Guest Column by Beth and Todd Harrison: A Greener Rockville Starts at Home — Eight Steps to a More Environmentally Responsible Home in 2008 (Pt.1)

Part One of a three-part series by >Rockville Central friends Beth and Todd Harrison:

At the start of each new year, many of us make resolutions — promises about changes that we will make in the coming year. This year, consider committing yourself and your family to a greener Rockville by making a greener home one of your New Year’s resolutions. You can make simple changes in your day-to-day living that will save energy (and money) and reduce your impact on the environment. In this series of three articles, we will share eight simple steps you and your family can take to create a more environmentally responsible home in 2008.

This series will not cover the more obvious things, like driving a more fuel efficient car and recycling, but rather will focus on the little things we can do in and around the house that collectively can make a big difference. We start with two steps related to the outdoors: composting kitchen and yard waste and collecting rain water.

Step #1: Compost Kitchen and Yard Waste

The EPA reports that yard trimmings and food scraps account for 23 percent of all waste generated in the U.S. According to Recycling Revolution, the average American throws out 1,200 pounds of this type of organic waste each year. One simple step for creating a greener home is to compost this waste.

You may already be aware that the City of Rockville collects labeled containers of yard waste from the curbside with our weekly trash collection (click here for details). With a little bit of effort, you can start your own compost pile in your backyard. This provides an easy way to compost kitchen waste and create a natural source of rich, organic matter for your yard or garden. There are many products available that you can purchase to build a compost pile, but we prefer the simple and free option offered by Montgomery County (click here for details). We got two of these free compost bins so we can handle more compost at once.

Something that has made composting kitchen waste easier for us has been to keep a plastic container (with a lid) on top of the refrigerator. We collect anything that does not have animal or dairy products: vegetable scraps, coffee and tea grounds, and even eggshells. Every few days, we empty the indoor container into the compost pile outside. Here is a link to a great article on composting that will help you get started (click here).

Step #2: Collect Rain Water

Stormwater management is a growing issue for Rockville (“Council Approves Stormwater Management Fee”). Stormwater runoff washes pollution into our creeks and streams, but you can help reduce water runoff by installing a rain barrel or creating a rain garden.

There are many different types of rain barrels available on the market. We purchased a sixty-gallon rain barrel that connects to a gutter downspout (like this). It has a spigot that can connect to a water hose. A light rainfall (1/4” or less) is more than enough to fill our rain barrel. During drought periods, watering our garden without using up precious drinking water is a real benefit. Rain gardens also help reduce stormwater runoff but require a bit more work and space. For more information on how to build your own rain barrel or how to create a rain garden, go here.

Next week we will continue the series with additional steps for making a more environmentally responsible home in 2008. If you have any questions or if you want to add additional suggestions from your own experience, please post them in the comments section of this article and we will do our best to follow up.

Got an idea for a Guest Column? Drop us a line and let us know! You can be part of Rockville Central’s growing roster of contributors.

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