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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending November 13, 2009
EPA ADMINISTRATOR SPEAKS AT 'WATER AND PUBLIC HEALTH' MEETING IN PHILLY
Former Administrator Lisa Jackson spoke at the Nov. 7-11 American Public Health Association's 
Annual Meeting and Exposition held at the Philadelphia Convention Center on the theme of drinking water pollution and public health as major issues of the 21st century. Jackson's keynote speech emphasized the inextricable connection between environmental protection and public health to an audience of more than 10,000 health related specialists. EPA booths provided agency information on programs that prevent disease and promote public health: CARE (Community Action for Renewed Environment), Lead Poisoning, Water, Children's Health and Pollution Prevention.
EPA AWARDS MARYLAND HOSPITALS TRAILBLAZER AWARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Six Maryland hospitals received EPA Trailblazer Awards for reducing their environmental footprint and adopting sustainable practices. Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin, Franklin Square Hospital Ctr., Baltimore, LifeBridge Health, Baltimore/Randallstown, Montgomery General Hospital, Olney, the U. of Md. Medical Center, Baltimore, and the Veterans Affairs Md. Health Care System, Baltimore/Perry Point. The hospitals' efforts included energy and water conservation, chemical reductions, and serving healthy, locally grown foods.
AREA SCHOOLS JOIN EPA PROGRAM TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY, STUDENT HEALTH AND LEARNING
The Hempfield Area School District (located near Westmoreland County, Pa.) and the South Eastern School District (located in York County, Pa.) joined Region 3's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program to improve their indoor air quality, protect student health, and enhance the learning environment. EPA staff will help the schools evaluate and establish a basic indoor air quality management program with its free Tools for Schools kit as guidance. Other voluntary programs will also be introduced, such as Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) , Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Energy Star, Radon, Green buildings, Asthma, and Children's Health.
MORE HOMES NATIONWIDE QUALIFY FOR ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATION
EPA's Energy Star program passed its 1 millionth Energy Star qualified home to date with 7,600 qualified homes built and having met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by EPA. The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area was #15 on the list of the top 20 markets for Energy Star built homes, with 12,455 Energy Star qualified homes. These certified homes are saving the equivalent to eliminating emissions from 667 vehicles, saving 4,034,004 pounds of coal and planting 1,102 acres of trees, and saving the environment 7,911,493 pounds of carbon dioxide, (a greenhouse gas). For more information, go to http://www.energystar.gov/onemillionhomes.
NEW EPA WEBSITE PROMOTES GREENING OF HOMES INDOOR AND OUT
EPA has posted its new Green Homes website to help homeowners/renters become full participants in the greening of their habitations. The website offers tips on reducing energy consumption, saving money, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving the indoor/outdoor environment to protect one's health, and helping fight climate change. It provides guidance and direct links on how to environmentally improve each room of the home and the surrounding yard, building an environmentally efficient home, and how to investigate a home for green features as well as a myriad other green home topics. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/greenhomes
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