Did You Know?
- Water and energy are closely linked. Did you know that running a hot water faucet for 5 minutes consumes as much energy as using a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours? (EPA)
- Used oil collected from one oil change could contaminate 1 million gallons of fresh water - a year's supply for 50 people. (EPA)
- In the U.S., buildings account for: (USGBC)
- 36% of total energy use
- 65% of electricity consumption
- 30% of greenhouse gas emissions
- 30% of raw materials use
- 30% of waste output (=136 million tons annually)
- 12% of potable water consumption
- Cigarette filters account for the number one trash item found on beaches in the U.S.? From 1996-20000, debris collectors found over 6 million filters on beaches, and 3 million plastic bags. (EPA)
- The U.S. recycles about 32% of
its waste, doubled over the last 15 years. We recycle:
- 50% of all paper
- 34% of all plastic soft drink bottles
- 45% of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans
- 63% of all steel packaging
- 67% of all major appliances (EPA)
- You can improve your gas mileage by:
- 10% by replacing a clogged air filter.
- 4% if you keep your car engine properly tuned.
- 3.5% by keeping tires properly inflated
- 1.2% by using the recommended grade of motor oil. (EPA)
- The Shady Grove Transfer station, in addition to the usual
recycling materials, also accepts:
- antifreeze
- batteries (household & vehicle)
- books
- building materials
- clothing and textiles
- fire extinguishers
- foam packaging (styrofoam)
- mattresses
- Televisions and computers (Montgomery County Recycling Program)
- U.S. mayors unanimously support a green schools resolution. At the July 2007 anual meeting in L.A., the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resoultion that will make every school in America green, within a generation, as a may to make schools a healthier and more productive place of learning (USGBC).
- You can calculate your carbon footprint at: www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html Another more U.S.-based calculator. www.buildcarbonneutral.org. (Greensource, http://greensource.construction.com/)
- A new international program, the Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, was established among the world's largest energy companies, banks, and cities designed to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings. (Greensource - http://greensource.construction.com/)
- Urban areas are responsible for almost 75% of all energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the world? (EPA)
- If every house in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with a compact flourescent, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road.