Pensacola is a glorious city, and its stunning natural beauty has attracted residents and visitors for centuries. Pensacola is home to many environmental treasures: the largest tract of protected seashore in the country, a major flyway zone for migrating birds, the world’s largest artificial reef and estuaries vital to marine life. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources, but with this wealth comes great responsibility to protect and sustain our resources.
The Leadership Pensacola Class of 2008 is spearheading a project called Live Green Escambia. We will be providing 10,000 Pensacola residents with Green Kits that will help clean up our local environment. The kits will include a recycling bin, CFL light bulb and reusable grocery bag. By generating less waste, reusing valuable materials and making small lifestyle changes, we can all do our part to protect Escambia County.
Little changes can make a big difference. 20 percent of the average home energy expense is made up of lighting costs. Using CFL light bulbs in the five most active lights in your home can reduce lighting expense by 90 percent a month. What a savings! And have you checked your furnace air filter lately? Dirty air filters cause the furnace to run less efficiently and creates a higher electricity bill. Did you know that automobile tires that are low on air cause lower gas mileage? It's true! There are many simple ways to reduce family expenses and live greener. What about that empty laundry detergent jug in your utility room? And all the aluminum cans in your weekly garbage can? By recycling one aluminum can, you save enough energy to power your television for three hours. For more information about our class project or for additional tips on how to live greener, check out the left navigation on this site.
Here's what you can do. . .
1) Start recycling in your home
~ All plastic (1-7), aluminum and glass can be recycled in the same container.
~ All paper including newspapers, magazines and household mail/paper can be recycled in the same container.
2) Replace your light bulbs with CFL bulbs.
3) Take a reusable grocery bag to the market with you instead of saying “paper” or “plastic.”
4) Regularly replace the filter in your furnace at home.
5) Check the air pressure in your tires every couple of weeks.
The LeaP Class of 2008 is currently working to find community partners for this venture. We cannot do it alone. For more information on sponsoring this project, please contact: Cameron Smith, LeaP Class 2008 project leader, at (850) 602-5290.
More Recycling Facts
~ Americans represent only five percent of the world's population, but generate 30 percent of the world's garbage.
~ If not recycled, one quart of used motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
~ Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial fleet of airplanes every 3 months.
~ The energy saved each year by steel recycling is equal to the electrical power used by 18 million homes each year - or enough energy to last Los Angeles residents eight years.
Because we are a city poised for greatness and are home to countless innovators, be they individual community leaders or major companies with the environment in mind, we are a community that can make a difference. Over the next few months, the Leadership Pensacola Class of 2008 will be working with area companies and residents to “Live Green.” This spring, the class will launch “Green Kits” to community residents and will include* items to help our community live green:
~ Recycling bin
~ CFL bulb
~ Reusable grocery bag
~ Information on Escambia County pollution and health, tips for living Green and saving money
The class will be distributing an estimated 10,000 Green Kits to area residents during the month of March.
Simple changes can improve our community and put money back into your pocket. It’s a win/win for all!
*Items included in the Green Kits will be contingent upon acquired funding.