News from BG: April 20, 2022 |
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Friday, April 22nd, marks the 52nd anniversary of the first Earth Day Celebration. This week's "Earth Day Take Over" of the eNews is full of ways you can celebrate today and every day. |
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Get Outside with Bowling Green Parks & Recreation!
2022 Summer Guide Available Now
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We are all looking forward to a more “normal” summer this year and we are excited to announce that all of your favorite programs have returned for summer 2022, along with some new options. We are happy to release the 2022 Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Summer Guide, which contains information on camps, sports, safety town, swim lessons and much more.
Resident registration begins on April 25 and non-resident registration begins on May 9. For questions or more information contact the Parks and Recreation Office at 419-354-6223, or visit www.bgohio.org.
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Since the 1940’s, Bowling Green has owned and operated the Electric Distribution and Transmission System in and around the City. As a public power community, decisions are governed by the local Board of Public Utilities and City Council.
As a member of American Municipal Power (AMP), Bowling Green is one of 135 municipal members who have partnered together to expand our ability to provide a reliable, sustainable, and cost competitive electric system for the benefit of our customers. This membership has allowed Bowling Green to build renewable energy projects and provide the Efficiency Smart program and the EcoSmart Choice program.
For its efforts, Bowling Green is one of a few cities in Ohio to be designated a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Association (APPA).
The City is currently in the process of compiling a Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventory, which will be used to help facilitate future plans and conversations on sustainability related initiatives.
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Looking for a volunteer opportunity? The City has a Litter Clean Up Loan Kit, which contains garbage bags, gloves, litter tongs, safety vests and all the supplies needed for a successful litter cleanup. Throughout the year, the Sustainability & Public Outreach Coordinator works with local volunteers to target and clean heavily littered areas. The Public Works Department assists with the removal of the collected litter and pays the cost of disposal. To coordinate a cleanup, call 419-354-6222 or email sustainability@bgohio.org. |
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"When in Doubt,
Throw it Out!"
"Wish" cycling (putting non-recyclable items in your recycling bin, hoping that they will be recycled) can cost recycling programs money and cause true recyclable material to become too contaminated to be recycled.
NO BAGS! Recyclables should be placed loose in your recycling container and not bagged. Plastic bags can become tangled in machinery causing expensive downtime and repairs. In most cases, bagged material is thrown away in fear it is garbage.
We also encourage you to download our FREE Recycle Coach App today! The "What Goes Where Tool?" allows residents to search for common household items and provides proper recycling guidance.
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Considering an Electric Vehicle?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicles (EV) can reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change and smog, improving public health and reducing ecological damage. Charging your EV on renewable energy such as solar or wind minimizes these emissions even more! EVs provide instant torque, resulting in a fun, fast, and quiet driver experience. They cost less to operate and can have significant emissions benefits over conventional vehicles. To learn more, check out the At a Glance: Electric Vehicles (PDF).
Many automotive manufacturers have publicly stated goals to increase EV production in the near future. If you are considering an EV, use AMP’s WattPlan tool to provide valuable information and help you make an informed decision on your next vehicle purchase. The tool provides a customized plan detailing your savings, available incentives, carbon reductions and more based on your driving habits, budget and electricity usage.
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Conserve Energy & Water
Utility Insights Account
After creating an account, customers complete a series of questions about their home or small business that can help them to understand their energy and water usage. Answers are used to provide recommendations for reducing usage and saving money. A personal savings plan will be created based off the completed profile & recommendations! Users can then keep track of projects, create a to-do list of the energy and water saving actions they plan to do, mark off which tasks they’ve already completed, and see estimates of how much their efforts can save.
Our Efficiency Smart program is a great way to implement some of the energy saving recommendations made by the Utility Insights program! Whether you’re looking for rebates to help make energy efficiency projects more affordable or need advice on what improvements are the most cost-effective, Efficiency Smart can help with your energy efficiency needs. |
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Columbia Gas customers, residing in Bowling Green, are eligible for a Home Energy Audit at a discounted rate. A Certified Home Energy Auditor will evaluate the home, and customers will receive free energy-saving products, a safety check of their furnace, an infrared scan to detect existing insulation levels, and a personalized energy report. After the audit, the customer will receive rebates based on the recommendations (such as attic insulation, wall insulation, and air sealing) installed by a participating program contractor.
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Food Waste Recycling Drop Off |
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To help reduce the amount of food waste being sent to landfills, the City of Bowling Green has launched a Residential Food Waste Drop Off. The Drop Off opened to Bowling Green residents a little over a year ago. So far, ~25 tons of food waste has been diverted from the Landfill.
The area is clearly marked with signs identifying where to drop off residential food waste and brochures are available listing the accepted materials and program guidelines..... MORE on Food Waste Recycling
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Friday Birding Series at Wintergarden/St. Johns Nature Preserve |
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Bowling Green Parks and Recreation is excited to offer Friday Morning Birding at Wintergarden/ St. John’s Nature Preserve with Chris Gajewicz. This series will run from Friday April 8th until May 27th, 2022. Adults 18 and older and birders of all ability levels are welcome to meet at Wintergarden/ St. John’s Nature Preserve on Fridays at 7:30 AM. Binoculars and field guides are available for those who do not have their own. Hikes will last a minimum of one hour, but could last longer based on sightings and bird activity.
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Mark your calendars for the Wood County Park District's Native Plant Sale: Saturday, May 7 from 9:30 am until 1:00 pm at the Wood County Fairgrounds in Bowling Green.
*Bonus pre-sale exclusively for Friends of the Parks members on Friday, May 6 from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm.
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As cases have continued to drop across the U.S., the CDC has provided new guidelines to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on local COVID cases and hospitalizations.
Precautions are recommended based on the level of risk in the community – low, medium or high. Across all levels, people are encouraged to stay up to date on COVID vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.
- For communities classified as low, no other precautions are advised.
- For communities classified as medium, people who are at high risk for severe illness, like older adults and individuals with certain health conditions, are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about whether they should wear a mask and take other precautions.
- For communities classified as high, it is recommended that everyone wear masks indoors in public.
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City of Bowling Green | 419-354-6204 | 304 N. Church St. | www.bgohio.org
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