GoGreen April 2016 US Environmental Protection Agency Newsletter

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WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT YOU CAN USE

How do you #EarthDay? April is Earth Month. Find things you can do online or wherever you are.

Reduce food waste. About 95 percent of the food we throw away ends up in landfills or combustion facilities. Once in landfills, food breaks down to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change. Every little bit helps – find ways you can reduce food waste.
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-wasted-food-home

Get ideas for projects or lesson plans. Help students learn about Earth Day at home or at school.
https://www.epa.gov/earthday

Volunteer opportunities.  Check for events or ways to help out near you.
https://www.epa.gov/earthday/earth-day-events

Share your thoughts.  Join us online all month. Use hashtag #EarthDay or #EarthDayEveryDay
https://www.facebook.com/epa
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23howdoyouearthday

National Sustainable Design Expo (April 16-17). If you’re in Washington, DC just before Earth Day, don’t miss seeing fascinating student and science projects about innovative ways to protect the environment. Free admission, April 16 & 17, the Walter Washington Convention Center, in DC.
https://www.epa.gov/P3

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Make the Safer Choice.  Time for spring cleaning? Remember to look for the Safer Choice label on cleaning products when shopping. The Safer Choice label means the ingredients meet EPA’s criteria for the program.  Look for the label — springtime and all year ’round.
https://go.usa.gov/cs3mA

Be a Leak Detective. Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. If you’re shopping for new fixtures or plumbing, look for the WaterSense label.
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/fix_a_leak.html
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFUr__lDERo

EPA Using Citizen Science. Citizen science efforts help connect community volunteers with EPA scientists to collect data to better understand their environment. Using smart phones, wireless connectivity, and cheap, accurate, radio-equipped sensors, people collect data about their local air or water quality. Federal News Radio recently featured six EPA employees who shared insights about how EPA is using citizen science. Listen to their interviews to learn more. Links go to Federal News Radio, a web site outside of EPA.

Nominate Environmental Educators (due May 16). Know a teacher using innovative teaching methods for environmental education? Applications are now being accepted for the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators, recognizing innovative educators to teach about the environment.
https://go.usa.gov/cAx5d

Let Us Know What You Think. Are you working to improve the environment in your community? Last year we launched the Communities website designed help community members and local officials find important resources. We want to hear from you! Help us improve the website by taking a short survey.
Take the Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EPAresources
Go to the Communities website: https://www.epa.gov/communities

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SOCIAL MEDIA, MULTIMEDIA & MORE

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS:

EPA Taking Steps to Cut Methane Emissions from Existing Oil and Gas Sources
https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/03/epa-taking-steps-to-cut-methane-emissions-from-existing-oil-and-gas-sources/

Location is important, especially when it comes to household products
https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/03/location-is-important/

More blog posts: https://blog.epa.gov/blog

VIDEOS – MARCH RELEASES:

Fix a Leak with WaterSense! – steps you can take to Check, Twist, and Replace as you save water for yourself and your community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFUr__lDERo

Green Streets: The Road to Clean Water – a technique for managing stormwater and providing other economic and community benefits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxqxEqnHIKw

Children’s Environmental Health Curriculum – developed by EPA and the Boys and Girls Clubs to help engage children aged 10 to 13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDfk15cl0Vc

Making a Visible Difference in Helena, MT: Brownfields Redevelopment – how a site was cleaned up and restored to residential use standards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8re3a9oXi2U

EPA SmartWay: Anyway you ship it. Move it the SmartWay.  EPA and its SmartWay partners are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving millions in fuel and operational costs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7viQ9bArQtU

More EPA videos: https://youtube.com/usepagov

PODCASTS

EPA’s Science Bite is a podcast series that describes EPA’s role in science research. These podcasts highlight how we use science to protect human health and the environment.

The Future of Breathing: Connecting Air Quality and Climate Change
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/sciencebite_futurebreath.mp3

Science Bite podcasts and transcripts: https://www.epa.gov/research/science-bite-podcasts

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

April

Month
National Gardening Month

Week
16-24, National Park Week

Day
7, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas born
22, Earth Day

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