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Sustainable Maryland Update
June 2015


Welcome Aboard Thurmont! / Connect with SM at MML in Ocean City/ SM Certification Deadline is Extended to July 10 / The ABCs of Sustainability Acronyms

Our monthly sampling of news, resources, events and other items of interest from across the sustainability spectrum in Maryland.  
Exploring summer on a trip down the Potomac River, with a view north to Cumberland
Photo: Eric Reed
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

K-12 Environmental Education Mini-Grant
Deadline: June 12
More info

HEAL Cities & Towns Implementation Grants
(Health & Wellness)
Deadline: June 25
More info

Charles County Forestry Grant Program (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Community Engagement & Restoration Mini-grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Prince Georges County Weatherization Program  

Deadline: Rolling   


Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate  (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants (Maryland Environmental Trust)
Deadline: March 31, 2016
More info

EVENTS CALENDAR

Open Streets Howard County
Date: June 13
Location: Columbia, MD
Link

Health, Environmental Education and Awareness Day
Date: June 13
Location: Riverdale, MD
Link

Bowie Backyard Habitat Tour
Date: June 13
Location: Bowie, MD
Link

Faithful Stewards of Prince George's Workshop
Date: June 14
Location: Greenbelt
Link

Tour dem Parks, Hon' Bike Ride
Date: June 14
Location: Baltimore
Link

2015 Patuxent River Conference
Dates: June 18-19
Location: St. Leonard, MD
Link

Prince George's County Green Jobs Fair
Date: June 20
Location: Hyattsville
Link

StreetsCamp
Date: June 20
Location: Georgetwon University, DC
Link

Citizens' Climate Lobby Conference
Dates: June 21-23
Location: Washington, DC
Link

Summer Solstice
Date: June 21

Climate Adaptation for Coastal Communities
Dates: June 23-25
Location: Grasonville, MD
Link

Maryland Municipal League Summer Convention
Dates: June 28-30
Location: Ocean City
Link
Stop by the Sustainable Maryland booth #720 at Dockside Hall exhibit area, and check out our Snap Session on Monday at 9:00am ("Small Town Sustainability")

Looking Ahead

Maryland "Buy Local" Challenge
Dates: July 18-26
Link

Perennial Plant Symposium
Dates: July 27 - August 1
Location: Baltimore
Link

July is Park & Recreation Month
Link

ARCHIVE OF SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND E-NEWSLETTERS

Check out past issues of the Sustainable Maryland e-newsletter here. 
WELCOME ABOARD: TOWN OF THURMONT
Thurmont Green Team 

The Town of Thurmont recently registered with Sustainable Maryland, becoming the 5th municipality in Frederick County to join our program. And SM staff conducted a Green Team training session there in June, where we came away quite impressed by the town's broad range of sustainability activities.

Close by Catoctin Mountain Park, home to the historic Camp David presidential retreat, Thurmont offers a mix of small-town amenities and ample outdoor pursuits. As befitting its rural setting, Thurmont boasts a lively weekly Farmers Market. Also on the food front, it offers residents in need with a local Food Bank.
Thurmont Trolley Trail 
 
The Thurmont Trolley Trail, a 3/4 mile off-road paved path, provides residents a walking/jogging/biking connection that bisects the community. Energy savings has been at the forefront of Thurmont's sustainability initiatives.

Thurmont is also a Maryland Smart Energy Community, having successfully completed many energy efficiency projects, including recently relocating its Town Hall to an old funeral home, and renovating this structure to include replacement of single pane windows with double pane windows; a new high efficiency air source heat pump; new insulation in the attic, ceiling and walls; and installation of LED lights on the interior and exterior of the building. We are looking forward to working with the Town of Thurmont! 

    

CONNECT WITH SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND AT THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONVENTION, JUNE 28-30
Attendees of the annual Maryland Municipal League Convention in Ocean City (June 28-30) have several opportunities to connect with Sustainable Maryland:

#1: Stop by our booth (#720) in the Main Street exhibit area to learn how your community can register with Sustainable Maryland; ask staff last minute questions about your 2015 certification application; or learn more about what other SM communities are doing to advance sustainability projects in their communities. #2: Attend our "Small Town Sustainability" Snap Session on Monday, June 29 at 9:00am, where we will highlight a variety of initiatives across Maryland where smaller communities are saving money, becoming more energy-efficient,  and improving local quality of life for residents in both everyday and innovative ways.


SM CERTIFICATION DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO JULY 10!
Due to the confluence of the MML Convention at the end of this month, and the following Fourth of July holiday, the Sustainable Maryland certification deadline has been extended to July 10. So communities will have a few extra days, but now is still the time to start uploading the documentation of all of your town's sustainability initiatives, events and planning documents.

Check out our recent webinar on the certification application process to make sure you know how to easily and effectively submit your 2015 Sustainable Maryland application.


NOMINATE A GREEN CHAMPION IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The non-profit organization Bethesda Green invites you to Nominate a Green Champion in Montgomery County. Help them identify businesses, non-profits, communities, schools and individuals that are leading the fight to protect the environment. The deadline for nominations is June 15.  
 

NEW & NOTABLE BOOKS ON: CLIMATE CHANGE
A couple new books about addressing climate change from an economic standpoint:

Climate Shock: The Economic Consequences of a Hotter Planet  
(and this recent NY Times article goes into more detail) 

The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar and Wind Energy

Buy local! Order these titles and other books about climate change and sustainability from your local independent bookstore! 

 

 

THE ABCs OF SUSTAINABILITY ACRONYMS
Do you know your BSR from your CSR? From AGENDA-21 to USGBC, this comprehensive list of sustainability acronyms and abbreviations will get you up to speed on the ABCs of sustainability.  

 

 

EFC IS TWEETING! FOLLOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER AT UMD ON TWITTER
The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland is now on Twitter! Follow EFC at www.twitter.com/EFCUMD


QUOTE

Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. It is a free and voluntary program designed to help Maryland communities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, and recognize their accomplishments. Our sponsors include the Town Creek Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Municipal League. For more information about how your municipality can register in the Sustainable Maryland program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please contact 301 405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu   

Mike Hunninghake
Program Manager 
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