Environmental Information

Green Tips

1. Consider purchasing a rain barrel: One ¼ inch of rain is enough to fill a 55 gallon drum (approximately 1000 square feet of roof space). Rain barrels reduce demand on the municipal water supply. They reduce storm drain runoff, which at a minimum, reduces the energy needed to treat storm and waste water.
2. Statistics vary but typically a gas powered lawn mower emits as much pollution per hour as 40 cars.
3. Yard waste, specifically grass clippings, make-up 20% of municipal solid waste collected and most of it ends up in our landfills. Mulching or composting this waste is a must.
4. Use household newspaper, cardboard and office paper before using mulch. Place up to 10 sheets overlapping then water it down. No need to cut grass first. Lay mulch over the paper barrier and you will enjoy a weed free prepped surface good for planting and landscaping.
5. Reduce your lawn size. The benefits of lawn reduction:
   • Save time on mowing using less fuel and emitting less pollution
   • By adding native, drought resistant plants you will promote a habitat for wildlife
   • You will conserve water

Plastic Bags

The FEIC encourages all Ferndale residents to stop using single use plastic bags for shopping. Instead bring along a canvas bag for your purchases.

The EPA estimates that each year 500billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used and less than 1% are recycled. When plastic bags are thrown away, as they break down in the land fill, they release toxic poisons that contaminate our soil and waterways. This harms the fish, birds and animals in our local lakes, streams and rivers.
Not only that, but who is tired of seeing plastic bags fly all over the place??

Many countries and American cities have already banned these bags, or are in the process of doing so. Ann Arbor is working on being the first city in Michigan to ban plastic bags. At this time, Ferndale does not have a plastic bag-ban, so it is our civic duty as citizens to take the initiative to begin using cloth or canvas bags and to encourage our local leaders to take a stand on this issue.

Benefits of biking to work instead of driving a car:

1. Save money- a bike is cheaper than a car: no car payment, no insurance; and at $4 a gallon, you’ll save a bundle every month just in gas!
2. Better for your health- Commuting by bike reduces pollution that causes asthma and bronchitis. A commuting cyclist is also less exposed to air pollution than a commuting motorist. Also, cycling exercises the heart better than walking without the pounding of jogging.
3. Better for the environment- it helps reduce your carbon footprint and helps others as much as it helps you! Bicycling adds NO emissions to the environment.
4. It’s Fun!- Join the Sierra Club August 9th at the annual Green Cruise where you can Join the Parade • Wear Green • Dress Up in Costumes • Decorate Your Bike • Be Creative! The Sierra Club organizes the Green Cruise to celebrate green forms of transportation, and provide information on what you can do to be greener.
   
    

Stormwater Protection Tip

The water that enter your storm drain flows untreated to your nearby lakes, rivers and streams carrying with it oil and chemicals from roads, fertilizers and pet waste from your lawn and a whole variety of other debris and contaminants.

Here are a few of tips to help protect our lakes, rivers and streams:

1. Never dump motor oil, chemicals, pet waste, dirty or soapy water or anything else down a storm drain.
2. Promptly dispose of your pet's waste in the trash or down the toilet where it will be properly treated.
3. Sweep excess fertilizer, grass clippings and dirt back onto your lawn.
4. Choose a fertilizer with low or no phosphorous and that is a slow release fertilizer.
5. Water wisely.　 Your lawn needs about an inch of water a week.　 Water your lawn in the early morning or evening.
6. Adjust your sprinklers to water only your lawn and plants, NOT your driveway, sidewalk, or street.

For more information visit: http://www.semcog.org/OursToProtect.aspx

Healthy Yard Tip

• Find out what your yard really needs by testing your soil.  For $9 you can collect a soil sample and send it to your local MSU Extension office and they will let you know what nutrients your soil is lacking, for more information, visit the MSU Extension Soil Pages for Consumers.

• If you are going to use a fertilizer, make sure that it is organic and that it doesn't contain phosphorous. Phosphorous can wash off your yard and create harmful algae blooms on nearby lakes, rivers and streams.  Phosphorous free lawn fertilizers can be purchased locally at the Ace Hardware on W. 9 Mile.

• Plant native plants.  Native plants are beautiful, low maintenance and require very little watering.  For information on what plants are native to the area and where you can purchase them, check out the Wildflower Association of Michigan's website.:

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Tip

DTE's Green Currents Renewable Energy Option

The objectives of the program are to:

• Promote independence from fossil fuels.　
• Promote human health and sustainability by reducing air pollution.
• Create jobs through a local energy economy.

Customers can select a renewable energy option that best fits their budget.　
　
For $2.50 a month in addition to normal charges, residential customers can purchase a 100 kilowatt hour block of renewable energy that's equal to 15-20 percent of a typical home's monthly electric usage.　 You can purchase up to 10 blocks per month.
　
Residential customers can also choose to match 100 percent of their home's electricity consumption with renewable resources for an additional cost of 2 cents per kilowatt hour, $10 to $15 per month for a typical household.　 The green currents portion of my bill has ranged from $6-8 per month.
　
Business customers can purchase 1,000 kilowatt hour blocks of green energy for $20 a month -- or match all of their electricity usage with renewable power for an additional cost of two cents per kilowatt hour.
　
Interested parties can get more information or enroll at www.greencurrents.com or (866) 207-6955
　
Comments are welcomed.

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The City of Ferndale, Michigan
300 East Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, Michigan  48220
(248) 546-2525