine a car's emissions as balloons that inflate from the exhaust of the tailpipe.  For a vehicle with average U.S. fuel efficiency, drive about a mile and you'll have 8 or 9 of these balloons!   The number of balloons your own car could inflate depends on its actual fuel efficiency. Regardless of the vehicle, the combustion of just one gallon of gas creates over 19 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.  Applying the assumptions of the Ideal Gas Law to calculate volume from mass, each gallon of gasoline creates enough emissions to inflate more than 170 average size party balloons.

But averages don't tell you much about your own carbon footprint, which is as personal as your fingerprint. What you drive, how you drive, and how much you drive all make a huge difference. sSome hybrid vehicles reliably get 58 miles per gallon while some gas guzzlers are lucky to get more than 10!  No matter what type of vehicle you drive, there are things you can do to help: 

  • Avoid sudden acceleration and stops. 
  • Keep tires properly inflated to your vehicle's recommended pressure.  (For every 3 pounds below recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down by about 1%.)
  • Follow the speed limit!  Driving 55 mph instead of 65 will improve your fuel economy.
  • Combine trips and consider a transportation alternative for driving to work at least one day per week.
  • 

 For more tips on what you can do to reduce your emissions on the road, click here.

MORE FROM THE CARBON CORNER: Commissioners Receive First Greenhouse Gas Inventory 
GHG Pie ChartOn August 24th OES staff presented Frederick County's first Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).  The inventory catalogs the emissions during calendar year 2007 attributed to county government operations and the energy, transportation and waste sectors for the community-at-large.  This baseline inventory will be a benchmark for comparing future performance and tracking progress of energy conservation initiatives and emission reduction strategies.  Below is a sampling of what you'll learn from the report:

 Did you know that ...

  • Emissions associated with our county government operations are about 2% of the total community emissions - lower than the regional average of 3-4%?   
  • Indirect emissions resulting from purchased electricity are the largest source of community emissions (55.6%) and that the non-residential sector consumed 3 times the energy of the residential sector?  
  • Our geography and proximity to Baltimore and Washington clearly contribute to the significant emissions attributed to mobile combustion (vehicle miles travelled) representing 38% of total community emissions? 

To get the scoop on all of the County's inventoried emissions, read the full report.

Want to test your knowledge of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions? Click here to view our August 24th presentation to the BOCC.  It's information-packed!  To learn even more, find other climate and emissions resources on the OES website.


GOING GREEN: Autumn Green Homes Tips
LED Holiday Lights
Try LED holiday lighting this year!.
The leaves are changing color and starting to fall; that means winter is just around the corner. Intern Kendall Klosky compiled 10 simple tips for a greener home to get you ready for winter and the holiday season. Check them out and learn green strategies for weatherizing, heating, cooking and decorating!

Speaking of decorating, The Home Depot is offering a special holiday lighting trade-in promotion until November 14. Trade-in a used or broken incandescent light string in exchange for a $3.00 discount toward a purchase of new LED light strands; up to five trade/discounts per customer. 

 

COMMISSION NEWS: Maranto Coordinates Solar & Green Homes Tour

Rich Maranto - Head ShotThanks to Rich Maranto of the Sustainability Commission, Frederick County was home to the 1st Annual Western Maryland Solar and Green Homes Tour on October 2nd and 3rd. Rich dedicated countless volunteer hours to the tour, which provided  visibility and accessibility to homes and businesses that have implemented energy efficiency, renewable energy or other green building projects. If you missed it, several Frederick News Post articles and letters featured the tour: Solar Homes Tour Set for this Weekend;  Solar Tour Lets Light Shine on Energy Efficency; and Green Energy Subsidies are Investments in Future by Commission member Fred Ugast.  

 

For more information about the Commission, click here.

 

MYTHBUSTERS:

MYTH - You Should Warm Up Your Car in Winter before Driving

Winter Driver When considering whether or not to warm up your car before hitting the road in winter, here are a few points to consider from Public Broadcasting's Car Talk web site: Busted Graphic
1. Your engine warms up quickest with some load on it, i.e., driving it.
2. An idling engine runs very inefficiently and pollutes more than a loaded one. In addition, you are not moving while you're idling, causing even more waste...think, zero miles per gallon.
3. The fuel/air mixture during idling is not the best for maximum engine life; raw gas washes the oil off the cylinder walls.
4. If you warm up the engine first, then take off fast, you are putting incredible strain on the other components of the car that are still cold. Taking off shortly after starting the car warms up the whole power train and suspension together.

You need to idle your car just long enough to get the engine oil to circulate to the valve gear on top of the engine. In most of the US, with 5W30 oil, this takes no more than 20 seconds or so. If you start the car, belt yourself in, check mirrors, you should be ready to go. Learn more tips to save gas and to maintain good gas mileage in the winter.
 
Have you heard a myth or urban legend related to sustainability and the environment that you would like resolved? Send it to [email protected] and we'll get to the bottom of it!
TOP PICKS: Online Tips & Resources for Sustainability
Dual Flush Conversion KitFor Water & Energy Conservation: 

The less water you use, the less energy is needed to pump it through your home-- and that means savings on your electric bill. You can save water by installing inexpensive dual-flush conversion kits in your toilets. It is a simple do-it-yourself project and $18 - $30 kits are available at local hardware and home furnishings stores like Home Depot or Bed, Bath & Beyond. There are a variety of options and methods; some require removing the tank, and some do not. View options and installation by searching Google or YouTube, or read this review of two product options. Installation Tip: If you need to remove the flushing handle, keep in mind that the nut fastening it is likely to be reverse-threaded; over tightening it can crack your toilet tank!

 Energy Quest WebsiteEnergy Kids Website
For Kids:  

Energy Kids and Energy Quest are two interactive and engaging sites full of energy related games, puzzles, quizzes, facts, movies, science projects, stories, teacher resources and more. 

  
For Businesses:
Desktop PC

The average desktop PC wastes half of the energy it consumes and needlessly increases your company's electric bills. By implementing one desktop computer's energy saving features through power management, your company can save $40-$75 a year in energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions by nearly half a ton. The EPA offers a business case,  technical overview , and online webinars about power management as well as many resources and success stories about how companies are saving millions of dollars through PC power management. Find power management instructions for all operating systems at Climate Savers Computing  or watch a video about the impact it made at National Instruments.


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The Frederick County Office of Environmental Sustainability advances practical solutions for protecting the environment, conserving energy, and living sustainably in Frederick County.




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