Rain Barrel Giveaway in Brooklyn

RAIN BARREL GIVEAWAY PROGRAM
Saturday, April 16, 2011 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Marine Park Parking Lot at Avenue U, Brooklyn

During heavy storms, stormwater runoff can overwhelm the city’s sewer system, and, in some cases, cause street flooding.

To reduce stormwater runoff and to create a more livable, sustain-able city, DEP released the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan and is piloting several stormwater best management practices throughout the city, including enhanced tree pits, streetside infiltra- tion swales, and blue and green roofs. Rain barrels capture stormwater from your roof and store it for future use.

How do rain barrels help?
By capturing stormwater, rain barrels can help you conserve water by storing rainwater for future use, such as watering your lawn or garden. This will keep your plants healthy–and save you money–since households devote almost 40% of their water to watering lawns and gardens. And you’ll be doing your part to reduce demand on New York City’s drinking water system during the summer’s hottest days.

DEP will provide detailed instructions on how to attach and use your rain barrel at the giveaway.
For more information call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/dep.

Please Note: Rain barrels will be given away on first come first serve basis, one per household. You must live in a single-family or attached two-family home to participate in this exciting and innovative program.

Energy Competition Pie Social on Sunday!

We'd like to remind you about a fun, informative, and most of all delicious event for Green Homes Challenge participants this Sunday!

To celebrate the six month mark of the Green Homes Challenge, Councilmember Brad Lander, NYSERDA, and Con Ed invite you and your family to a pie social, where you can meet your fellow participants and learn more about how you can reduce your use. 

Drop by, exchange conservation tips, and enjoy a slice of pie or two. 

While bringing a pie is by no means mandatory, we encourage you to contribute something delicious!

If possible, bring reusable (or compostable) plates and utensils.

Event details:

What: Green Homes Challenge Six Month Pie Social

When: Sunday, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: The Prospect Range, 1226 Prospect Avenue (many thanks to Meighan Gale and Dexter Buell for their generosity in lending us the space!)

Click here to RSVP for the Pie Social!

Mark your calendars – next Sunday, December 12th, neighbor Myla Goldberg and Darin Strauss will be talking about their new books at Union Hall, she says, “where you can drink drinks and eat food, play bocce, and be a part of a literary conversation all at once.

From Myla:
Darin, who’s normally a novelist, has written a memoir, Half a Life, which has some interesting things in common with my new novel, The False Friend.

So, on December 12th, it’ll be Fiction vs. Memoir, with the two of us talking about the different ways they allow a writer to get (or fail to get) at the truth.

Plus, the event is a benefit for the Brooklyn New School, also known as P.S. 146, which like all public schools has been hit hard by the city’s budget cuts.

You should come! After Darin and I are done talking, there will be drinking and mingling.”

Here’s the info:

FICTION VS. MEMOIR: MYLA GOLDBERG AND DARIN STRAUSS IN CONVERSATION IN A BENEFIT FOR THE BROOKLYN NEW SCHOOL (P.S. 146 )

Sunday, December 12
6pm
Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Brooklyn
$12-$25 Donation at the Door

DARIN STRAUSS
In Darin’s new memoir, Half a Life, he writes of his experience of being behind the wheel when a high school classmate swerved in front of his car and died.

MYLA GOLDBERG
In Myla’s new novel, The False Friend, a woman confronts the memory of having contributed to the death of a child when she was a girl.

Kensington Cleanup

Come help clean up Kensington on October 10th (Sunday) from 9am to 10am.  We're picking up garbage at pedestrian and bike paths at the entrance to the Prospect Park Expressway.

Questions or ideas, call Lee or Jason @ 718-701-1295. Bring kids, gloves (disposable is best) and garbage bags if you have 'em.  

(Maybe a communal breakfast afterwards at Connie's?)

Ocean Pkway and Church Ave
Brooklyn
9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.
www.350.org

Reduce the Use in District 39!

Saw this posts on Kensington Prospect.

the competition is ON! you can still sign up for the competition here

Sign up for the district wide energy competition!

Sustainable Kensington Windsor Terrace, the community group that brought you the pilot energy conservation competition in February is proud to announce an expanded competition throughout the Councilman Lander's entire district. Thanks to NYSERDA and Councilman Lander's Office, our target for the expanded competition is 300 households!

In the 3 months that the pilot ran in the spring, the 40 families enrolled saved cumulatively about $600 in reduced energy costs. And that was in the cool months, imagine how well we'll do in the summer when electrical costs are higher and consumption typically spikes. You can read the press release here.

If you pay your own electric bill and have been in the same space for at least a year, you are eligible to participate. In addition to Windsor Terrace and Kensington, the neighborhoods we are expanding to are: Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope and Borough Park.

If you live in a house or an apartment, or run a retail store or manage a Co-Op, join us.

It's a fun and easy way to learn about how much energy you are using and how your usage compares to your neighbors. You'll use less energy, meet your neighbors and win prizes (seriously, there will be real prizes this time!)

Go to the signup form here
www.surveymonkey.com/reducetheused39
(you'll need to have your con ed bill handy)

Happy Conserving! See you at the pie social!

Ellen

free green-themed carnival June 12th

Free Sustainable Community event.

I got this from the Brooklyn Green Team