As a member of the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB), I work with the municipality and the school district to incorporate sustainable strategies in Mt. Lebanon.

We have made great strides over the last five years.  A few of our projects, designed to reduce our carbon footprint, and air and water pollution, include:

• Adoption of the Mt. Lebanon Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Climate Action Plan – adopted in 2010 and updated in 2012.
• Cooperation with the Southwestern PA Commission to SINC-UP traffic signals from Mt. Lebanon to Peters Township.
•  Installation of a rain barrel (donated by Nine Mile Run/Stormworks) and rain garden demonstration project in Mt. Lebanon Park.
• Increase of recycling by 12 percent in 2010.
• Adoption of an e-cycling ordinance prohibiting dumping of e-waste.
• Reduction of energy use in municipal and school district buildings.
• Adoption of no-idling policies at municipal and school district buildings.

The ESB would like to enlist your help!  We hope to encourage energy conservation through simple, moderate or advanced measures that you can incorporate at home.  Conservation strategies can be as simple as turning off lights when you leave a room or turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth.  Via a new GTECH Strategies program called ReEnergize PGH, we will provide educational programs on energy and water saving strategies, links to home weatherization organizations, and links to low-interest loans that may help you fund moderate and advanced energy conservation projects.  More info to follow!