Frederick County Office of Sustainability 
and Environmental Resources
WINTER 2018

Program Updates
Neighborhood Green Projects

Brook Trout Restoration  in the 
Upper Monocacy  

T he "Brook Trout Restoration in the Upper Monocacy" project was completed in September 2017.  Funded by the  National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the EPA and the Maryland Forest Service, the project helped to restore brook trout populations in targeted catchment acres using green infrastructure techniques on public and private property.  The project included a  1,500 foot stream  restoration with a 3 acre riparian reforestation project on private agricultural property in Little Tuscarora Creek, and a 1.39 mile gravel road resurfacing project with 4 small culvert replacements on Delauter Road along Fishing Creek.  The project also offered an expanded  Neighborhood Green Program  which included stormwater best management practices like rain barrels, rain gardens, conservation landscaping and tree plantings to homeowners in the Upper Monocacy watersheds. 74 households received "Brookie Restoration Plans" and 60 households  installed best management practices to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff on their properties. 
  
Creek ReLeaf

T he Creek ReLeaf program has had a very successful first year, enrolling 10 qualified private landowners for reforestation of 157 acres in the spring of 2018!  The program also planted 28.5 acres in Frederick County parks last fall.  These combined efforts will plant an estimated 74,000 trees in the County during the first Creek ReLeaf cycle.  To learn more about the Creek
ReLeaf program, please visit our  website . Interested landowners can apply during the April 2019  application period . 
The Henze Household won an Aeroseal Duct Sealing from Atlas Home Energy Systems at the 2017 GHC event.
7th Annual Green Homes Challenge 
Recognition Event 

F rederick County officials and OSER staff will recognize Certified Households at the  7th annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, MD. The Recognition Event will include prize drawings for certified households from our event sponsors.  Households will receive an entry for every challenge they are certified in! If you haven't certified yet, now is the time!   All households must be certified by March 1, 2018. 

Visit the  Green Homes Challenge website   to get started!   If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the event, please contact  Suzanne Cliber .
Municipal Updates - Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs Wins the President Theodore Roosevelt Award


C ongratulations to  Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs,  who recently won  the President Theodore  Roosevelt  Award from the League of Conservation Voters!  

H ere are just a few things that have happened under the leadership of Mayor Don Briggs:
  • Emmitsburg won the 2017  Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award. The award was given in June by Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment.  These awards are granted to organizations with the following success factors: "an organization-wide commitment to environmental performance, a green team that meets on a regular basis, annual environmental goals and measurement of results." 
  • Emmitsburg has achieved a  Sustainable Maryland Certified  status.
  • Over 90% of the Town of Emmitsburg's municipal electrical use comes from a solar array that went on line in April 2014 and produces 1.1 megawatts of electricity per year. The array serves nineteen of the Town's largest accounts as well as the Vigilant Hose Company.
  • Emmitsburg is making additions at the wastewater treatment plant to save water.
  • Solar powered algae control at Rainbow Lake saves money on electricity and from the reduced application of chemicals. Rainbow Lake is the town's drinking water supply.
  • Under the leadership of the Mayor and Board of Commissioners, a new  $19.4 million wastewater treatment plant was constructed.  It replaced an old lagoon system.  Its electricity needs are offset by renewable solar energy.
  • Emmitsburg's government has reduced its electricity consumption by over 15% by doing smart projects like LED lighting upgrades.  In 2014, Emmitsburg installed LED street light bulbs on all the public poles.Street light expense is reduced nearly 40%. 
  • Over  $500,000 worth of improvements  have been done in the downtown historic district. The town has upgraded its downtown by adding sidewalks for safety and better walkability and has been working on upgrades to the town square. Emmitsburg also received over $200K in Community Legacy grants to provide a 50% matching funds to help property owners restore building exteriors or enhance facades, thereby sustaining the historic character of the streetscape.
  • The Town updated its Comprehensive Plan utilizing resources from the American Planning Association as well as the Green Neighborhood Development Guide authored by the Congress for the New Urbanism, the Natural Resources. Defense Council, and the U.S. Green Building Council to guide its efforts. 
5 Winterization Tips to $ave and Go Green

1.  Run Ceiling Fans in Reverse: I t's one of the easiest thing to do to make your home more energy efficient in winter. Run your ceiling fans in a clockwise direction, which pulls warm, heated air from the ceiling and recirculates it through your home, cutting your heating costs by about 10 percent.

 

2.  Replace Furnace Filters Monthly: It's easy to forget this one. It's important to replace or clean furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy demand. Did you know that disposable fiberglass filters trap just 10 to 40% of debris? A good choice is a genuine HEPA filter which can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles. More expensive electrostatic filters trap around 88% and are much better at controlling the bacteria, mold, viruses and pollen that cause illness and irritation.

 

3.  Check Your Tire Pressure:   Low tire pressures cause a sharp increase in gasoline consumption. Tires require about 3-5 psi higher than recommended pressures in the winter - this increases tire stability and offsets a reduction in responsiveness in colder weathers. Not only will you use less gasoline, but you will have better control over your vehicle too!

 

4.   Drain Rain Barrels:   Disconnect your rain barrel from the gutter downspout and attach an extension in its place that directs rainwater away from the house. Use up or drain the rain barrel so it is empty - water left inside may freeze and crack the barrel. Move the rain barrel to inside storage or turn upside-down if left outdoors, and cover with tarp for additional protection.

 

5.   Avoid Toxic Chemical De-icing Salts and Sand:  

Before choosing a chemical de-icer, consider its impact on plant life, concrete, vehicles and animals. And although sand isn't corrosive, it can clog storm drains and cause flooding in the spring. Even rock salt can cause environmental contamination and damage pavement. Instead, use greener alternatives such as Magic Salt (earned the EPA Design for the Environment label) or Ice-Clear (an organic liquid sprayed on pavement before snowfall).

 
Hungry Harvest offers Incentive for New Green Homes Challenge Takers

Hungry Harvest,a food delivery service that addresses food waste and hunger, supports Frederick County's Green Homes Challenge and wants more people to use the tool to learn how to go green at home. For every new Challenge Taker who can accept delivery in their
21701, 21702, 21703, 21704 zip codes, Hungry Harvest offers  50% off  the first order!  

D id you know that  1 in 5 fruits and veggies go to waste due to cosmetic imperfections and logistical inefficiencies ? Hungry Harvest believes that no fresh produce should go to waste, so they rescue these healthy fresh fruits and veggies and deliver them to your door. For every box delivered, they donate or subsidize fresh produce to food panties or their  Produce in a Snap   locations for families living in food deserts. The service is easy to set up and can be turned off and back on as needed. There are a variety of types and sizes of Harvests that are customizable to your taste. Learn more at  HungryHarvest.net.

But before you sign up... Try out the  Green Homes Challenge. When you register, you'll receive a Promo Code to use for 50% off your first Hungry harvest Order and you'll be on your way to learning how you can reduce energy use and utility bills, adopt environmentally-friendly practices, and use renewable energy. As you record actions taken, you receive points towards Challenge Certifications and can see the benefit of your actions on your pocketbook, on energy, gas and water usage, on greenhouse gas emissions, and more!
 
Anyone who certifies in any one of the Power Saver, Green Leader, or Renewable Star Challenges will be invited to the March 29th Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event where guests can win great prizes. For assistance with the  Green Homes Challenge, contact Lisa Orr at [email protected] or 301-600-6864.
Upcoming Events

Livable Frederick Outreach Meeting
Oakdale High School Cafeteria
February 1, 2018
6:30 - 8:00

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Meeting
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 - 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
3rd Floor Meeting Room 
Winchester Hall, Frederick, MD


L ivable Frederick Outreach Meeting
Frederick High School Cafeteria
February 12, 2018
6:30 - 8:00

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Meeting
Wednesday, March 21,  2018 - 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
3rd Floor Meeting Room 
Winchester Hall, Frederick, MD

Livable Frederick Outreach Meeting
Urbana High School Cafeteria
February 14, 2018
7:30 - 8:30

7th Annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event
March 29, 2018
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center


Livable Frederick Outreach Meeting
Catoctin High School Cafeteria
February 15, 2018
7:30 - 8:30



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