Living and Learning: Smart Choices for a Smart Community
The Living and Learning program aims to teach community members how they can live more sustainably. Each month will have a theme geared towards sustainable living, and information and resources will be provided. For each theme, there will be a list of resources and a “citizen science” section. Citizen science is an opportunity to learn ways to conserve resources through games, activities, and hands on experiences. We will have at least one community event related to each monthly theme, such as a recycling event or a stream monitoring workshop. This section of the website will be updated throughout the year as new resources and events are added. Community input is welcome, and any questions or suggestions can be directed to sustainaibility.commission@dunwoodyga.gov.
January: Water Conservation
Imagine going just one day without turning on your water tap. The Atlanta metro area uses a large amount of water daily, and each small amount saved by Dunwoody residents adds up fast. This month’s theme aims to educate community members on where their water comes from, and raise awareness on the many ways to conserve water.
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: http://www.chattahoochee.org/
Metropolitan North GA Water Planning District: http://www.northgeorgiawater.org/
Georgia Water Coalition: http://www.garivers.org/gawater/index.html
Water Use It Wisely: www.wateruseitwisely.com
- Citizen Science: Use the information on the following links to analyze the water use in your home. You can then conduct a home water audit in order to find the best ways to save water in your household. We’d love to hear about your results!
WaterSense: www.epa.gov/watersense
Home Water Audit: http://www.northgeorgiawater.com/files/HouseholdWaterAudit.pdf
What: Rain Barrel Workshop and Living and Learning Kickoff Reception
When: Tuesday January 31st at 6pm
Where: City of Dunwoody City Hall, Mayor and Council Chambers, 41 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA
Event Summary: We had a full workshop on the 31st, and participants enjoyed the “Tapped Out” presentation led by Bonny Putney of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Photo
February: Smart Choices
The products on the store shelves are just a small representation of the materials and resources that are used to create them. While consumption is a part of our lives, it is possible to choose products that use smaller amounts of renewable and non-renewable resources than their competitors. These types of products are also essential for maintaining our won health. This month will provide information on assessing the full life cycle cost of common products, so that you can make smart choices as to which products best fit the values and needs of your family, and can help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Labeling and Ceritifcation:
Ecolables: www.eco-labels.org
Electronic Product Environmental and Assessment Tool: www.epeat.net
Energy-Star® Rating System: www.energystar.gov
Global Ecolabeling Network: www.gen.gr.jp
Green Seal Certified Products: www.greenseal.org
NSF International (Certification System): www.nsf.org
Transfair USA: www.transfairusa.org
Green Purchasing:
Co-op America, National Green Pages: www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages
Earth Animal: www.earthanimal.com
Ecomall-Environmental Shopping Center: www.ecomall.com
Global Exchange/Fair Trade: www.globalexchange.org
One Percent for the Planet: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org
Professional Wet-cleaning Network: www.tpwn.net
Responsible Shopper: www.responsibleshopper.org
Reusable Shopping Bags: www.reusablebags.com
- Citizen Science: Use the resources above to find more sustainable alternatives to some of your commonly used products. You can also complete a cost benefit analysis to see if a switch to a more sustainable product will work for you.
What: Smart Choices Grocery Store Nutrition Tour
When: Saturday February 4th, 10:00am
Where: The Fresh Market, 5511 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA
Space is limited to 15 participants, please email Becca.timms@dunwoodyga.gov to reserve a spot
Event Summary: The grocery store nutrition tour was a great success. Attendees received information about healthy recipes, as well as information about ingredients that many weren’t familiar with using…kale chips anyone?! Photos
March: Recycling
We’ve all seen a recycling bin at some point or another, but what exactly is the point, and where do all of those recyclables go? The theme for this month will be the benefits of recycling compared with extracting virgin resources, and the many different items in your household that are able to be recycled.
Earth 911: http://earth911.com/
NSF’s Recycling Guide: www.nsf.org/consumer/recycling
Electronics Industries Alliance: http://www.ecyclingcentral.com/recycler/index.php?state=GA&
Collective Good International: www.collectivegood.com
The Charitable Recycling Program: www.charitablerecycling.com
ReCellular: www.recellular.com
Wireless Recycling: www.wirelessrecycling.com
- Citizen Science: Conduct a home waste audit by making a list of everything you put into your trash for one week, or even separate recyclables in order to see the volume of recyclable materials compared to trash.
- Community Event: Electronics Recycling Event, Saturday March 24th 10:00am-2:00pm, Georgia Perimeter College Parking Lot 11
Event Summary: The Electronics Recycling event was a great success. We recycled 7,658 lbs of material. That’s 21 PC's, 43 monitors, and 26 TV's!
Great work, guys! Photo
April: My Own Back Yard
This month will focus on the unique plant and animal habitats found in Dunwoody, in an effort to help community members appreciate what’s in their own back yards.
http://www.gadnr.org/education
- Citizen Science: Create an inventory of the different flora and fauna you see in your own yard, and turn your list into City Hall to be compiled into a citywide inventory; http://www.nwf.org/WildlifeWatch/
- Community Event: Sustainable Hero of the Year Award Presentation and One When You Run Commencement
When: April 23rd, 7 p.m.
Where: City of Dunwoody Municipal Courtroom, 41 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA 30346
We are proud to announce that the April 23rd Mayor Council meeting will include a special presentation of the first annual Sustainable Hero of the Year Award. Mark Stulberger has been noticed by residents for years for his work collecting litter across the city. Not only does he recycle what he can, but Mr. Stulberger’s outstanding example of community stewardship has inspired other community members to begin performing “small acts of sustainability.” It was inspiration from his actions that led our Greenspace Committee to create the “One When You Run” program, which is a marketing campaign that is aimed at reducing any litter that may be found around our sidewalks, trails, and other public areas. Greenspace Committee member Lisa Macy will be presenting a short video clip developed by a DHS media design class, as well as a logo that the students created for the program.
May: Gardening and Landscaping
While yards and gardens are part of our landscape, they can have a negative effect on surrounding natural areas. This month will be focused on making smart choices for your garden and lawn that will keep other users in mind, whether it is a plant, a person, or a fish downstream.
National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create-a-Habitat/Garden-in-an-Environmentally-Friendly-Way.aspx
Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides: www.beyondpesticides.org
EPA, Indigenous Plants Landscaping: www.epa.gov/greenacres
Gardens Alive!: www.gardensalive.com
USDA, Home Conservation Advice: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/home
- Citizen Science: Bee Hunt! http://www.discoverlife.org/bee/
Community Event: Rain Barrel Workshop
When: Tuesday May 16th at 6pm
Where: City of Dunwoody City Hall, Mayor and Council Chambers, 41 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA
June: Energy
If you have never been shocked by a high energy bill then consider yourself lucky! Not only do energy efficiency improvements help shrink your bill, less energy used means that less coal, water, and other natural resources are used producing electricity for your home. June is a great month for focusing on energy efficiency, because it is one of the warmest months when bills are the highest. Use that extra incentive to educate yourself on what you can do to improve your own energy efficiency, and please update us on what you accomplish and what positive results that you see!
National Geographic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/03/energy-conservation/miller-text/1
Alliance to Save Energy: www.ase.org/consumers
Energy Savers: www.energysavers.gov
Energy Star: www.energystar.gov
Green-e Renewable Energy Certification: www.gree-e.org
The Power is in Your Hands: www.powerisinyourhands.org
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: www.eere.energy.gov
- Citizen Science: Check out the “Kill a Watt” meter from City Hall to calculate the energy usage of your household appliances. Translate those calculations to potential savings and CO2 emissions
July: Water Quality
An overwhelming amount of chemicals materials make their way into our waterways daily. This occurs from point sources (such as a pipe discharging pollutants into a river) as well as non-point source (such as parking lot water runoff containing motor oil and trash). These activities have consequences for water quality in Dunwoody, as well as for our downstream neighbors.
- Background resources: http://water.usgs.gov/owq/
- Citizen Science: http://www.adopt-a-stream.org/
- Community Event: Workshop/training on stream water monitoring
August: Storm water Management
- Citizen Science: Storm Drain Stenciling, making a list of what does down the storm drain and where it ends up
September: Think Global, Act Local
http://www.epa.gov/pick5/
http://www.epa.gov/gateway/learn/
http://www.galaxyzoo.org/how_to_take_part
October: Food
This month’s food theme will focus on food: what’s in it, where does it come from, and what can be done to make smart food choices.
http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home; http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml
Eartheasy: www.eartheasy.com
Equal Exchange: www.equalexchange.com
Green Restaurant Association: www.dinegreen.com
Seafood Choices Alliance: www.seafoodchoices.com
TransFair USA: www.transfairusa.org
Whole Foods Market: www.wholefoods.com
- Citizen Science: Grow your own herbs and track their growth
November: Non-Motorized Transportation
Transportation touches our lives on a daily basis. While most of us rely on cars for getting around, Dunwoody offers a variety of non-motorized transportation options. While you may not be ready to sell your car at the end of the month, you will learn about some transportation alternatives for Dunwoody residents, and think about possibilities for using alternative modes of transportation.
- Background resources: https://mirideshare.org/en-US/savings.aspx; http://perimetergo.org/perimetershuttle; http://www.epa.gov/epahome/biketowork.html
Car information-Mileage, Hybrids: www.fueleconomy.gov
Electric Vehicle Association of America: www.evaa.org
Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks: www.greencars.com
Transportation Almanac-Energy, Pollution: www.bicycleuniverse.info
- Citizen Science: Look at transportation options in Dunwoody, make list of trips that could be changed to a lower impact transportation mode, list possible carpools, complete worksheet on emissions
December: Greening Your Home
With kids out of school and a bit of time off work, December is a great month to focus on smart choices that you can make for greening your home. Some of these choices are related to the holidays or other celebrations throughout the year, and others are more general and can be applicable year-round.
EPA Recycle City (Games and Resources): http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
Earth 911, Holiday Recycling Information: http://earth911.com/
- Citizen Science: Home energy audit