Plastic and the Ocean: A Summertime GreenLiving Blog

This Type of Debris is Typically Found in the Ocean

Summer 2018 begins in only a few weeks!  Trying to visit the beach this summer?  Remember, the beach is an ecosystem that is home to numerous plants and animals.  Unfortunately, the beach and ocean can become littered with rubbish and debris that people leave behind on vacation.  

What type of debris is often most often recovered from the ocean?

Plastic materials are most often recovered from the ocean.  The plastic materials found in the ocean most often include: plastic cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, and straws.  

Three Ways Bicycling Reduces Pollution

Green Reasons to Participate in Upcoming Bike to Work Day #BTWD

Bike to Work Day is taking place this Friday, May 18.  This annual event promotes biking as an efficient and reliable way to get around.  People are encouraged to forego the car, train, or bus for one day and ride a bike to and from work.

Biking is an easy way to practice greenliving.  In fact, riding the bike does not produce any pollution or harmful emissions cars produce that can damage the environment.  Consider these green benefits to biking:

1) Biking does not utilize gas or fuel: This may seem like common sense, but one benefit of bicycling is that it is a method of transportation that does not require fuel.  Gas can leak and contaminate waterways and foliage which can harm the flowers, plants, and wildlife living in their natural habitat.  Cutting out a need to re-fuel can help save local eco-systems.

2) Driving cars and trucks can cause air pollution: Cars, trucks, and similar automobiles cause "transportation emissions."  These emissions can contribute to Greenhouse Gasses and the Green House effect, which warms the planet over a period of time.  Biking, however, does not contribute to transportation emissions.

3) Riding bicycles also reduces noise pollution: Traffic noise is a big contributor to noise pollution: loud noises that impacts cities and surrounding areas.  While it may not seem like it, noise pollution can negatively impact animal life by disrupting animal habitats.  Bike riding is much quieter than driving and, therefore, reduces harmful noise pollution.

Learn how you can participate in Bike to Work Day online.

Many of these facts are presented on the website Bay Area Bike to Work Day on the "Environmental Benefits" page.  Read the article here: https://youcanbikethere.com/.

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

A Guide to GreenFest 2018

This Eco-Friendly Event Returns for the Fourth, Consecutive, Year

The annual Montgomery County GreenFest will be held this Saturday, May 5, at Jesup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring, Maryland.  The festival is family friendly and will include live music, interactive displays, food trucks, performances, and more!

Several of the events that will be featured during the 2018 GreenFest include:

The Repair Cafe: An event that will take place during the duration of GreenFest will allow attendees to bring items that need to be repaired.  The volunteers at the Repair cafe will attempt to fix items such as clocks, watches, jewelry, bikes, small appliances, and more.  This event is hosted by the Silver Spring Timebank.

Uprooted Dance Performances: Three Uprooted performances will take place during GreenFest.  The performers will combine rehearsed choreography, music, art, and research in the premiere of the original show "The Legacy Project."  Learn more about Uprooted Dance online. 

Kids Tree Climbing and Stream Maze: A fun obstacle course that will allow attendees a chance to climb trees and experience nature first hand.