WaterSense

Watersense is an EPA partnership program.

Save water and protect the environment by choosing WaterSense labeled products in your home and business and taking simple steps to save water each day.
The WaterSense webpage has handy tools so that you may calculate your water savings,save water, energy, money and find rebates locally!!

For more information please visit the WaterSense website today!!

EPA and New York Come to Agreement on Chesapeake

article by Rachel Ward

EPA v. NYS

New York fought the law, and New York won. The state was in a stand-off with the federal EPA over a clean-up plan for the Chesapeake watershed. On Wednesday the EPA announced that it's come to an agreement with the state, including compromises on pollution limits that were opposed by farmers, waste companies and the state itself. The Press & Sun-Bulletin reports:

To view these reports please visit the Innovation Trail

EPA releases new guidelines on CFL clean up in homes

Dec. 29 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released new guidelines on how to deal with mercury-containing compact fluorescent light bulbs that break in the home.

CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed in the glass tubing. When broken, some of the mercury is released as mercury vapor. The EPA said the bulb will continue to leak mercury vapor until it is cleaned up and removed from the home.

To minimize exposure, the EPA released new guidelines on dealing with a broken bulb.

First, the EPA recommends homeowners clear the room of people and pets, and then open a window or door to the outdoors for 10 minutes. Central heating and cooling systems should be turned off as well.

Next, all broken glass and visible powder from the bulb should be placed in a sealable container, along with anything used to clean up the broken bulb. The container should then be placed in an outdoor trash container or covered area until the materials can be disposed of properly.

For several hours after the breakage, continue to air out the room and leave HVAC systems off.

For detailed information on proper CFL disposal and for printable brochures, click here.

Happy 40th, EPA

Taken from Resource Recycling Electronic Newsletter

On Dec. 2, 1970 President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency with the stroke of a pen. To celebrate its birthday, Green for All, a social justice and environmental organization, has launched thankyouepa.com. The website touts the accomplishments of the agency, and allows visitors to share them with others through social media.
The EPA itself also launched a website highlighting its 40 years, and has announced that it has commissioned a National Research Council study that will help the agency focus more on sustainability, rather than just reducing pollution. Called the "Green Book", the report is aimed at assisting the EPA in finding links among its various existing functions, while shifting its focus toward a sustainable use of resources and its connection to human health.

Permeable Parking Lot Project

Courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Site

Permeable Parking Lot Project

The US EPA's Permeable Parking Lot project was completed in October 2009 at the EPA Edison Research Facility in Edison, NJ.

The permeable parking lot is made of 3 different surfaces that capture rain and collect the runoff in a basin beneath the parking lot.

The parking lot helps the environment because it reduces storm water volume flowing to receiving waters, improves water quality by removing solids and other environmental contaminants, and helps to reduce urban heat island effects that occur with conventional parking lots. As part of on going research, all of these features will be monitored over time.

National Radon Action Month

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County is celebrating National Radon Action Month by offering free radon test kits on a first come first served basis to Schuyler residents in January. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium. Radon is odorless, colorless and can only be detected with special tests like the ones being offered by Cooperative Extension. Next to smoking, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US and should not be ignored.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies have identified Schuyler County as an area with recorded high radon levels and suggest homeowners test for radon. If your test results show radon levels higher than 4 picocuries per 1 liter (pci/L) of air it is suggested that you look at mitigation. Mitigation techniques can cost between $800- $2,500 depending on your home with the most effective consisting of piping and fans. When looking for a contractor it is important that they are trained in radon mitigation because if done improperly, it could actually increase the amount of radon in your home.

To pick up your free test kit, stop by Cooperative Extension located in the Human Services Complex, 323 Owego Street, Montour Falls. For more information call Jenna Hicks, Environmental Science Educator at 535-7161.

WaterSense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009



EPA Releases Final Specification for WaterSense New Homes

This will help homeowners increase water efficiency and save on their
utility bills

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its
final WaterSense single-family new homes specification today, creating
the first national, voluntary, water-efficiency specification for an
entire new home.

"Home builders can now partner with EPA and earn the WaterSense label
for their newly built homes, helping to create livable communities and
quality homes that are easy to maintain," said Peter S. Silva, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Water. "These homes will save
homeowners as much as $200 a year on utility bills compared to their
current homes."

EPA worked with hundreds of stakeholders over the past three years to
develop this specification, which was designed to complement existing
green building programs. WaterSense labeled new homes, which will be 20
percent more efficient than typical new homes, must be independently
inspected and certified by an EPA licensed certification provider to
meet the WaterSense criteria for water efficiency and performance.

The new homes will feature WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, Energy
Star qualified appliances (if installed), water-efficient landscaping,
and hot water delivery systems that deliver hot water faster, so
homeowners don't waste water-or energy-waiting at the tap.

By investing in WaterSense labeled homes, American home buyers can
reduce their water usage by more than 10,000 gallons per year-enough to
fill a backyard swimming pool-and save enough energy annually to power a
television for four years.

If the approximately 1.27 million new homes built in the United States
each year were WaterSense labeled, it would save more than 12 billion
gallons of water.

With this announcement, EPA is inviting home builders to join the
WaterSense program and commit to building water-efficient new homes.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the
future of our nation's water supply by offering people simple ways to
use less water.

More information on WaterSense labeled new homes:
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/spaces/new_homes.html

To see a video message about the WaterSense new homes specification:
http://www.epa.gov/multimedia/playercontents/video/watersense/index.html