The City of Rockville is embarking on a process to develop its first Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the community to adapt to a changing climate. The city is striving to reflect the viewpoints, priorities and needs of Rockville’s residents, communities and businesses. Share your vision by taking the climate action survey at www.rockvillemd.gov/climate. Information will be posted there by Monday, Sept. 21, when the Mayor and Council are scheduled to discuss the climate action planning process. Sign up for the Environment and Sustainability News email newsletter at www.rockvillemd.gov/newsletters to receive regular updates about environmental news and tips for living greener, including Climate Action Plan news and events.
Category: Environment (Page 1 of 13)
Deadline to Sign Up is Aug. 31
The 4th Rockville Solar Co-op presents an opportunity to harness solar to power your home or business or electricity to charge up your vehicle.
Rockville’s drinking water continues to earn high marks for safety and reliability, even as the city’s water treatment plant balances safety measures for staff and the city’s water infrastructure in the face of the COVID-19 emergency, the city’s Department of Public Works said in the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.
Pepco has powered up three new electric vehicle charging stations at the city’s Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Fallsgrove Drive.
The charging stations are part of a statewide initiative to combat air pollution and the effects of climate change and provide communities with new, cleaner transportation options. Drivers will be able to charge their vehicles at competitive rates at our first DC Fast Charging station or two Level 2 smart chargers – both of which are fueled by 100% carbon-free energy.
The 4th Rockville Solar Co-op is now open. If you are interested in rooftop solar, or are looking to install an electric vehicle charger, then this is the opportunity for you.
We know more time at home can mean more trash and recyclables. But there’s no need for an extra trash cart.
If you have more bags of trash than usual, place them next to your cart by 6 a.m. on your collection day and city crews will collect them. If you have extra recyclables, please don’t put them in plastic bags, which could get tangled in recycling equipment. Instead, place them in any 32-gallon can with handles and we will pick them up.
Learn more about Rockville’s recycling and trash collection, including what can and can’t be recycled, at www.rockvillemd.gov/recycling-trash, call 240-314-8568, or email recyclingrefuse@rockvillemd.gov.
With household water leaks found in an estimated 11 million homes, leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency observed national Fix a Leak Week from March 16-22, but homeowners who are staying close to home during the COVID-19 emergency might use that time to hunt down water leaks in their homes. Finding and fixing easily corrected household water leaks from toilets, faucets, showerheads, and outdoor spigots and sprinkler systems, can save you about 10% on your water bills.
Visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week to learn more about how to detect and fix leaks around the house. You – and your bank account – will be glad you did.
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22. And while current events prevent us from celebrating this gold anniversary together, there are still ways to celebrate at home.
Follow the city’s Croydon Creek Nature Center on Facebook for nature activities to do at home, from nature journaling, to birding to creating a mud kitchen. Staff from Croydon Creek and from the city’s Environmental Management team will present indoor and outdoor activities for a variety of ages.
FeBREWary, a monthlong celebration of Maryland craft beer, also offers an opportunity to lower your utility bills – saving you money for more beer!
Visit one of these Brews and Bulbs events and swap old incandescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs for up to four new LEDs:
- Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 5-7 p.m. at Saints Row Brewing, 1211-1213 Taft St.
- Friday, Feb. 7 from 5-7 p.m. at 7 Locks Brewing, 12227 Wilkins Ave.
- Friday, Feb. 28 from 5-7 p.m. at True Respite Brewing Company, 7301 Calhoun Place #600, Derwood.
On average, LEDs consume 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, saving energy and saving you money. LEDs are also safer for the environment. CFL bulbs that are thrown away often break, releasing mercury into the environment.
When CFL bulbs are recycled, their components can be repurposed or reused, avoiding potential hazards or damage to the environment. Unbroken CFL bulbs can be recycled for free by bringing them to the county’s Shady Grove Transfer Station, 16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, or to most major home improvement stores, like Lowe’s, Home Depot or Ace Hardware.
Rockville leadership and the community have worked hard to become leaders in environmental stewardship. Here are some of our accomplishments:
- Rockville was named the 2018 Sustainability Champion for amassing the highest points of all cities in the Maryland Sustainable Communities Certification program. Learn more at RockvilleReports.com/sustainable-rockville.
- The city now has 10 times as many green buildings and 50 times as many solar panel installations as it did a decade ago.
- The city purchases wind renewable energy certificates to offset 100% of the electricity used by our municipal operations.
- The city is working with Pepco to install public electric-vehicle charging stations at Thomas Farm Community Center.
But there’s always plenty more to do! Sign up to receive the city’s Environment and Sustainability quarterly email newsletter in your inbox. Visit www.rockvillemd.gov/newsletters and select “Environment and Sustainability.”
