Greener Wilmington workbook

The city of Wilmington continues to work on ways to an over all goal of reducing the city’s carbon footprint.  Mayor James Baker went to the home of Andrew and Maura Edmonds to promote a new “Green City Workbook”. 

The Edmonds’ Delaware Avenue home is filled with solar panels, a rain collection system, and other energy saving devices.

 

The book gives residents a “self-assesment process” to figure out ways to measure their own household’s level of environmental sustainability and look for ways of improvement.  There is checklist under categories such as food, energy,  and water conservation.  Residents following the checklist earn points for the eco-friendly actions they perform.  Households reaching the green (75 points) or gold (150 points) levels will receive a frameable certificate from the Mayor as well as recognition on the city’s Web site.

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“It really is just choosing things that you think is going to be better for your livelihood and also your energy conservation. Things that can make your lawns better because everyone knows once you don’t get enough water on your grass it turns brown, but the minute you sprinkle water on it it gets green very very quickly”, said  the Mayor.

Two years ago Mayor Baker promised Wilmington could reduce its green house gases by 20% in 2020.  Traffic lights have been converted to the more energy efficient LED lights.  Low flush toilets have been installed in the city county building.  The city has even made an effort to plant more trees.

Wilmington was among the first cities in the U.S. to join the climate registry.  That’s a non-profit agency that reports greenhouse gasses and emissions for everyone to see.

The Edmonds have lived in their home for 12 years.  They’ve spent the last 2-5 years working on ways to make things greener.  The Mayor picked their home to showcase as a residential model.

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