Idea Bank

Pollution Prevention and Resource Efficiency

• At schools, libraries, municipal buildings, hospitals, etc.:
  • Conduct an energy audit.
  • Purchase and install solar panels.
  • Purchase and install daylighting systems.
• Sponsor a pollution prevention workshop for local businesses.
• At facilities that may be subject to a SEP agreement:
  • Utilize less-dangerous chemicals in the manufacturing process.
• Pave parking lots to control fugitive dust emissions.
• Pave roadways to control fugitive dust emissions.

Pollution Reduction

• At facilities that may be subject to a SEP agreement, utilize better treatment and control technologies that go beyond current requirements to reduce the amount of pollution released.
• Sponsor a community woodstove replacement program.
• Purchase emission reduction equipment for local diesel delivery trucks, garbage haulers, school buses.

Green Schools

• Purchase and install pollution control devices and/or cleaner fuels for local school buses.
• Assist a school in recycling outdated laboratory chemicals.

Environmental Restoration and Protection

Emergency Planning and Preparedness

• Provide funds for hazardous materials training and backup coverage for local fire departments and other special response teams.
• Purchase monitoring equipment

Technical Assistance and Outreach

• Develop an environmental program that provides compliance assistance and energy efficiency training to local small businesses.
• Sponsor an environmental management system workshop for businesses.
• Fund environmental compliance audits for local institutions.
• Support the demonstration of an emerging environmental technology at a local facility.
• Sponsor a retired engineer or college graduate student to work on an environmental project at a local school or hospital.

Environmental Education and Public Awareness

• Provide for environmental education materials and/or training for K-12 teachers in the region.
• Purchase media campaign to educate community about local air quality issues.
• Sponsor a program that recognizes outstanding local environmental projects.
• Fund school field trips to local recycling businesses, landfills, water treatment plants, or waste water treatment plants.
• Build an outdoor environmental learning project.
• Sponsor participation at an ecology/environment workshop or camp.