Categories for Climate
MCPS Adds One New Green School Making 91 Total
Walt Whitman High School has been named a 2022 Maryland Green School, bringing the MCPS total to 91. Staff and students at the certifying schools went above and beyond in this COVID-impacted year: 27 Green Schools successfully recertified this year to retain the honor. Six schools reached the highly valued “sustainable school” status—Ashburton, Bethesda, Forest Knolls, New Hampshire Estates, Rosemary
Thank You to the 2022 Spring Climate Interns!
Montgomery County, Maryland, has been committed to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and climate action for over a decade. The County recently released a Climate Action Plan detailing the effects of a changing climate on Montgomery County and includes strategies to reduce GHG emissions and climate-related risks to the County’s residents, businesses, and the built and
Do you have great ideas to help protect our environment?
Do you have great ideas to help protect our environment? This Earth Month, we need your ideas to help us protect our environment. Through the Climate Action Plan, the County is hoping to lower the impact of climate change. Please send us words, phrases or a sentence that will inspire your neighbors to take action
Participate in community heat mapping this summer!
Feeling the heat in Montgomery County? Take action by participating in community heat mapping this summer! This summer, Montgomery County is doing a community heat-mapping project that will bring together local organizations and volunteers to produce heat maps and generate creative and collaborative solutions for extreme heat in our area. Montgomery County will be one of
Start a Cool Block in Montgomery County!
The Cool Block Program Helps Neighbors Work Together to Fight Climate Change A non-profit, Cool Block, brings neighborhoods together to empower each other and build community over shared environmental goals. Becoming a Cool Block Leader is one great way to bring your neighborhood together for collective climate action. The program consists of four major topics
Air Quality Awareness Week
Courtesy post from Clean Air Partners Helping Our Region Breathe Easy! About Clean Air Partners Clean Air Partners is a public-private partnership educating the greater metropolitan Baltimore-Washington region about the health risks of poor air quality. For more than 20 years, we have empowered individuals and organizations to take simple actions to reduce pollution and
Guide to Sustainable Food Shopping in Montgomery County
Purchasing gently used items (learn more here) is the best way to support the environment and your budget. When food shopping, however, there are different ways to shop more sustainably. Try to buy local whenever possible. Local food is fresher and travels a shorter distance than other items, reducing emissions from transportation. Because it is
Guide to Sustainable Shopping in Montgomery County
Did you know that it takes 2,000 gallons of water to make a single pair of blue jeans and 713 gallons of water to grow the cotton required for one t-shirt? Textiles can also produce a lot of waste, since they often cannot be recycled. If you’re not into repurposing or upcycling your clothes (check
Guide to Sustainable Spring Cleaning
Spring is upon us, which means gearing up for spring cleaning! Alyssa Bialek, Spring Climate Fellow compiled a list of tips to help green your spring cleaning process. Make Eco-friendly Cleaning Products Try making your own cleaning solution! You can customize it with your favorite scents. Here are some recipes to try: All-purpose cleaner: 1
Meet Montgomery County’s New Climate Engagement Manager
Hello Montgomery County, I’m Laura Sivels (she/her/ella), and thank you for welcoming me to the Department of Environmental Protection! As the Climate Engagement Program Manager, I will be looking to connect with community members and organizations across the county to engage as partners in climate action. I will work with county residents on a range
Join us March 19th for the “Go Electric” event!
Sigue en español Go Electric on March 19th! 10am-4pm, Montgomery College, North Campus Drive, Rockville—-Outdoors! Curious about electric leaf blowers and mowers? Interested in an electric car or solar panels for your property? Come to our Go Electric event and learn more! Recycle gas yard equipment and small appliances for free Learn about special March
MoCo Environmental Task Force
Across the county, students are becoming increasingly more involved in helping make Montgomery County become a more sustainable and environmentally conscious place to live. One such student organization, the MCR Environmental Task Force, a division of the county-wide student government association, is helping to do just that. While only formed recently in 2020, they have
“Lead The EV Charge” – The First Electric Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative is HERE!
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich issued a challenge to County residents and businesses today to “Lead the EV Charge” by pledging to buy electric vehicles as the County launched the Washington Region’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Purchasing Cooperative pilot program. The initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of EVs by the public in an
Become a Montgomery County Climate Stories Ambassador
Montgomery County is partnering with Climate Stories Project, and local community-based organizations and networks, to offer a free, virtual three-part training program to help you tell your climate story! Everyone has a climate change story. Tell your climate story and inspire others to take action to confront the climate crisis. Become a Climate Stories Ambassador:
Department of Environmental Protection 2021 Year in Review
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released its 2021 Year in Review video with department highlights! The video features DEP’s Acting Director Adriana Hochberg and staff members describing 2021 accomplishments and innovative programs. Highlights of the video include: Climate Action Plan: Released in June and is one of the most ambitious climate
Interview with Michael Boldosser with the County’s Climate Team
Q: What position do you hold in the Climate Team? I work with the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) where I serve as an Emergency Management Specialist II. With regard to the Climate team, I am a team member, no special position. The Climate Team is working to help the County implement
Montgomery County Resident’s Guide to Vermicomposting
Food Waste Background The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Recycling and Resource Management Division estimated that approximately 56,000 tons of residential food waste were disposed of in the trash in 2017. Much of this waste can be prevented through weekly meal planning, creative cooking, freezing foods, and utilizing the best storage practices. However,
Interview with Doug Weisburger with the County’s Climate Team
Q: What position do you hold in the Climate Team? A: I am a Senior Planning Specialist, Sustainability Programs, in the Department of Environmental Protection. On the Climate Planning Team, I focus on racial equity and social justice, community engagement, economic development, and governance — particularly as it relates to embedding climate change into County Government
MCPS plans for first-ever Youth Climate Summit in 2022
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is planning to hold its first-ever Youth Climate Summit in March 2022. The idea for this summit developed after MCPS recognized increased student interest in climate action. Using a portion of a science grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, MCPS held a five-week internship over the summer for a group of students
Flood Insurance in Montgomery County – Available to All Residents
Flooding Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of severe weather events, including flooding. Flooding is the most frequent severe weather event and the costliest natural disaster. Storm surge from hurricanes can drastically increase the risk of flooding in coastal areas. 90% of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding. Floods not only affect high-risk coastal areas; 25% of flood insurance
Conversation with County Climate Leaders: Sandra L. Brecher
Sandra L. Brecher who represents the County Department of Transportation as a member of the Climate Planning Team talks about her experience on the team, recent progress, and shares advice on how people can get involved with the cause. My Green Montgomery: How has Montgomery County recently tackled climate change? Sandra Brecher: The County has
Montgomery Parks Undertakes LED Retrofits at South Germantown Recreational Park
Montgomery Parks recently converted 62 high-pressure sodium (HPS) light fixtures to newer, more efficient LED technology at South Germantown Recreational Park. South Germantown Recreational Park was built in 2001 and covers over 695 acres of land. Through the years, the park has grown to become one of the most equipped recreational areas in the County,
The Benefits of Switching to Induction Cooking
One of the key actions in Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) is to require newly constructed buildings to be all-electric and to electrify all new and existing buildings by 2035. In 2018, 50% of the county’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions came from buildings, with the majority coming from processes using electricity and natural gas. Building emissions are primarily generated by using
Putting Science on Display: The Universities at Shady Grove BSE Facility
On July 22, 2021, Associate Principal Rick Fredlund of the architecture firm Cooper Carry accepted USGBC’s Midsummer Night’s Green award for the Universities at Shady Grove’s new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education (BSE) Facility. The award is one of several earned by the project in 2021, joining a IIDA Georgia Best of the Best Award and a NAOIP DC/MD Chapter Award of Excellence for Best Institutional Facility. The facility is a product of a successful collaboration of
Apply to Serve on the Climate, Energy, and Air Quality Advisory Committee!
County Executive Marc Elrich is seeking applicants to fill five vacancies on the Climate, Energy, and Air Quality Advisory Committee. All members must be technically knowledgeable and interested in climate change, energy, and air quality, and individuals with professional experience, education, and knowledge in these fields are particularly encouraged to apply. All members must be Montgomery
Extra Credit Opportunities: Learn about the climate this summer!
While MCPS may be out for the summer, there’s no need for students to pause their climate education. Numerous organizations are offering affordable, virtual camps and workshops focused on the environment and climate change. These educational opportunities are a great way for your student to begin or continue building their knowledge of climate issues. To all Montgomery County students, we wish you a happy summer and happy learning!
Meet the 2021 Summer Interns and Fellow!
Montgomery County’s climate planning team is excited to welcome four interns and a fellow for the summer. Dora, Laura, Sara, Susannah, and Matthew are passionate individuals committed to addressing climate issues and to helping Montgomery County achieve its climate goals. They will each work on a variety of projects, including writing articles, researching mitigation strategies, analyzing data, and supporting climate action efforts. Read below to get to know our 2021
Eco Evenings with DEP and OMG
“Eco Evenings with DEP and OMG,” a series of virtual town halls open to County residents to discuss relevant environmental topics that are important locally, will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, with Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich making opening remarks. The new series is sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of
Are you smarter than our Environmental Leaders?
Blog, courtesy of Bethesda Green. Bethesda Green’s Environmental Leaders Program is an experiential school-year long sustainability program for high school seniors in Montgomery County. The training focuses on environmental stewardship and community engagement through a series of projects. Applications for the 2021 – 2022 program are rolling. Apply here. Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Environmental Leaders for
Earth Month 2021
Celebrate Earth Month 2021 This year, we are teaming up with our community partners to bring you free online and in-person education and activities throughout the month of April. Announcing … #MontgomeryPlogs #PloggingChallenge Do you plog? Plogging entails jogging/walking and quickly stopping to pick up trash while you’re on the go.
Nominations Sought for 2021 Environmental Awards
Know of an individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to improve Gaithersburg’s environment? Nominations are being accepted for the 2021 Environmental Awards. City residents, businesses, neighborhood associations, and organizations within Gaithersburg’s City limits are eligible. Schools and entities whose student body or membership is comprised of at least 10 percent City residents may
Draft Climate Action Plan – We Want Your Feedback!
The Climate Action Plan is the County’s strategic plan to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and by 100 percent by 2035. The actions and technical analyses presented in the plan build upon the work of more than 200 volunteer members of the Climate Technical Workgroups, community groups, County employees and
Calling all artists and climate justice activists! Winners Selected!
Update: Winners of the Climate Change Art Contest (PDF, 3.92MB) Press Release: Montgomery County Announces Climate Change Art Contest Winners Calling all artists and climate justice activists! Montgomery County is hosting a competition for artwork to be featured in the county’s climate action plan. What photos, drawings, poems, digital art, and memes (yes, we
A Deeper Dive into Montgomery County’s 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory
By Julia Brown and Tenzin Yangkey A critical focus of Montgomery County is addressing the causes and impacts of climate change in order to ensure a healthy and equitable future for all of its residents. In 2017, the Montgomery County Council adopted the Emergency Climate Mobilization Resolution, which called for an 80% reduction in County greenhouse
Connecting with young people on climate and environmental topics: Do’s and Don’ts
By Omotola Fadeyi, Resilience Ambassador and Junior at Paint Branch High School In the past three months working as a Resilience Ambassador for Montgomery County’s Covid Corps, I have taken note of what can catch the attention of residents and spur them to educate themselves or speak on the things going on in the world
Montgomery County to Use Climate Lens for Future Budgeting Decisions
by Julia McMurry, Climate Intern A community-based workgroup released its final recommendations in October 2020 in a publicly-available report detailing how to integrate climate considerations into County budgets. The Climate Change Budgeting Process Workgroup comprised 15 volunteer members with backgrounds ranging from public administration and policy to finance and environmental science. Since August 2020, they have been working with
Climate Change at the Local Level: Protecting Our Watershed
When we think of climate change we often think of melting ice caps, rising sea-levels, extreme weather, and warmer global temperatures. These are the harsh realities of a warming planet caused by human activity. We produce energy from burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and consume this energy at high, unsustainable rates. We
High School Student Designs Climate Education Course for Middle Schoolers
What happens when you combine a dedication to climate activism with a passion for helping others learn more about it? For Montgomery Blair High School senior Vivian Li, it meant gathering a group of like-minded friends and figuring out a way to help others get an education about the climate in one important way they
Resilience Ambassadors Amplify Underrepresented Voices Through Community Outreach
By Julia Henderson, Climate Intern Montgomery County’s Climate Planning team, in partnership with Vision Zero, began the Resilience Ambassador pilot program in mid-July. The County brought on a team of five paid youth Resilience Ambassadors who were hired as part of the “COVID Corps” through the Department of Recreation. The goal of the program was
Climate Education Resources
Incorporating climate literacy and education about climate change into schools is an important factor in making Montgomery County a more sustainable community and necessary to meet our goal of zero carbon emissions by 2035. In the days of COVID-19, in person trainings on climate change education are few and far between, but there are a
County’s Streetlight Conversion Yields Financial Savings and Reduces GHG Emissions
By Julia Henderson, Climate Intern Interview with Dan Sanayi, Traffic Engineering Design and Operations, Montgomery County Department of Transportation, July 20, 2020. Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) recently completed its Countywide conversion of streetlights from predominately high pressure sodium (HPS) to light-emitting diode (LED). The MCDOT adopted the LED technology in 2014 and
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Update: County Emissions Down 3% from 2015, 19% Since 2005
As the County pursues ambitious goals of 80% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2027 and zero emissions by 2035, we anxiously await updated greenhouse gas emissions inventories to help us monitor our progress. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) recently released the 2018 inventory and we take a look at the results below.
Volunteers Sought for Montgomery County’s Climate Change Budgeting Process Workgroup
Montgomery County is convening a specialized workgroup to develop ideas for incorporating a climate change lens into the County budgeting processes. Creating the “Budgeting Process” workgroup was a recommendation from the community-based climate workgroups that concluded their work in February 2020. The groups were formed by County Executive Marc Elrich as part of the County’s
DEP Live! #EarthDay2020
Thank you for joining us for DEP’s biggest virtual event! On April 22nd we hosted an all-day live stream event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. We featured a wide variety of DEP programs from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm from 17 presenters over 13 sessions live! DEP Live! #EarthDay2020
DEP’s Earth Month Goes Online!
Celebrate the 50th-Anniversary of Earth Day This year, Earth Month events are going to look a little different as we stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are bringing you a month full of fun at-home activities using online tools to bring you a VIRTUAL Earth Month. This year, we’re celebrating Earth Month with
