What's Your 1Thing?

Fix a Leak! Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks? Being handy around the house doesn’t have to be difficult. Leaky toilet flappers, faucets, and other valves are easy to fix and usually require only a few tools and hardware. March 15 to 21 is "Fix a Leak" week. Learn how at:  http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water_efficiency/howto.html

A small Pennsylvania company has joined close to 2,500 others calling for Washington to focus on a clean energy economy. With its membership in the American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE) coalition, green design and construction firm Envinity joins some well-known corporate names, like Gap and Warner Music.

Envinity president Shaun Pardi says ABCE's call for clean energy and climate legislation is consistent with his company's work.

"Our business is directly involved in that. We've been involved in it for six years now, so we're trying to get out there a little bit now and be a little bit more proactive."

Pardi says he sees a keener energy focus from the customers who hire Envinity to build their home or business.

"One, they're interested in how they can conserve energy in their homes. Two, they want to know how to generate energy in their homes. It's just been this enormous increase in the past two years."

Pardi lists some key elements in clean energy and climate legislation that make sense.

"It creates a level playing field for all of the different energy sources, when we're looking at the environmental impact, the economic impact and the social impact of it all."

ABCE sees clean energy legislation as key for job creation and a revitalized economy, as well as a plus for cleaning up air quality. Current legislation is stalled because of a disagreement over whether limits on carbon pollution would be too expensive for companies and consumers.

More information about the American Businesses for Clean Energy coalition is at www.americanbusinessforcleanenergy.org.

National Groundwater Awareness Week is March 7-13. More than 90 percent of all public drinking water systems rely on ground water to supply the population with drinking water. And millions of Americans rely on ground water from aquifers to supply their private wells. Learn to protect this vital resource. Citizens can a take an active and positive role in protecting their community's ground water supplies. For more information visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website at:  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/groundwaterawareness/index.html

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring an environmental justice video contest that challenges professional or aspiring filmmakers to create videos that capture the faces of the environmental justice movement. The Faces of the Grassroots contest is an opportunity to publicly exhibit creativity with environmental justice stories, and connect with others working to raise awareness of the movement.

“Faces of the Grassroots will help EPA expand the conversation on environmentalism and work for environmental justice,” said Charles Lee, director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. “Participants can make a difference for the historically underrepresented in their community by using motion pictures to show the struggles and triumphs they have endured to advance environmental justice.”

Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or topic. Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a community a healthier and happier place to live.

Awards will be given to the winning submissions in each category. The videos will also be featured on EPA’s Web site and may be used as public service announcements. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 8, 2010. EPA will announce winners in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Below are the categories and prize money:

Public Service Announcements (30 or 60 seconds)

1st Place - $2,500

2nd Place - $1,500

3rd Place - $1,000

Student Winner - $500 (13-18 years old)

Informational Video (3-5 minutes)

1st Place - $2,500

2nd Place - $1,500

3rd Place - $1,000

Student Winner - $500 (13-18 years old)

More information: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html

Local recycling and compost programs in 40 counties across Pennsylvania received a boost as Governor Edward G. Rendell announced $20 million in grants to help support these efforts that employ tens of thousands of people and contribute billions of dollars to the economy.

The 113 recycling development and implementation grants the Governor announced will reimburse municipalities for costs associated with establishing and maintaining recycling and composting programs.

“When someone throws a bottle, can or newspaper in the recycling bin, they’re not only helping to protect our environment and preserve precious resources, they’re supporting an important industry,” said Governor Rendell. “Pennsylvania’s recycling industry is directly responsible for more than 52,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $2 billion; it also generates $20 billion in gross receipts. That’s a substantial impact that’s certainly worthy of the investments we’re making today.

“Beyond that, recycled materials often provide the raw materials for other products. And by using more recycled materials, we also avoid the need to extract additional raw materials from the Earth.”

The Department of Environmental Protection, which administers the program, has already modified its recycling grant programs to operate at reduced funding levels in order to extend financial support to municipal recycling efforts for as long as possible. Even at these reduced levels, however, funding will no longer be available after Dec. 31, 2010, unless the fee is extended.

For more information on recycling grants and Pennsylvania’s Recycling Markets Center, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Recycling.