By Leslie Madsen, MNI Board Member
Maybe you have heard of ‘Green Teams’ canvasing neighborhoods in Denver as part of Mayor Hickenlooper’s ‘Greenprint Denver Action Agenda.’ Greenprint Denver provides training and informational bags for interested volunteers and then sets them loose in targeted areas to knock on doors and talk to residents about energy audits, recycling, and if they would they like a free porch CFL light installed on the spot!
If you haven’t received a visit from a Green Team volunteer, there are still actions you can take to reduce household waste and save on energy bills.
•Interested in less junk mail? You can stop junk mail from being sent to your address by emailing michael.barney@denvergov.org and he will send a packet of post cards to you that you can mail to companies in order to get off those massive mailing lists.
• Take a composting class: Backyard ‘Learn to Compost’ classes are free and held at the Denver Backyard Composting Demonstration Site located at the Gove Community Garden (13th Avenue and Colorado Blvd). You need to register at least a week in advance and can register online here.
• Grasscycle, don’t bag: by leaving grass clippings on your lawn when mowing you can recycle grass clippings and provide your lawn with the valuable nutrients and water that it needs.
• Low-cost energy audits from Xcel: three levels of energy audits ranging from $60-$120 are available to determine leakage points, etc. and recommended solutions to make your home more energy efficient. Call Xcel Energy at 1.800.895.4999 for more information.
For more information about Greenprint Denver and what the city is doing to make our communities more sustainable, visit the website www.greenprintdenver.org. If you are fortunate enough to receive a visit by a Green Team volunteer, be sure to open your door and thank them for distributing great information about energy savings! You will also get a reusable bag for groceries, a great way to break that plastic habit!
