Green Tip of the Month!

Turn The Key, Be Idle Free!

Idling vehicles contribute to air pollution and emit air toxins known or suspected to cause cancer, respiratory effects, and other serious health problems.  Because of their developing lungs and higher breathing rates, children are more susceptible to air pollution and are at increased risk for developing asthma, respiratory problems and other adverse effects.  Monitoring at schools has shown elevated levels of air toxins during the the hour coinciding with parents picking up their children, and an idling vehicle creates 20x more pollution than one traveling at 30 miles per hour.  Reducing idling at schools can reduce air pollution and children's exposure to toxic vehicle exhaust.  If you are going to wait more than 30 seconds, turn off your vehicle!  

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Looking to reduce your environmental footprint in the classroom this school year? 

Start off on the right foot and consider these simple tips to reduce, reuse, recycle and buy recycled school supplies.

Reduce: Look to purchase school supplies with less packaging to cut down on waste.  Consider investing in sturdier products as well that can ensure years of use.

Reuse: Take inventory of the supplies you already have at home before going shopping.  We all have those lightly used binders, loose leaf paper, notebooks, pencils and scissors scattered around the house.  See what you can reuse this school year and only buy what you really need.  Consider coordinating a school supply ‘swap’ with friends as well if you have reusable items on each others’ back-to-school lists.

Recycle:  As you take inventory, make sure you give your unusable old school supplies (notebooks, papers, folders, etc.) a new life by recycling them.

Buy Recycled: A great way to support the green economy is through purchasing school supplies made from recycled content.  Lots of products can be made with recycled content including paper, pens, binders and even paper clips. Look for labels that say “made with recycled content” or “made with post-consumer content.”

We hope you find these tips helpful as you prepare for the school year!

Drive Less and Drive Smart 
Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Use mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Green in Greenwich 2014 Poster Contest

R. Bologna, Julian Curtiss, 5th Grade

Thanks for putting Greenwich Town Hall on the Map for Recycling!

 

GREEN TIP OF THE MONTH

Compost it!

Compost helps improve soil so it holds more water and plants grow better. Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally. Food scraps and kitchen waste also make good compost, and you save money on fertilizers or other additives.

June's tip comes from OGS Go Green tips and the EPA Earth Day Environmental Tips (http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm)  Link to our Google Doc:  Green Tips for your school Newsletter

JUNE EVENTS JUNE EVENTS JUNE EVENTS JUNE

First Sunday Science at Tod's Point

2nd Sunday Hike at Audubon

3rd Sunday Nature Play at Garden Education Center