April 2014

The Green Matters e-newsletter is designed to give you a quick glimpse of important sustainability initiatives happening around the metro Atlanta region and beyond. Whether it's the latest research, new educational offerings, environmental stewardship efforts, or potential funding opportunities, this e-newsletter will help you stay abreast of what's happening in this important subject area.

Redeveloping Abandoned Gas Stations and Other Brownfields: Cleanups Benefit Communities

Brownfield /’broun,feld/ n: abandoned, idled or underused industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.

The empty gas station on the corner. The shuttered restaurant with a cracked parking lot. The abandoned factory or foundry on the edge of town.

These examples of brownfields are ubiquitous in communities across the country – and they are an increasingly visible concern. In fact, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores, of the nearly 200,000 gas stations that existed nationwide in 1991, more than 50,000 are now closed.
So how should communities address brownfields – sustainably and on a budget?

Continue reading to discover the answer…

Measure #60 – Government Facility at
a Brownfield

The Green Communities certification program recognizes communities that own and operate a facility on a brownfield site that has been remediated by the local government.

DeKalb County, a certified Green Community at the Bronze level, has located facilities at several remediated brownfield sites.The county cleaned up $100,000 worth of ash at a former incinerator site and built Sanitation Division offices (pictured above) and a LEED-certified solid waste transfer station on the site. Most recently, the county has begun cleaning up a former 5-acre brownfield site along Briarcliff Road in order to turn it into much-needed neighborhood park space. The county will also build its North DeKalb Senior Community Center on a remediated brownfield as soon as the cleanup is complete.

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day! – Green Tips for Daily Living

Reduce your carbon footprint – Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year.
Shower power – A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, but taking a five-minute shower saves water by using 10 to 25 gallons.
Make your home an Energy Star – When you do home maintenance, also do a home energy audit to find out how you can save money by making your home more energy efficient.
eCycle it – Take your old computer, DVD player, or other electronics to an electronics recycling center. Reusing and recycling materials like copper, gold, and others saves natural resources and reduces mining and processing.
Travel green – Look for hotels that encourage guests to use less water or energy.

Check out more tips from the EPA