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 Preserve foods by freezing, drying, or canningBy freezing, drying, or canning home-grown or local foods during growing seasons, you can reduce your consumption of non-local produce in the winter. Learn more about do-it-yourself food preservation.
Despite worldwide food shortages, 40% of all food produced in the U.S. ends up in the trash. The average American wastes 253 lbs of food each year! Preserving your food is a great way to reduce your household’s food waste. To learn more about food waste, check out these articles: 253 Pounds, Why Massive Food Waste is a Cause for Global Concern, The Impact of Food Waste on Climate Change.
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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. 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 Grow at least 15% of your own produce and/or raise your own animals for foodGrowing your own food is just about as local as food production can get. Not only does it cut down on the fossil fuel consumption and synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use associated with industrial agriculture and food transportation, it also provides you with fresher food, exercise, and a closer connection to the land. Learn more about food gardening from the National Gardening Association.
Cultivating a perennial polyculture garden is especially beneficial for the environment. Perennial polyculture gardens include a variety of plants that last from year to year and do not need to be replanted. While perennial polyculture requires a larger initial investment of time and money, it pays off with less required labor and expense in subsequent years. It can also increase plant diversity, increase disease and pest resistance in plants, sequester more CO2, filter more rain water, fix more nitrogen, prevent erosion, and build soil. Try growing some edible Maryland natives, such as pawpaw and blueberries, in your garden. For more information, watch this perennial polyculture guidelines video or model perennial polyculture garden video.
Depending on where you live in Frederick County, you may be able to raise your own chickens, guinea fowl, ducks, goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, or cows. You can reap the nutritional benefits of naturally-produced animal products and reduce environmental impacts by raising them yourself. In addition to food, animals can provide pest management, grass trimming, wool, hides, furs, and natural fertilizer. To learn more, check out these resources on: raising backyard lifestock, comparing backyard livestock types, backyard chickens, and raising goats.
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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 Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shavingYou can save up to eight gallons per day by taking this action. That’s a potential savings of almost 3,000 gallons per year!
Learn about other ways to save at the tap.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
2
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 Reduce your shower time by 5 minutesWhen showering with a 4.5 gallon per minute showerhead, you use 45 gallons of water every ten minutes. To save water, shorten your showers or turn off the water when you’re lathering up, shaving, or washing your hair. Be conscious of the time you take in the shower by using a shower clock, and try to reduce your shower by 10-20%. Click to calculate how much water and energy you use in the shower.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
5
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 Pick up litter in your neighborhoodNot only is litter unpleasant to the eye, it also degrades water quality and endangers wildlife. Recycle the materials you pick up when possible, and ask your family, friends, and neighbors not to litter.
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