I decided to compile some Earth Day tips and I figured Twitter would be a perfect place to find them.  Within seconds I had my answers.  So, here are twenty Earth Day tips Twitter style from @hayneedle.

#EarthdayTips 1: Donate your unwanted used items to local charities instead of throwing them out.

#EarthDayTips 2: Replace paper napkins and towels with cloth napkins and towels

#EarthdayTips 3: 30% of waste in the U.S. is due to yard & food waste. Use this waste to add nutrients to your soil through composting!

#EarthDayTips 4: Try using a push reel lawnmower. They make ur lawn beautiful w/o the costly gasoline or an engine that needs servicing.

#EarthDayTips 5: Allow grass clippings to stay on your lawn to decompose & return to the soil naturally.

#EarthDayTips 6: Rain barrels help cut back on the H20 bill by storing H2O for the garden, car washes, & window cleaning.

#EarthDayTips 7: Save $15-$20/mo. w/cloth diapers compared to disposable diapers. They prevent diaper rash & keep waste out of landfills

#EarthDayTips 8: Bamboo is a naturally sustainable resource that grows rapidly & makes for durable, beautiful furniture.

#EarthDayTips 9: Use Solar LED lights; they’re brighter, cooler, & much more energy efficient w/o the use of electricity/batteries.

#EarthDayTips 10: Eco patio furniture made w/eucalyptus wood meets the FSC standards, which protects the envrnmnt & forest-dependent areas

#EarthDayTips 12: Relax in a beautiful hammock that’s made of hand-woven recycled polyester derived from old soda bottles. Who knew?!

#EarthDayTips 13: Look for kitchen islands made from birch, theyre self sustaining, non-endangered N. American hardwood

#EarthDayTips 16: Outdoor chairs that’re made from strong recycled plastic polymers won’t crack, warp, or rot

#EarthDayTips 18: When purchasing outdoor decor try biodegradable planters Theyre made of plant fibers thatll return to the earth w/in 3 yrs

#EarthDayTips 19: Teak wood is gr8 for outdoor furniture b/c it is naturally resistant to moisture, rot, warping, insects & fungus

#EarthDayTips 20: LED string lights add the perfect accent to any outdoor/indoor celebration & cut back on the electric bill

#EarthDayTips 21: Skip the shopping bag. Bring your own reusable bags to the mall & grocery store.

#EarthDayTips 22: Use electronic billing to cut back on paper & mail.

#EarthDayTips 23: Bring your lunch to work/school to cut back on fast food paper waste, spending, & fuel use.

#EarthDayTips 24: Make coffee at home & use a travel mug to take to work. If you grab coffee on the go take a travel mug to min. ppr waste

For more Earth Day tips and other information please follow @hayneedle and tell her thank you!

Like

Unlike

from epa.gov

Release date: 04/19/2010

Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov,202-564-3191,202-564-4355, Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355; Contacto en español; Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov, 202-564-9924, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has selected $78.9 million in brownfields grants to communities in 40 states, four tribes, and one U.S. Territory. This funding will be used for the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields properties, including abandoned gas stations, old textile mills, closed smelters, and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

The brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. As of March 2010, EPA’s brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $14 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding, and 61,277 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment. These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed. Cleaning up our communities is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities, which leads not only to health and environmental benefits but also economic development and prosperity.

“To strengthen our economy, we must first strengthen our communities,” said Administrator Jackson. “Cleaning up and revitalizing these contaminated sites opens doors to new businesses, new homes and new jobs for American workers while making our environment cleaner and the community healthier. This shows that what is right for the environment is right for the economy.”

In total, EPA is selecting 304 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs:

· 188 assessment grants, totaling $42.56 million, will conduct site assessment and planning for cleanup at one or more brownfields sites as part of a community-wide effort.

· 17 revolving loan fund grants, totaling $17 million, will provide loans and subgrants for communities to begin cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Revolving loan funds are generally used to provide low interest loans for brownfields cleanups. · 99 cleanup grants, totaling $19.36 million, will provide funding for grant recipients to carryout cleanup activities at brownfield sites they own.

Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded 1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants totaling $129.4 million. As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase to $215 million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs). More information on the FY 2010 grant recipients: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

More information on EPA’s brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Brownfields success stories: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm

Click for more EPA BUZZ

Like

Unlike

From epa.gov

Release date: 04/14/2010

Contact Information: Beth Totman (212) 637-3662, totman.elizabeth@epa.gov

(New York, NY) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Research Foundation of the State University of New York in Buffalo and the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, New York have each been selected to receive $200,000 in federal grant funds to train local community members in environmental job skills. The two $200,000 job training grants are being awarded under EPA’s brownfields program. Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial or commercial sites at which redevelopment or expansion is hampered by environmental contamination. Both organizations will recruit students from among unemployed and underemployed residents in local areas, and provide them with the skills they need to find environmental jobs cleaning up contaminated sites in their communities.

“Brownfields job training grants provide resources to help people in economically struggling communities acquire the skills they need to land jobs performing environmental cleanups,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “The appeal of the brownfields job training program is that it provides essential training for people seeking employment, and opportunities to use the new skills to improve communities.”

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was adopted by Congress to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. EPA’s Brownfields Program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.

Since 1998, EPA has awarded more than $33 million in brownfields job training funds. The program prepares workers for employment and ensures that the economic benefits derived from brownfields redevelopment remain in the affected communities. As of February 2010, more than 5,300 individuals have been trained through the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program, and 3,400 have been placed in full-time employment in the environmental field with an average starting hourly wage of $14.65.

Organizations selected to receive brownfields job training grants are:

The Research Foundation of the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
$200,000

The foundation plans to train students in skills including, asbestos abatement work and construction safety, as well as environmental sampling, remediation technology and an overview of brownfields. Students will be recruited from the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Lackawanna and Niagara County. The region has several contaminated facilities and properties that need to be cleaned up.

Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida Counties, NY
$200,000

The Board plans to train students in health and safety training, lead and asbestos abatement, sustainable construction, fork lift operator training, and energy efficiency training. The program will recruit students from the city of Utica to participate in this job training. There are 11 brownfields in the assessment or cleanup phase within one mile of the city’s urban center, and the need for trained workers trained with environmental skills is crucial to restoring the city.

For more information on EPA’s Brownfields program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/brownfields/.

Click here for more EPA BUZZ

Like

Unlike

From epa.gov

Release date: 04/13/2010

Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, Cell (213) 798-2804, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov
(4/13/10) SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today advanced its environmental justice program in National City, Calif., with the distribution of a $1 million Brownfields revolving loan to National City.

EPA also awarded a $300,000 Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grant to the Environmental Health Coalition for work in Barrio Logan and National City, and provided resources to assist with the Westside Affordable Housing Transit Oriented Development in National City.

In addition to providing funds, EPA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation – via the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities – in helping National City meet its sustainability goals to generate affordable housing and transportation while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and addressing the challenges of climate change.

“We are very excited to provide this $1.3 million in grants to help improve the lives and environmental health of National City’s residents,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “EPA is committed to continuing our work with this overburdened yet vibrant community to reduce exposure to pollution and promote greener, healthier development.”

“Unjust land use plans have allowed pollution to burden the health of our communities for too long,” said Diane Takvorian, Executive Director of Environmental Health Coalition. “We applaud EPA’s commitment to environmental justice and will use these funds to create community plans that lead to cleaner, healthier neighborhoods.”

“National City is an older city with an old industrial base that presents a myriad of challenges,” said Mayor Ron Morrison. “EPA has been a long time strong partner in National City’s continuing effort to revitalize our community. We are gratified and excited about having this strong support as well as the depth of EPA’s experience, resources and knowledge both in Brownfields redevelopment and Smart Growth principles to assist with challenging projects such as the Transit Oriented Development for Westside.”

The funds will be distributed as follows:

· $1 million National City Brownfields revolving loan

EPA selected National City for a 2009 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant, including $800,000 for hazardous substances and $200,000 for petroleum. These funds will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which National City will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances.

EPA also awarded a $200,000 Brownfields Assessment grant to National City in 2007 to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments on properties located within the Westside Neighborhood; a similar Assessment Grant for the Harbor District was awarded in 2003. The EPA Brownfields has provided approximately $1.4 million in direct funds and $75,000 in contract support to assist National City in developing green building standards and establishing a viable reuse plan for a site in the Harbor District.

· $300,000 CARE grant to the Environmental Health Coalition

As part of EPA’s CARE program, the agency awarded a two year, $300,000 grant to the Environmental Health Coalition to address port and stationary source emissions in Barrio Logan and National City. The Environmental Health Coalition builds grassroots campaigns that confront the consequences of toxic pollution, discriminatory land use, and unsustainable energy policies. Through leader development, organizing and advocacy, EHC improves the health of children, families, neighborhoods and the natural environment.

· EPA- HUD-DOT to provide resources to Westside Affordable Housing Transit Oriented Development

National City requested assistance in creating and implementing a sustainability plan and financial strategy for a 14-acre brownfield seen as a catalyst for neighborhood change. The sustainability plan will assist National City in leveraging resources to clean up the site, form a link to a nearby light rail station, create an open space, improve the tidal creek, and create a 201-unit affordable housing project.

EPA, with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation, will assist National City in developing a plan to address the former brownfield focusing on green building and energy-efficient redevelopment plans that incorporate stormwater and flood control management.

EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment. For more information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/care/

Region 9’s Brownfields Program works to clean up and redevelop of potentially contaminated lands in the Pacific Southwest region, making it easier for such lands to become vital, functioning parts of their communities. For more information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/brownfields/

Through the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities, EPA is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure ensuring that housing and transportation goals are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change. For more information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership

Click here for more EPA BUZZ

Like

Unlike