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Monarchs on the move
In recent years, a combination of food and habitat loss has resulted in a 90% drop in Monarch butterfly populations. Guest blogger Ann English shows how you can help revive these dwindling populations by providing a much needed food source for their journey through the Mid-Atlantic area!
The hippest energy happenings: Metro DC Solar Homes Tour
Joyce Breiner is back this week with a new guest blog focusing on the annual Metro DC Solar and Green Homes Tour!
Mulching: Exploring its many benefits
There are a lot of beneficial things you can do for your garden. However, mulching should make it to your list of top priorities. Simplified, it is defined as the act of putting a protective barrier (mulch) over bare soil and around plants. What makes this simple method highly recommended?
September is National Preparedness Month
Would you be prepared if an emergency occurred today? Disasters can happen any time. Here are some resources and steps from Ready.gov to help you and your family prepare for potential emergencies.
All in favor of conserving gasoline, raise your right foot!
Monday, September 22, was Car Free Day. This worldwide movement promotes going car free (or even car-lite!) for the day to celebrate more sustainable forms of transportation and a greener environment. Who says it only has to be celebrated one day a year though? Try to incorporate sustainable transportation into your daily routine or even start
The hippest energy happenings: National Drive Electric Week
With National Drive Electric Week upon us (September 15-21) and the Solar Homes Tour (October 4-5) coming up quickly, now is a great time to check out some of the coolest technologies in clean energy! I’ll be guest blogging this week and next to give you all the info you need on these upcoming events.
New study says birds are at risk. How you can help now and in the future
Maryland without its famous Oriole? A Mid-Atlantic region with no bald eagles? The natural world wouldn’t be the same without these colorful, musical creatures in the skies. But it could be the reality in the next generation or two. A new report from the National Audubon Society shows that these bird species, and more than
Winter’s coming…..but first prep your garden for fall
Are you ready for fall? While we enjoy native, blooming plants right now like light and airy Hyssop Leaved Boneset (Eupatorium hyssopifolium) , bright yellow Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), and the purples of the Asters (Symphotrichum spp.) , there’s work to be done.
Hey Parents! 3 ways to make sustainable habits part of back-to-school
With school back in session, this is a great time to incorporate new sustainable habits into your family’s schedule and routine. Research shows that upwards of 36% of successful habit changes are associated with a major change, like moving to a new home, or perhaps starting school.
Thanks for a great County Fair!
Did you know that the County Fair is the most important outreach event for the Department of Environmental Protection each year? It is the time where DEP staff get to talk to County residents, share our latest programs and events and get the pulse on what is important to County residents.
How to dispose of propane cylinders
Oops! Propane cylinders and tanks are not curbside blue bin recyclables.
National Public Lands Day and Days to Serve
For those who love visiting Montgomery County’s fantastic park system, this month offers the opportunity to give back. Montgomery Parks is a proud supporter of Days to Serve and National Public Lands Day. Days to Serve runs September 11-28 with National Public Lands Day on September 27th. Both of these events celebrate volunteerism and our
Staying safe and healthy with a little help from the Air Quality Index
During summer, it’s not uncommon to hear newscasters referring to the Air Quality Index, or AQI. You might hear that the AQI is “Good” at 45 or that it’s “Unhealthy” at 183. The AQI is also often referred to by its color level: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, or maroon. It’s difficult to keep all
Limited time: Free bikeshare program
Bikeshare is affordable for many – but for some folks it still may be a challenge. Free bikeshare memberships are available for those who meet income eligibility requirements. The program is called “JARC” – Job Access Reverse Commute. Qualified individuals will receive free membership in Capital Bikeshare and free bike safety training, a free helmet,
It’s a prime time for cool cash savings!
With August here, summer fun is at its peak…and so are the temperatures. Last year, temperatures were, on average, 88 degrees Fahrenheit. As you can imagine, this means that a lot of us turn on our air-conditioners. What you may not be aware of is that as the summer heats up, this is a prime
The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is here!
The County Fair is August 8th-16th. Will you be there?
Remodeling? Learn to identify green building products
Just as the words “fresh” and “natural” have become marketing buzzwords with the foods that we consume, so too have “green” and “eco-friendly” become the defining jargon for the building products we purchase. Truly “green” products can increase rental or resale value of property and lower operating costs, but how can you be sure you’re
Apply for up to 80% in credit towards your Water Quality Protection Charge
Do you have a stormwater management practice on your property? A dry well, rain garden, green roof or another design practice that helps reduce stormwater pollution in the County? If you have a qualified storm water practice on your property, you are eligible for a credit towards your Water Quality Protection Charge (WQPC)! Both residential and
A green treefrog takes up residency in the Paint Branch Watershed!
During a warm summer night, a Montgomery County FrogWatch volunteer, Maura McMullen, heard a strange call that she was unable to identify from the County’s frog and toads website. She sent in the recording to DEP to help her identify the species. DEP identified the frog as a green treefrog, the first recorded finding of
Sign Sweep cleans up County right-of-ways
On Wednesday, July 9th, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection participated in a “Sign Sweep” to remove election and other signs from the County right-of-ways. The Sweep team — about 60 colleagues from the Departments of Environmental Protection, Housing and Community Affairs, Permitting Services, and Transportation — gathered in the morning for instructions. Teams then
Has the Bag Law been successful at reducing plastic bag usage?
Have you noticed fewer plastic bags hanging from trees or hung up along our streambanks? Montgomery County watershed volunteers who clean the streams certainly have. It’s amazing how a little 5-cent carryout bag law has changed shopper behavior and reduced bag litter.
Don’t sweat It! 10 easy ways to save energy this summer
Summer is a great time to take advantage of the nice weather and save energy. Give each of these tips a try during the month of July, and let us know which is your favorite way to save energy this summer!
Stream Stewards make a difference in the County
With more than 1 million residents Montgomery County is a very large and diverse community. Imagine trying to educate each one of those residents about water issues and how our habits affect our waterways.
Recycle your election lawn signs after voting ends
Recycling your sample ballot, newsprint voting guides, and brochures and postcards you might have received from candidates and organizations is simple: just add them to your other paper recyclables.
Learn to recycle at school and work with these helpful videos
We all know we should recycle, but do you know all the materials that can be recycled or resources available to help people recycle at school or work? The Division of Solid Waste Services created two informative and fun videos to explain how to recycle at school and at your business.
Elysian Energy Green Week Scavenger Hunt
Elysian Energy, a Montgomery County Certified Green Business, hosted a Green Week Scavenger Hunt for employees the week of Earth Day. The staff was challenged to go green, and as you can see from the video, they had a blast doing so.
Joining DEP: Finding an energized community
Hi, my name is Michelle Vigen, and I am thrilled to join Montgomery County DEP to support and advance its clean energy and climate protection goals. I am particularly excited to be involved in the implementation of the county’s commercial building benchmarking law and the commercial property-assessed clean energy (PACE) program (in development). I look
Recording ribbits! My experience as a new FrogWatcher
A group of newly minted FrogWatch volunteers met one evening in Wheaton for a field FrogWatch training. We set off in a line after dark to a spot by a large stormwater management pond and set our smart phones for the required 3 minute period of frog monitoring. Unfortunately it was only 45 degrees Fahrenheit
Trees are the Answer!
Around our office, it seems like no matter what the question is, the answer can always be tied back to TREES! When you think about it, trees are true workhorses for the environment. They increase property values, provide shade to help lower energy bills, clean and cool our air and water, reduce runoff from impervious
Pyle Middle School goes green!
If you were looking to be inspired, there was no better place to be than Pyle Middle School on the evening of May 28th. That night, the 6th grade class hosted a Green Gala where they showed how every student and person in the County can make a difference for their environment.
Ouch! Mosquito facts & what you can do to prevent mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are the worst! They ruin outdoor events, crash your picnics and can even invade your house to bite you while you sleep. Follow our advice and don’t let mosquitoes take over your summer.
Chesapeake Conservation Corps: A year of immeasurable experience with DEP
Almost a year ago, I was faced with the scary decision of what to do after graduating college. I had no idea what I wanted to do, where I wanted to live, what organization I wanted to work for. Well, I knew a little. I knew I wanted to help protect the environment in some
Support local, support green
As a new resident of Montgomery County, I’ve been excitedly researching all of the sites, shops, and natural areas near my home. Moving can be exhausting, but transitioning services and setting up a new living space is a fun way to learn more about the County. One thing I’ve noticed is that there are some
A new chapter begins: What led me to intern with DEP
As an intern for the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), I am interested in seeing how various environmental policies are implemented and received by the public on the local government scale.
Apply now for this summer’s natural resources careers camp!
Are you a high school student interested in studying natural resources? If not, do you know a student who is? Then don’t miss this opportunity to participate in a week-long camp in Garrett County, MD, to explore careers and college programs in natural resources. This year’s camp will run from Sunday, July 20 through Saturday,
Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 16th!
Imagine this: it’s a cool morning, the sun is rising higher and the wind is rushing past your ears. You roll by cars stopped in traffic and turn onto a tree-lined path. The air smells great and you feel alive! As you get closer to town you join-up with other 2-wheeled riders at a pit
Yard Trim: Keep Length to Four Feet
To help collection crews be able to take the branches you set out at the curb for them, please prepare branches to meet all of our requirements.
May is American Wetlands Month
How often do you think about wetlands? The answer for many of you will probably be once, maybe, twice a year. And for a few of you, you’ll have tilted your head and asked – why would I think about wetlands? At the Department of Environmental Protection, we think about wetlands a lot: how much benefit
Powering down MD one house at a time
Your house, my apartment, his condo, her house, and all our combined residences account for 20% of the country’s energy use — and consequently, 20% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Heading to Aspen Hill? Check Out our storm drain art!
Turtles, fish, dogs….. Go on an art adventure at the Aspen Hill library!
County ranks 5th on EPA’s list of local government green power purchasers
The Environmental Protection Agency released its quarterly list of the Top Green Power Partners and Montgomery County is the fifth ranked local government!
Recap of the Montgomery County 4th Annual H2O Summit
On Saturday, March 22, 2014, over 350 Montgomery County residents celebrated World Water Day by attending the fourth annual H2O Summit hosted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The main goal of the H2O Summit is to raise awareness about water
How to recycle your lawn mower in Montgomery County
With Spring here – finally! – the grass is growing, and… we’re hearing that some of your lawn mowers are no longer fit for service.
Getting my feet wet: Starting a new job with DEP
Ah, Spring! A time to shed the gray cloak of winter, celebrate longer days, and get some fresh air. In addition to these seasonal changes, I also get the pleasure of starting an exciting new outreach position with Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Watch us on the Make a Difference TV Show!
My Green Montgomery and the Department of Environmental Protection were featured on the Montgomery County cable show “Make a Difference”. Jessica Jones, Program Manager of Outreach and Education, discusses Earth Month, Stream Stewards, the Green Business Certification program and other volunteer opportunities.
Walking the Poop Loop
Last year, I decided it was time for me to adopt a furry creature. I can honestly say that I was not truly aware of what I was getting into, but bringing Bear into my life was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Eight months later, I am still learning what it
Celebrate Earth Month in Montgomery County!
April is the Department of Environmental Protection’s favorite month. Why? It’s springtime, flowers are in bloom, wildlife are emerging and, best of all, it’s Earth Month!
When local “Greens” work together, the public wins
For the past year and half, Chesapeake Bay Area Greens have been meeting to figure out how best to coordinate our efforts. These groups include Annapolis Green, Bethesda Green, Green Gaithersburg, GreenWheaton, Silver Spring Green, Poolesville Green, and our most recent addition, Baltimore Green Works. While we’ve all supported each other’s efforts in the past, we’ve
