Leaf Season Nears, Keep Drains Clear

Nov 1, 2012 by C. Dociu

November is typically our wettest month of the year. Combine that rain with all our beautiful street trees dropping their leaves onto our yards and streets, and we could have a problem on our hands.

When leaves fall, the rain washes them down to our storm drains where they can easily clog the drain, causing flooding. The leaves and branches that do make it through the storm drain end up going directly into our streams, rivers, and lakes. Once they are in our waterways, the leaves can dam smaller streams, and clog salmon spawning beds (which we know are plentiful in Redmond). These leaves then decompose which will reduce the oxygen available to wildlife living in the streams and rivers.

You can help by keeping the drains in your neighborhood clear of leaves and debris. If you are out walking your pooch and see a blocked drain, put those rain boots to good use and clear it! While raking up leaves in your yard, take a short detour to the street and add those leaves to your pile...which incidentally makes a great mulch for your garden beds.

To report clogged and flooded storm drains in Redmond streets please call 425-556-2800. For information about disposal options for large quantities of yard debris, call Redmond’s Recycling Program at 425-556-2832.

Posted in: City News, Green Lifestyle, Stewardship
Keywords: gardening, local, outdoors, redmond, sustainable, wildlife

What’s up with this Weird Weather?

Oct 29, 2012 by C. Dociu

The “Frankenstorm” bearing down on the east coast seems to be the latest in a string of news stories of unprecedented weather events. The droughts over the summer that affected 55% of the U.S., 2012's record breaking high temperatures, and the 82 consecutive days we went without rain in Seattle were all well covered by the media. Could this all have something to do with climate change?

There is a link between extreme weather and climate change. The best way climate scientists have been able to describe this link is to say climate change will be “putting expected extreme weather events on steroids”. It isn’t that increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere creates more hurricanes or heat waves, but these hurricanes and heat waves will be more extreme. Hurricanes like Sandy are stronger and larger than the norm, and will affect more people.

In the northwest climate change will mean drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. Snowpack in the Cascades is already down by 25% over the last 40-70 years due to these warmer winters. We depend on this snow to fuel our hydroelectric dams, maintain water levels in rivers and streams for salmon, and for summertime irrigation.

So What?

What can we do to avoid and adapt to these extremes? Cities are working to adapt to these changes we’re already seeing, and those changes scientists say we should expect. Many times these adaptations will have additional benefits like cost savings from improved energy efficiency and a more attractive and livable community for residents.

Approximately half of the greenhouse gas emissions in the central Puget Sound come from cars, trucks, and other transportation. The City of Redmond is working with private developers and public agencies like Sound Transit to provide housing that is closer to work centers and to provide more public transportation options. Our staff is working to connect and expand bike trails and to support pedestrian zones making it easier for residents to leave the car behind.

Redmond is also reducing our vulnerability to flooding through “green infrastructure” such as rain gardens, preserving and restoring wetlands, and maintaining open space. Green infrastructure mimics natural systems to handle heavy rains. Rain gardens, bio-swales, and wetlands will also reduce pollution from entering our water systems and provide beautiful greenery. Street trees are another valuable resource to help manage storm water, reduce urban heat, and clean our air.

These weather extremes may be our new normal, but there are plenty of opportunities to reduce our impact and adapt to these changes. You can start today by taking the Impact Redmond pledge!

Keywords: outdoors, sustainable

Re-Energize Event's Huge Success!

Oct 18, 2012 by City of Redmond

If you came by City Hall on Tuesday for the Re-Energize Your Lighting Event-THANK YOU! Your purchase is helping Redmond homes become more sustainable and will have a positive impact on the environment.

PSE let us know that they sold 2,871 ENERGY STAR Qualified Units which will help Redmond residents reduce their energy use by 1,638,996 kWh and save $267,690 over the life of the light bulb. The energy saved is equivalent to removing 202 cars from the road, or doing the air cleaning work of a forest about the size of Microsoft’s Main Campus!

This event was a partnership between Impact Redmond and Puget Sound Energy. PSE is available to host Re-Energize Your Lighting Events free of charge at businesses and organizations throughout the Puget Sound. If you know of a business who may be interested in hosting this event, contact Casey Cardillo at casey@techniart.com for more information.

Posted in: City News, Energy, Green Lifestyle, Home & Garden
Keywords: business, green lifestyle, local, redmond, savings, sustainable

Happy HalloGREEN! Spooky Good Savings

Oct 12, 2012 by City of Redmond

Does your energy bill scare you? With our dark, Northwest winters creeping around the corner it's time to fight back by stocking up on energy efficient light bulbs. Replacing traditional bulbs can save you hundreds in energy costs over the life of the bulb. And newer CFLs have come a long way from the early days of weak, flickering light.

Come down to City hall next Tuesday, October 16th from 11am-7pm for the “Re-Energize Your Lighting Event” hosted by Puget Sound Energy and purchase deeply discounted energy efficient light bulbs –including LEDs. The deals are so good, it's spooky.

This is a cash or check only event, and offer is good while supplies last.

Posted in: City News, Energy, Green Lifestyle
Keywords: green lifestyle, local, redmond, savings

Salmon Show Off Near Leary Way!

Oct 11, 2012 by City of Redmond

Check out this picture snapped by Redmond resident, John Reinke! They are red sockeye salmon. Reinke also saw a few Chinook salmon. All together, he estimates he saw more than 50 (!) on Tuesday, just north of the Leary Way Bridge in the Sammamish River.

Salmon return to the place they were born to spawn, often traveling hundreds of miles from the sea to the local freshwater streambed of their birth. In the Northwest, they are considered an indicator species, or a bellweather for an ecosystem's health.

Be sure and stop your bike, or take a minute out of your daily walk to peek down into the river to see if you can spot any salmon!

Posted in: City News, Stewardship
Keywords: local, redmond, sustainable, wildlife

Have You Gotten Your EcoKit?

Oct 3, 2012 by City of Redmond

Have you heard about EcoKits? When you take the Impact Redmond Pledge to reduce your environmental impact you can receive a free EcoKit that contains tools to help you keep Redmond clean, green and healthy, including:

• Reusable stainless steel water bottle
• Go Green Redmond reusable shopping bag
• Water conservation faucet aerator
• Think Redmond discount card
• Yes/No recycling brochure, and much more!

Log in to Impact Redmond to take or update your pledge and sign up to receive a free EcoKit.

Didn’t Receive Your EcoKit Yet?
Our system had a hiccup, so if you’ve ordered an EcoKit and have not received it, please email us at impactredmond@redmond.gov with your name and mailing address and we will get an EcoKit out to you right away!

EcoKit Survey
If you have received your EcoKit, please keep an eye on the mail in the coming weeks for a follow up survey about how you’ve used the items in your EcoKit. Filling out and returning the survey will help us make EcoKits better in the future.

Posted in: City News, Green Lifestyle
Keywords: green lifestyle, redmond, sustainable

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Jun 14, 2013	LED Bulbs from PSE for $2
May 13, 2013	Help Build Gardens for Redmond Families in Need
May 8, 2013	Pesticide Free Pride
Jun 14, 2013	May is Bike to Work Month!

Jan 22, 2013	An Early Spring??
Dec 17, 2012	Re: Climate Change Grief in the Suburbs
Oct 1, 2012	Climate Change Grief in the Suburbs
Jun 7, 2012	Which Cities are Most Prepped for Climate Change