Use this page to find actions that your household has completed or plans to complete. Browse the categories on the left to find actions for the Power Saver, Green Leader, or Renewable Star Challenge.
Once you have signed in, you can click Add to My Challenge to add an action to your To Do List, Already Completed to mark an action as complete, or Not Applicable if the action does not apply to you.
Once signed in, you can rate each of the actions you have completed.
The highest rated action appear under the Most Popular Actions category.
ACTIONS
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
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Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.
A key denotes a renter-friendly action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Fix leaks and drips. Keep water pipes, faucets, and toilet gasket seals in good conditionSmall leaks in water pipes throughout your home can often go undetected, while a dripping faucet or moisture around the base of a toilet may be noticed but ignored. While the leaks may appear minor, they can waste a lot of water. The average household wastes 10,000 gallons of water per year due to leaks. If you find a leak, fix it right away. Pay attention for the sound of dripping or for your toilet running longer than normal. You can easily check your home for leaks by shutting off all water usage in your home for an hour then checking to see if your water meter moves. Check out these tips on fixing leaks.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
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Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Reduce toilet water use. Use a high-efficiency/dual flush toilet, composting toilet, or low-flow toilet conversion kitToilets use more water than any other device in your home – about 30% of all your indoor water consumption. When replacing a toilet, consider purchasing a 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) toilet, high-efficiency toilet (HET) that uses 1.28 gpf, or a dual flush toilet. Dual-flush toilets allow for 2 options when flushing: half-tank or full 1.6 gallon flush. Upgrading to a WaterSense labeled toilet can save 4,000 gallons per year.
For a lower cost, try installing a dual flush conversion kit, “tank bank,” “toilet dam,” “float booster,” or even a do-it-yourself sealed bottle of pebbles or sand in your toilet tank. To learn more, watch this toilet tank bank product review video.
Alternatives to flushing toilets which avoid the use of water completely include composting toilets and dry toilets. Learn more about flushing toilet alternatives, or check out this article about a human waste composting project.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
1
Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.
A key denotes a renter-friendly action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Use a watering can or a shut-off nozzle on your hosesDuring just 10 minutes of washing a car or watering plants, a standard hose uses about 100 gallons. Using an automatic shutoff nozzle on your garden hose or filling up a watering can saves the water that would otherwise be wasted when the hose is not actually in use or aimed at your desired target.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
1
Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.
A key denotes a renter-friendly action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Use a broom, rather than a hose or leaf blower, to clean sidewalks, driveways, patios, and other impermeable surfacesRunning a standard hose for just 10 minutes uses 100 gallons of water. Make sure to pick up any swept-up waste and put it in a trash can or compost pile, not the gutter or storm drain. Sweeping the waste into the gutter only adds to the pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Remember, “Only rain down the drain!”
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
1
Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Use mulch in gardens and landscapingThe use of mulch materials, such as chipped wood, straw, and leaves, in gardens and landscaping helps to conserve water by absorbing and storing moisture for plants. It also insulates the ground from hot temperatures during summer months, decreasing the evaporation rate of water. In cool temperatures, the mulch can help keep plants warm; this can be especially useful for protecting seedlings in the spring.
You can purchase high quality mulch and compost produced through Frederick County’s yard waste recycling program by visiting the 9031 Reichs Ford Road facility. You can also get lower-quality single-ground mulch at no-charge.
Oct 16 Karen Russell
Natural landscaping avoids the use of compost. Instead, choose low growing native plants that spread as ground covers.
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Jul 12 DAWN HAWES
upstairs sink faucet
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