GreenBowie News May 2021
"May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel most alive."
- Fennel Hudson
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GreenBowie Spotlight
Cicadas:
Capital Area Solar Co-Op:
Thinking of going solar? Join the Capital Area Solar Co-Op! This is a collaborative effort for jurisdictions in our region to bring the power of solar to anyone interested. The opportunity runs through the end of August 2021.
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S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
- Watch the first two installments of our Sustainability Webinar series here. The first episode covered our waste stream, recycling, and plastics production. The second covered ways to have a healthy yard for ALL, including birds and bees. Check back for more upcoming episodes on electric vehicles, recycling 101, trees, and more.
- Did you know the City has pledged to aim for 50% reductions of emissions by 2030? That's a hefty goal that will take work from all of us to meet. View the Climate Action Plan and see what actions you can take to make every day Earth Day.
- Brand new Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure is here! Check out the brand new Public Chargers at Kenhill Center and City Hall. Pay via credit card or app.
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- Only a few more days to take advantage of the Virtual Plant Sale!
- We have officially launched our City of Bowie Adopt-A-Road program. This program was made possible through a Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant. Please visit the webpage to learn more if you are interested in adopting a road.
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Food Waste & Composting
- Food Waste Program: Do you live in Belair Town II, Victoria Heights, Idlewild, Yorktown, Overbrook, Saddlebrook or Saddlebrook West neighborhoods? If yes, you are eligible for the food waste program! Learn more about this fun and FREE program at www.cityofbowie.org/foodwaste.
- Backyard Compost Bins: an easy and efficient way to compost in your own backyard. Bins are $20 each to City residents and are available for sale at City Hall. Learn more at https://www.cityofbowie.org/1162/20-Backyard-Compost-Bins
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Excess food waste breaking down in landfills creates a lot of gases. Methane to be exact. And methane is one of the greenhouse gases that get caught in our atmosphere, trap sunlight and heat, and contribute to climate change. Because Landfills are a large emitter of methane, we encourage composting to the full extent possible for you/your family.
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Green Bowie Biz
There are now 10 certified Green Bowie Businesses
 Are you a business looking for ways to go green? Know a business that is green and should be certified? Need assistance with furthering your goals of sustainability? You've come to the right place! You can read about all Green Bowie Businesses at www.cityofbowie.org/greenbowiebiz.
The Green Bowie Business program is modeled after the MD Green Registry program. Admission into the state program automatically enrolls you into the City program and helps you access resources from both. Learn about the MD Green Registry here.
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Recipe of the Month
Where we give you a plant-based recipe to help your health and the environment!
Memorial Day Pasta Salad
You will need:
1 box bow tie OR penne OR tri-color rotini noodles (rotini is classic)
1 head of broccoli
1 red bell pepper (or color of choice if using from your garden!)
15-20 cherry tomatoes
½ of an onion of choice
Salt and pepper
Bottle of Italian dressing
Optional: olives, red pepper flakes, banana peppers, jalapeno
Directions:
Cook pasta according to box, drain and set aside to cool
Dice the broccoli, red bell pepper and onion
Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, lengthwise
Add the veggies to the pasta in a large mixing bowl
Add in the dressing until each noodle is lightly coated
Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste
Add in optional items if you like those flavors
Homemade dressing:
½ cup olive oil
½ cup white vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
¾ TSP of each- onion powder, garlic powder, salt, oregano
¼ TSP pepper
1-2 TBSP of Dijon mustard
Optional: 1 TBSP maple syrup
Whisk well in a bowl or mason jar and pour over noodles and veggies
Extra points if you serve it in a cute bowl. Refrigerate and serve chilled. Consume within 4 days.
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Interested in Becoming a Volunteer?
The next Green Team Executive Committee virtual meeting is
May 17 2021.
Please visit www.cityofbowie.org to check the City calendar and find the meeting link, as all City Committee meetings are being conducted via Microsoft Teams right now.
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Other Incentives
Interested in Community Solar?
Having solar panels on your home is not the only option for obtaining residential solar! By subscribing to a Maryland based community solar farm a customer is allotted a specified percentage of the entire farm’s electricity output each month, which the customer agrees to purchase from the supplier at a price that is typically 5%-25% below the rate the utility charges. That percentage of the overall output is then converted into a dollar amount which is calculated at the current rate that the utility charges their residential customers. That dollar amount is then reflected on the customer’s utility bill in the form of a credit.
Links to companies with community solar projects under development in Maryland are below:
Arcadia Power
CleanChoice Energy
Groundswell
Neighborhood Sun
Solar United Neighbors of Maryland (SUN MD)
Municipal Collaboration for Home Weatherization Upgrades:
Regular Furnace Maintenance Can Save You Hundreds: Save More With a Frunace Tune-up!
by Fiona Ryan- Energy Efficiency Marketing Specialist
Just like your car needs regular maintenance, so does your heating and air conditioning system. Washington Gas now offers Maryland customers an $85 furnace tune-up service rebate to help your heating system run more efficiently and last longer. There are many reasons why scheduling regular maintenance on your heating system is beneficial:
- It benefits your entire HVAC system.
- It extends the life of your equipment.
- It reduces the risk of expensive repairs.
- It protects your health with better indoor air quality.
Consider checking the health of your furnace this spring to ensure you are ahead of any necessary fixes or upgrades by the fall. Ask your contractor if you can combine this offer with your regular spring air conditioning service to save time and money.
To get started on your path to energy savings, find a participating EmPOWER contractor through our find a contractor tool.
Learn more about how you can save even more money with our other ENERGY STAR certified water heating, home heating and gas dryer rebates available to Maryland Washington Gas residential customers.
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