We can all contribute to environmental protection.  From turning the lights off when you leave a room at home or turning the lights off at the office at night and on the weekends (What an enormous waste of energy!).   Also, we can all reduce our water consumption and waste at home and the office.

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EPA Recognizes Nation’s First WaterSense Labeled Homes

Water efficiency program aims to help homebuyers save money on utility bills while cutting their water and energy use 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first WaterSense labeled homes in the country. WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by EPA that seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water.

The program is helping homebuyers cut their water and energy use while at the same time saving money on utility bills. Four WaterSense labeled new homes have been built by KB Home in Roseville, California, and will help families save an average of 10,000 gallons of water and at least $100 on utility costs each year. 

“To meet the environmental and economic needs of homes and communities, it’s important that we’re doing everything we can to conserve water and energy and shrink costs for American consumers,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “The construction of the first WaterSense labeled homes, and the plans to build more, mark the beginning of an innovative approach that gives homeowners the chance to cut their water and energy bills and protect a vital environmental resource.” 

Since signing on as the first national builder to partner with WaterSense, KB Home has agreed to build three communities of homes that will earn the WaterSense label, which will be the first in the nation to meet WaterSense criteria for newly built homes. Each house includes WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, an efficient hot water delivery system, water-efficient landscape design, and other water and energy-efficient features. 

Each WaterSense labeled new home is independently inspected and certified to ensure EPA’s criteria are met for both water efficiency and performance. A WaterSense labeled new home is built to use about 20 percent less water than a typical new home. 

EPA estimates that if the approximately 500,000 new homes built last year had met WaterSense criteria, the homes would save Americans 5 billion gallons of water and more than $50 million in utility bills annually. 

More information on WaterSense: 
http://www.epa.gov/watersense

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Bio-Dry is not only committed to green solutions for concrete and asphalt cleaning, but also helping you stay environmentally aware in your everyday life.  

 The 2011 Annual Fuel Economy Guide is now available.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide, providing consumers with information about estimated mileage and fuel costs for model year 2011 vehicles. Choosing a more fuel efficient vehicle in a class will save consumers money and reduce carbon pollution.    

"Increasing fuel efficiency is important for our environment, our economy and our health - and it helps families save money at the pump," EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. "This guide will help consumers make the right choice for the environment and for their wallets when buying a car."

"This year's Fuel Economy Guide will allow consumers to choose fuel efficient vehicles that will save them money at the pump, while helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and limiting carbon pollution," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Fuel efficient vehicles help reduce driving costs for American families while continuing to deliver the highest standards of vehicle performance.

Fuel efficient models come in all types, classes, and sizes.

The 2011 Fuel Economy Guide can help consumers easily identify the most fuel efficient vehicles that meet their needs. Overall, the best fuel economy performers are hybrids, but the 2011 fuel economy leaders also include fuel efficient clean diesels as well as gasoline models.  

Each vehicle listing in the guide provides an estimated annual fuel cost. The estimate is calculated based on the vehicle's miles per gallon (mpg) rating and national estimates for annual mileage and fuel prices.

The online version of the guide allows consumers to input their local gasoline prices and typical driving habits to receive a personalized fuel cost estimate.  

For more information, including a complete version of the guide, go to:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov

For more information on how Bio-Dry can help keep your concrete and asphalt clean, improve your image, and  save you money, go to: http://www.bio-dry.com/services.html

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The only thing that is supposed to go down a storm drain is rain!

However, every cigarette butt, drop of oil or spilled chemical you see on the street will eventually wind up going down a storm drain and into a nearby creek. And that will eventually flow into a source of drinking water.

Most state and local ordinances say that it is illegal to discharge, cause to be discharged, directly or indirectly, or cause any pollutant to enter into the storm drain system unless permitted by an NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit.   Storm water is the only discharge permitted in the storm water system with exception of incidental Non-storm water flows which do not negatively impact the quality of the receiving stream, including:

1. Water line flushing, except super-chlorinated water line flushing
2. Landscape irrigation
3. Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration
4. Uncontaminated, pumped groundwater
5. Discharge from potable water sources
6. Foundation drains
7. Air conditioning condensate
8. Irrigation water
9. Springs
10. Lawn watering
11. De-chlorinated swimming pool discharge
12. Street wash water
13. Flows from emergency fire and rescue operations other than those resulting from negligence on the part of the person who owned or controlled the pollutant  

When a city determines that a pollution discharge has occurred or is imminent, the city is authorized to employ whatever enforcement actions apply.  If you're pressure washing and not recapturing the water, you could be in for a big surprise and a some heavy fines!

Bio-Dry cares what you do with your used oil and has the solution for your oil and grease problems!   Start using Bio-Dry and recycle any excess oil you may have.  

Also, check out your city or state's websites for a link to a list of businesses that have agreed to accept used oil from the public.  CLICK HERE for a list in the greater Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.  (Courtesy of the Official City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Government Website)

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