DACC – Sustainability - Educational resources

                          Indoors: [$$$ = money-savers]
                                   General:

                            EPA’s “Safer Choice” initiative (cleaners and soaps):  https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice
 
                            $$$ Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home:  https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Residents-and-Homeowners/At-Home/Energy-Saving-Tips

                            $$$ No or Low Cost Actions to Save Home Energy and Money: https://home-energy.extension.org/no-to-low-cost-actions-to-save-home-energy-and-money/

                               
                              Heating/Cooling/Electrical

• • Windows and doors
  • $$$ Winterize: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/insulation/21097133/easy-fixes-for-drafty-windows-and-doors

• • Find a contractor: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Contractors/Find-a-Contractor

• • Solar opportunities: https://www.cnyenergychallenge.org/solar-energy

• • Geothermal / Heat Pumps: https://www.cnyenergychallenge.org/heatsmart-cny      https://heatsmartcny.org/

                           Cooking:

• • Gas vs. Electric Stoves: https://www.consumerreports.org/ranges/gas-or-electric-range-which-is-better/

• • Induction Cooktops: http://ccetompkins.org/energy/induction-cooking

                         Cleaning

• • Green cleaning products: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/content/top_products/

• • $$$ DIY cleaning products: https://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/sites/rit.edu.affiliate.nysp2i/files/docs/resources/Reduce_Your_Reliance_on_Chemical_Cleaners_by_Making_Your_Own.pdf

                         Laundry

• • EPA “Safer Choice” certified laundry products: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/products#search=Laundry%20Products%20:

• • Hazards of dryer vent exhaust: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3226517/

• • $$$ Line Drying Clothes: https://www.consumerreports.org/laundry/line-drying-clothes/  

                     Alternatives to one-use items

• • $$$ Paper products: https://www.centerforecotechnology.org/reusable-replacements-paper-products/

• • $$$ Plastic wrap: https://greenandsimple.co/2019/10/best-alternatives-to-plastic-wrap

                   Packaging

• • $$$ School lunches: https://www.plaineproducts.com/5-ideas-sustainable-school-lunch/

• • $$$ Use bring-your-own bags and containers

• • $$$ Buy foods and cleaners in bulk

                 Recycling

• • OCCRA: https://ocrra.org/services/recycling-at-home/

• • Household toxic materials: https://ocrra.org/services/dispose/household-toxics-drop-off/

                Composting

• • $$$ DIY composting: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8799.html

            Outdoors:

                  Trees and plantings

• • Why Native Plants Matter: https://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter

• • Getting Started with Native Plants: https://ny.audubon.org/conservation/getting-started-native-plants

• • Landscaping Ideas: https://www.townofbrighton.org/DocumentCenter/View/5404/Landscaping-with-New-York-State-Native-Plants?bidId=

• • Invasive Trees: https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/environmental-analysis/landscape/trees/is-vegetation

• • Invasive Plants: http://essex.cce.cornell.edu/environment/invasive-nuisance-species/invasive-plants

• • Dead Trees: http://cavityconservation.com/saving-dead-trees/

               Lawn and garden maintenance

• • $$$ Dead Leaves: https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2015/OctNov/Gardening/Leave-the-Leaves

• • Insecticides: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/less-toxic-insecticides/

• • Herbicides: https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/homemade-weed-killer

• • Dead/Dying Trees/Tree Removal: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Cover/Trees-and-Snags

            Rainwater and runoff

• • Landscaping for Water Quality: http://cceonondaga.org/environment/water-quality/landscaping-for-water-quality

• • Homeowners Guide to Stormwater Maintenance https://www.phrc.psu.edu/assets/docs/publications/SW_Booklet_2017.pdf

• • Rain Barrels – build your own: http://cceonondaga.org/environment/water-quality/rain-barrel

• • Rain Gardens for Wet Areas: http://www.xerces.org/blog/rain-gardens-are-winwin

• • Shoreline Plantings: http://ccetompkins.org/resources/finger-lakes-landscapes-landscaping-for-water-quality-in-the-finger-lakes-region

            Composting

• • $$$ DIY composting: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8799.html
  • OCCRA compost:  https://ocrra.org/services/compost/

            Travel

• • Green vehicles and charging stations: https://www.cnyenergychallenge.org/electric-vehicles

• • Public Transportation – Bus: https://www.centro.org/service_schedules/service-area-onondaga-county

• • Public Transportation – Train: https://www.amtrak.com/stations/syr

• • Ride sharing: https://www.ridesharing.com/us/Syracuse        https://www.carpoolworld.com/carpool.html?to=Syracuse&wc=USA,US&ws=NY&lat=43.0426978&lon=-76.1404490

• • 511NYRideshare: https://511nyrideshare.org/

• • Biking As Transportation – Bike Lanes in Syracuse: https://www.syr.gov/files/sharedassets/public/2-departments/planning/documents/2012bicycleplan.pdf  

• • Mountain Biking: https://www.mtbproject.com/directory/8009470/central-new-york

• • Erie Canal Trail: https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal