Project Ideas
WANT TO DO A GREEN PROJECT, BUT DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?
Here are some ideas that you can make your own.
1.) Plant trees
Trees:
- Filter pollution from the air
- Help recycle water
- Prevent soil loss
- Create shade
- Give shelter from wind and rain
- Provide homes for animals
- Make food for humans and wildlife
- Provide an interesting, soothing, learning environment for children and your community
Obtain necessary permission to plant trees in locations beneficial to the community. Research which trees to plant and how to do so effectively.
2.) Establish an Ongoing Program which loans out Event Recycling Bins
Partner with an adult non-profit organization to provide temporary recycling collection bins for school, church, or community events. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful has a similar program where they loan out lightweight, convenient, recycle bin frames for temporary use. See http://www.kibi.org/recycling_bin_loan_program for details. The bins would need to be stored permanently when not in use and should be readily available to all community groups. This would be a long-term, ongoing project.
3.) Create an Organic Community or School Garden
Organic community gardens:
- Allow families and individuals without land of their own the opportunity to produce food
- Conserve resources by shortening the commodity chain, saving on fuel-demanding transportation and packaging
- Promote use of non-toxic pesticides and fertilizers
- Create sense of community
4.) Promote Alternatives to Disposable Plastic Bottles at your School or Sports Club
Plastic Bottles:
- Take energy and oil to produce and transport
- Take up space in landfills
- Contain water that is tested for quality less often than tap water
- Are recycled less than 20% of the time
Bottled Water:
- Is thousands of times more expensive than tap water
- Is often just tap water in a bottle
5.) Host an Electronics and/or Appliance Recycling Drive
Many organizations collect unwanted computer equipment and appliances and repair them to offer to low-income households.
Reusing these items:
- Prevents items from going into landfills, conserving natural resources
- Discourages illegal dumping by offering easy alternatives to area residents
- Extends the usable lives of appliances and computers by refurbishing them
- Offers families used appliances or computers at very low prices
See http://daoindy.com/materials.html/ and http://www.vscavengers.org/ for details.
6.) Host a Rain Barrel-Making Workshop
Rain barrels:
- Reduce consumption of city water and thus help conserve the water supply and save money
- Help slow the flow of storm-water run-off into the city’s sewer system
- Increase mindfulness to cycles of rain fall and water usage
See http://urbanearthindy.blogspot.com/2009/07/about-urban-earth-indy-rain-barrels.html for details.
7.) Host a Compost Bin-Making Workshop
Compost bins:
- Reduce the need to haul away compostable trash, thereby saving energy and landfill space
- Save energy and money by creating fertilizer instead of purchasing it
- Provide high quality organic fertilizer
Over eight percent of the waste that each person generates each day could be recovered for composting. That works out to over 140 pounds per person, per year. Yard waste and trimmings account for nearly 13% of municipal solid waste in the United States. This waste consists of grass, leaves, tree, and brush trimmings – adding up to approximately 33 million tons each year.
8.) Host a Roadside or Waterway Clean-up Event
Clean-ups:
- Reduce pollution and provide civic pride
- Offer a healthier environment for animals
- Create a sense of community
- Help establish an area that is nicer to view
Each year volunteers help remove trash from the White River. See http://www.friendsofwhiteriver.org/ for details on how they organize their clean-up event.
9.) Promote use of CFL light bulbs, Wind Energy, or Solar Energy
- Conduct studies analyzing energy saved vs. cost
- Share studies with public
- Science Fair, Environmental Club, Student Council, & Eagle Scout projects welcome
You may choose to promote an existing program such as the Indianapolis Zoo’s “My Carbon Pledge” or the EPA’s “Pick 5 for the Environment.” See http://www.mycarbonpledge.com/default.aspx or http://www.epa.gov/pick5/ for details.
10.) Promote Recycling at your School or Sports Club
Recycling conserves natural resources, saves energy and reduces landfill use.
**Please note that micro-grants are available for materials such as recycle bins and items to promote their use. Additional and ongoing costs associated with hiring custodial staff and/or a local trash company for disposal of the recyclables is not a permitted micro-grant expense. Proof of ability to provide these services through other means will be necessary to obtain funding for recycling bins.
11.) Ask your School to adopt a “No Idle” Policy for the Carpool Line
Turning off cars in the carpool line:
- Improves the air quality in the immediate vicinity
- Provides a healthier environment for students
- Saves fuel and money
Currently the “Smart Schools Don’t Idle” program is being piloted at elementary schools in Marion County, implemented by Improving Kids’ Environment and the City of Indianapolis Knozone program, through a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Youth groups interested in promoting a carpool-line “no idle” policy at their school, may work with school administration to adopt a similar plan or create their own.
See Improving Kids Environment – Smart Schools Don’t Idle Program for details.
12.) Create your own idea – Think Green! Brainstorm as a group to develop a project that can have an impact on the environment and help change behaviors to make Carmel a sustainably greener community.
In 2012, World Water Day is March 22, Global Youth Service Days are April 20-22, Earth Day is April 22, & Arbor Day is April 27. Applications are due February 29, 2012.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at info@carmelgreenteen.org if you have any concerns about your project idea. We’re happy to answer your questions.