GreenSpot Household eNewsletter

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GreenSpot Household eNewsletter-June 2020

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
                                                                                                      -George Bernard Shaw

Topics in the edition include:

  • A Clean City Begins With US
  • $50 Rebates on rain barrels, native trees or plants
  • Composting discount
  • Lyft adds CoGo Bike Share
  • Get Grassy
  • Energy audit for you
  • GreenSpot New Homeowner's Green Guide
  • Mask=Kindness
  • Welcome new GreenSpot business members
  • Did you know they are a GreenSpot? Civil and Environmental Consultants

A Clean City Begins With US

Keep Columbus Beautiful has introduced “A Clean City Begins With US” and they have launched the Litter Free Lawns campaign! The campaign focuses on personal responsibility while following all the social distancing guidelines set forth by Mayor Ginther and Governor DeWine. Homeowners, tenants, and landlords are encouraged to clean up litter on their lawns, on the sidewalks, and in the street surrounding their property. Individuals can do this safely by wearing a mask, putting on gloves and/or using a litter grabber. Then, bag the litter, tie the bag and place it in a refuse bin in time for the weekly refuse pickup. Take the pledge, post clean lawn photos and get a chance to win prizes!

Logo for Litter Free Lawn

rain barrel with flowers on top

$50 Rebates on rain barrels, native trees or plants

Looking for a rain barrel, native tree, native plant or compost bin? GreenSpot Community Backyards has you covered! Columbus GreenSpot, Public Utilities, and Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District have teamed up to offer up to a $50 rebate on one of those items for eligible residents. Rebates are limited, so take an online quiz and secure your rebate today!


The Compost Exchange logo

Composting discount

GreenSpot and The Compost Exchange are teaming up to give you a composting discount! The Compost Exchange makes it easy with their two composting services: Curbside (must be within their territory), they come to you OR Drop Off Booths– you come to them. The Curbside is 4 month subscription (plus one free month for being a GreenSpot member!); the Drop Off is 6 month subscription (plus one free month for being a GreenSpot member!). Subscriptions are renewed automatically for both services unless you opt out. Easy, Convenient, Affordable!

To use this discount is easy. Simply provide the code “FREE45” when signing up. Read more.


Women putting a CoGo bike back on the rack

Lyft adds CoGo Bike Share

CoGo bike share has been fully integrated into the Lyft app allowing users to seamlessly access bikes with a few taps. Don’t worry members, your CoGo keys still work! They’ve also added a new Single Trip option. Now anyone can easily take a trip up to 30 minutes for only $2. Single trips are great for quick errands or commutes on their classic bikes.

In response to Covid19 the CoGo team is making sure that high contact surfaces on bikes are disinfected each time they arrive in the depot and when the team visits each station. They are following CDC guidelines by wearing face masks and gloves when handling bikes, and encourage riders to follow these tips for their own health and safety as well: https://www.cogobikeshare.com/blog/covid19


Get Grassy logo and ruler in grass

Get Grassy

Sharpen those mower blades with a discount when you take the Get Grassy lawn care pledge. Dull blades chew, tear, and rip grass, which stresses the plant. Torn grass blades die back and are more likely to succumb to disease and pests. And you can save on fuel costs by using efficient, sharp mower blades. Sharpen at least once a year, and check out reel mowers if you’ve got a small yard. Read more.


Woman talking with man about energy audits

Energy audit for you

Small steps can have a large impact on energy, personal health and comfort, and reducing environmental footprint.

Sustainable Steps is part of the Sustainable Columbus initiative and focuses on promoting small steps residents can take to improve their lives, neighborhoods, and live more sustainably.

The first initiative is to help residents take simple steps to lower their home energy use and save money! One way to do this is to take an energy audit. Sign up here. The community goal is 30,000 home energy audits by the end of 2020. Help reach the community goal and learn how to make your home more energy efficient in the process.


New home owner green guide cover with cartoonish sun in the background and homes in the foreground

New Homeowner Green Guide

Whether buying your first house or tenth, GreenSpot's New Homeowner Green Guide is meant to help you make your home a little more sustainable. Check out ways to conserve and protect water, conserve energy, reduce waste, and green your transportation. Whether you are new to going green or an old pro, this guide has something for everyone! By adopting sustainable practices you are saving money, improving our environment, and setting an example for your neighbors. Remember, it only takes one to inspire many. Read more.


cartoon graphic of people in masks

Mask=Kindness

We encourage all residents to wear cloth face coverings when out in public to slow the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings are meant to protect you and especially others you come into contact with. For more information on face coverings, go here #MaskUpCbus


GreenSpot logo

Welcome new GreenSpot Business members

A new section in the GreenSpot Business eNewsletter is welcoming businesses that joined since the last eNewsletter. We welcome the following organizations who have made the pledge to a more sustainable way of doing business.
• Sysetems 28 inc.
• Environmental Design Group
• Nurtur Brewery District
• Scioto Energy
• Conscious Columbus
• Columbus Landmarks


Civil and Environmental Consultants logo

Did you know they are a GreenSpot? Civil and Environmental Consultants

In 1989, four engineers and scientists came together with a singular vision to have a people-first company, one that promotes a culture where clients and employees enjoy working together, and is responsive to client needs with integrated services and high-quality work for projects both complex and routine. Thirty years later, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) is 1,050 team members and 24 offices nationwide strong. CEC is consistently ranked on Engineering News-Record’s annual lists of the Top Design Firms and Top Environmental Firms.

Across all offices, CEC has Green Teams that deliver a green message to promote sustainable actions in daily lives of their employees. The mission is to promote and advance sustainability at CEC by acting as a catalyst for advanced developments, innovative solutions, and information exchange. CEC's Green Team's goal is to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In the Worthington office, CEC performed a Sustainability Challenge, in which sixteen (16) people participated in an effort to reduce 2000 pounds of CO2 emissions, 147 pounds of waste, and 1700 gallons of water. This effort was to help people to start a record of their own sustainability actions and/or see how they can improve on reducing their ecological footprint at home by taking some simple, sustainable actions. Other actions they’ve taken as an office include buying office and other supplies made from recycled material, donate unwanted furniture, purchase supplies in bulk, installed programmable thermostats, installed motion sensors, installed a bike rack, and much more. In early 2020, CEC graduated from the GreenSpot Sustainable Business Course.

Last year CEC’s Mr. Dustin Doherty helped coordinate an Engineering Summit at the Columbus Zoo, with the title “Conserve what our Children Deserve.” The event was attended by 60+ people in the industry. CEC is proud of its green successes and proud to be a GreenSpot member. For more information about CEC please contact Dustin Doherty, ddoherty@cecinc.com


GreenSpot is a program of the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities. Stay connected through our website and social media.

 www.ColumbusGreenSpot.org

https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusGreenSpot/

@GreenSpotCbus