Games and Demonstrations Generate Climate Change Awareness

The City of Greenbelt Public Works is committed to raising awareness about climate change and sharing resources to reduce your carbon footprint, or your impact on the planet. On May 18, Connor Roessler, Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member, attended the MAEOE Youth Summit to present Greenbelt’s Extreme Weather Watershed Model. Roessler used the model to inform students and teachers from across Maryland about the importance of green infrastructure to combat flooding and nutrient pollution during increased storm events caused by climate change. Students identified the benefits of many stormwater best management practices and designed sustainable landscapes with rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs, and pervious pavement.

On May 20, climate change and environmental education games were featured as part of the Sustainability Display at the Public Works Open House. Community members of all ages had fun learning small individual actions lead to big community impacts. Public Works handed out free reusable grocery bags and reusable water bottles as an effort to promote zero waste to the landfill. John Lippert, Chair of Green ACES/Green Team, demonstrated how replacing incandescent with LED light bulbs is a great way to reduce your energy use and promoted the borrowing of Kill a Watt meters and Thermal Leak Detectors.

Everyone values shade from trees on a hot day and the beauty and aroma of flowers blossoming in the spring. Greenbelt’s Urban Heat Island model showed how the temperature changes between various landscapes. Parking lots and roadways generate a lot more heat than areas with dense vegetation and tree canopy. Opportunities were identified to replace these areas with native trees and pollinator garden plantings.

The Decomposition Timeline was used to display the length of time it takes for various materials to break down. Did you know that polystyrene (Styrofoam) never goes away? That’s one of the reasons it has been banned by businesses in Prince George’s County since July 1, 2016. On the other hand, organic matter like orange or banana peels can decompose in your compost bin in a matter of weeks.

Another display informed players how to upcycle waste into cool new products with TerraCycle. The TerraCycle Drop-off Center was made possible thanks to grant funds from the Alice Ferguson Foundation and the Jim Cassels award (http://www.greenbelt.coop/cms/index.php/community/jim-cassels-award/). The interactive recycling right display and toss game depicted where curbside recyclables, hard-to-recycle recyclables, materials accepted for TerraCycle, and landfill trash should be deposited.

Finally, the pet waste game generated awareness about the importance of scooping pet poop every time (and trashing it) to protect the health of our pets, children, and watershed. Thanks to the City of Greenbelt Public Works, Greenbelt Homes Inc. (GHI) Companion Animal Committee, and Prince George’s County Department of Environment for working together on the pet waste education program.

Climate change and environmental education kits are great resources for classrooms, scouts troops, adult, and senior groups, too. Do you want to learn how to make your own? Send you interest to Erin Josephitis, Environmental Coordinator, at ejosephitis@greenbeltmd.gov or 240-542-2168.