.. DUMBO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ..

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Smart Environmental Efforts in DUMBO (SEED)

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The impact of human consumption on the environment is frequently cast as an insurmountable problem on a global scale; a trend that many find especially discouraging and overwhelming. SEED works to dispel this notion by providing individuals with the tools to implement change in their daily routines. The program is meant to demonstrate the ease of environmental action on the most local level and was developed with a foundation of five initiatives that encourage: public recycling, alternative modes of transportation, consumption reduction, greater energy efficiency and environmental education.

We see DUMBO as a community that it is in constant forward motion, and in the twenty-first century, moving forward is going green.

1. Street Recycling Program - The Department of Sanitation has installed six sets of recycling bins for bottles/cans/plastic and paper goods on the key street corners on DUMBO. Since February of 2008, we have prevented over 5 tons of paper, plastic, metal and glass from entering the waste stream.

2. Encourage Alternate Modes of Transportation and Use of Mass Transit - With the amount of automobile traffic surrounding DUMBO (on the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway), the neighborhood must be more bicycle friendly to encourage a reduction in automobile traffic within DUMBO. Working with the DOT, nearly 50 bike racks have been installed throughout the neighborhood.

3. DUMBO Green Guide - We developed and distributed a guide (on recycled paper!) that with information for residents, businesses and building owners on how to be more environmentally conscious in their daily lives. The guide includes the benefits, both social and economic, of making green choices.

4. Reduced Plastic Consumption - With DUMBO's growing retail community, and stores and customers should be discouraged from using environmentally harmful plastic and paper shopping bags. As an alternative, we distributed reusable tote bags for residents and shops to use in their place and hope that retailers will be involved by offering small incentives to customers who bring their own bags.

5. Change a Light/Change the World - We distributed Compact Fluorescent light bulb to every DUMBO household, becoming an Energy Star Change a Light Pledge Driver, to inspire DUMBO community members to make all of the lighting in their homes meet Energy Star standards.

For further information on these projects or to check out other priorities we have for the coming year the please read the
2007 Dumbo Improvement District Strategic Plan.

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