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

  • 13
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Report illicit discharges and water quality problems in your neighborhood
    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    The EPA defines an illicit discharge as anything discharged into a storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater. Exceptions to this rule include water from fire fighting activities and discharges by facilities under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Unlike wastewater which is treated before release, illicit discharges enter surface waters without any treatment, often containing pathogens, nutrients, surfactants, and toxic pollutants. Learn more about illicit discharges.

    If you spot an illicit discharge in your community, report it by calling the Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources at 301.600.1413. If the situation is an emergency, call 911.

    Check your own property for potential run-off issues. Make sure that all wastewater leaving your property enters either the sanitary sewer or your septic system. Rainwater is the only type of water that should enter your storm drains or run off of your property.

    May 01 Susan Kraus

    Noticed a lawn business was using a leaf blower to send massive amounts of grass clippings into the sewer drains in our neighborhood & requested that he collect the clippings, which they are now doing.

    You must be registered and logged in to leave comments

  • 1
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    Manage mosquitoes using natural methods
    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    There are several preventative measures that you can take to manage mosquitoes and prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. Make sure that there is no standing water in your yard. Turn buckets, kiddie pools, garbage cans, flower pots, old tires, and other containers upside down so that rain water does not collect. Keep garbage and recycling bins covered to prevent the collection of stagnant water and scrub the insides if you suspect mosquito eggs were laid. If you have a bird feeder, inspect it often for larvae. Learn more about backyard mosquito management.

    Bats and certain bird species such as the Baltimore Oriole, bluebirds, chickadees, “gnatcatchers”, catbirds, cardinals, and other songbirds feed predominantly on flying insects. Bats are especially good at eating mosquitoes because they are nocturnal, and mosquitoes are most active in the evening hours. Build a bird house or a bat house to encourage nesting of these helpful creatures.

    You must be registered and logged in to leave comments

  • 1
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    Remove invasive plants from your property
    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    Invasive plant species, also known as non-native, exotic, or alien species, are plants that were introduced to the region from other parts of the world. While some introduced species are not harmful, others cause serious damage to native ecosystems, agriculture, and industries. Harmful invasive plants out-compete native plants for light, space, water, and nutrients, causing many native species to become endangered. And, since native wildlife has evolved to eat native plants, wildlife often cannot feed on invasive plant species. Some invasive plant species of Maryland include the Tree of Heaven, Norway Maple, Japanese Stiltgrass, Mile-a Minute Vine, Purple Loosestrife, and Japanese Honeysuckle. Learn more from our Tips for Green Leaders Native Plants Fact Sheet.

    Invasive plant species can be very difficult to eradicate. The best practices for invasive plant removal vary between manual removal, chemical treatment, and a combination of both depending on the plant, extent of growth, and available means. Click for more information on invasive species from the Maryland Invasive Species Council, the Maryland Cooperative Extension, or the Department of Natural Resources.

    May 01 Susan Kraus

    Some of the invasive plants are actually safe to eat & quite tasty. Do your research!

    Mar 18 Betsy Ehrlich

    This challenge is a huge, and ongoing challenge. Given the scale of the problem, and the level of difficulty, I am surprised and disappointed that checking this action is only worth 1 point. We are losing pollinators at alarming rate - so many that if this trend continues, humans may find the planet uninhabitable. This problem dwarfs climate change! So I recommend more information/links to help people remove invasive species and plant natives. Also, it would be super helpful to have more local sources for native plants that are affordable.

    You must be registered and logged in to leave comments

  • 2
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Reduce your use of deicing chemicals or use an environmentally-friendly alternative
    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    Road salt, or sodium chloride, can be harmful to the environment when it washes off of roads, sidewalks, and driveways into surrounding land and waterways. In order to reduce your use of deicing chemicals, clear as much snow as possible by hand, use only the amount of deicing chemical instructed, or try an environmentally-friendly alternative.

    You must be registered and logged in to leave comments

  • 2
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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 a push reel or electric mower instead of a gas-powered mower, or refrain from mowing sections of your lawn
    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    Gas-powered lawn mowers consume gas, emit pollutants, and generate greenhouse gases. A gas-powered lawn mower emits as many pollutants as eight new cars driving 55 mph for the same period of time. Or put another way, mowing your lawn with a typical 3.5 horsepower gas mower for one hour produces the same amount of harmful emissions as driving a car 340 miles! Americans use 800 million gallons of gas each year just to mow their lawns. Learn more about the environmental impact of lawn mowers.

    The EPA recommends the use of push reel mowers because they do not consume fossil fuels or emit greenhouse gasses. If you do use a power mower, use an electric mower with mulching capabilities to reduce grass clippings.

    The best alternative to using a gas-powered mower is to not mow your lawn at all! Consider replacing all or a section of your lawn with native plants.

    You must be registered and logged in to leave comments