It Ain't Easy Being Green
With the ever increasing population and influx of cars, highways and flights from DFW Airport, the challenge to keep Euless green is increasing daily. The City of Euless is meeting that challenge through innovative programs, policies and procedures that not only save valuable tax dollars, they make Euless a more sustainable place to work and live. We wanted to share a few of our green features with you.
Euless has earned recognition for being environmentally treefriendly as a White House Millennium Community and is the only nation to be recognized twice by the National Arbor Day Foundation for its Arbor Day celebration.
In 2006 over 100 pounds of red wiggler worms were given to Euless residents. This was not an attempt to send them running and screaming the other direction. It was part of an education opportunity called Compost-ology, The Science and Fun of Backyard Composting. Euless provided hands-on learning opportunities in order to reduce the amount of yard waste put in local landfills. The result was a decrease in garbage collected and yard waste returned to the earth as nutrient rich mulch.
City of Euless fleet currently operates 37 vehicles on Liquefied Petroleum Gas as an alternative fuel source. These units are driven on propane in daily usage 70% of the time. This fuel alternative results in kinder emissions to the environment. Policies have been implemented that city vehicles will be of a Low Emissions Vehicle, Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle or a Zero Emissions Vehicle type. Approximately 95% of the fleet meets this mandate.
Euless is working towards a complete conversion of traffic signals from incandescent to LED type fixtures. Currently all pedestrian crossing lights and 98% of the city's signals have been converted. This will reduce the average dollar cost and energy consumption by 75%. Incandescent fixtures use 150 watts of electricity compared to LED fixtures that use 8 watts.
Euless was the first city in Texas to provide apartments with a recycling alternative. Euless residential structure is made up of approximately 45% apartments. This accounts for nearly half of the population and an even larger percentage of potential waste to be sent directly to landfills. Euless residents who live in apartments are offered the opportunity to recycle the same materials accepted in the single family curbside program as well as the hazardous waste collections twice a year.
TIPS for Saving Energy and Money at Home
- Add a new item to your recycle bag such as steel cans, plastic bottles or junk mail.
- Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. The corkscrew-shaped bulbs are a bit more expensive up front, but use 75% less electricity.
- Add 4-6 inches of mulch around your plants, which can cut water use by about 25%.
- Maintain your vehicle. Properly inflated tires and well-tuned engines will save gas and curb excessive emissions.
- Shorten your shower by one minute. A family of four, each showering for five minutes a day, uses 700 gallons a week; this is enough for a three-year supply of drinking water for one person.
