Welcome to our Monthly Newsletter!

Welcome to the first issue of our monthly newsletter! We are thrilled be able to share what we are doing at the Athens-Clarke County Sustainability Office with you. Join us each month as we explore all things sustainability and how you can get involved!

In this newsletter you will find: latest projects, free resources, and upcoming events!

Yellow coneflowers in lush green grass with trees and a blue sky in the background at Dudley Park

Tips for a Greener Lifestyle

You can’t do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.

Join us in this monthly series “Tips for a Greener Lifestyle” where we will explore how we can be sustainable together, right here in Athens-Clarke County!

How can we live sustainably?

Living sustainably can look different for every person. A large part of living sustainably is advocating for systematic change, but living sustainably is also about making small changes to your day to day to decrease your environmental impact. Sustainable living can mean carpooling to work, composting your food scraps, or buying secondhand clothes.

The challenges of climate change can feel overwhelming, but creating a sustainable future can’t be done by any one person. Real lasting change comes from taking small steps— steps taken together.

Athens-Clarke County is working to become more sustainable, and we offer a plethora of resources to help you do the same. We can educate ourselves and get involved with this passionate local community devoted to making the world a little greener.

Every day we are inspired by the people pushing boundaries right here in our community—people you’ll hear from in this series. We hope you too allow yourself to be inspired— inspired to make a difference.

Solar panel charging batteries for Fire Safety House parked in ACC Fire Station 2

It’s Electric! The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department Goes Green

By: Hannah Chaffee

The Athens-Clarke County Fire & Emergency Services Department recently replaced its aging diesel generator with an environmentally friendly electric generator.

The generator is used for the department’s Fire Safety House, a mobile trailer with an interior designed as a small-scale model house which simulates a fire emergency. No parent wants their child to experience a real fire emergency, but every parent wants their kid to be prepared for one.

A group of children enter the ACC Fire Safety House

The Fire Safety House serves as a fantastic experiential learning tool for children to practice responding to fire emergencies. Its rooms fill with water vapor to mimic smoke, and its doors give off heat while a realistic smoke alarm blares.

Diesel generators produce carcinogenic emissions which cause respiratory problems. Children are particularly vulnerable to these emissions as their lungs are still developing. Not only do these pollutants pose a health risk, they also release greenhouse gases.

The Athens-Clarke County Fire & Emergency Services Department’s Fire Safety House

The goal of the department’s education initiatives is to prepare for and help prevent hazardous situations. The Fire & Emergency Services Department saw an opportunity in transitioning from their diesel generator to match their operations to their mission.

The department’s new electric generator releases no fumes and is powered by a portable solar panel, decreasing its environmental footprint while saving money.

And to sweeten the deal: the electric generator is much quieter, and compared to diesel generators, electric generators are considerably more efficient. A significant portion of the chemical energy in diesel is lost as waste heat.

Thank you card with pink marker text reading “We couldn’t have done this without you!” and a very cute cartoon firefighter women drawing next to more pink marker text reading “Mrs. Emily” with a heart. This card was given to Mrs. Emily from a Girl Scout Group she worked with.

Card given to Mrs. Emily from a Girl Scout Group she worked with.

Sergeant Emily Alger who runs the Fire Safety House was ecstatic to receive the new generator. The diesel generator released too much carbon monoxide to remain on the trailer while in use, so Alger had to haul the hulking old generator away from the house for every event. “It really makes my job so much easier,” said the Sergeant. The electric batteries fit perfectly on board, plug right into the Fire Safety House, and won’t need to be moved for events, allowing Sergeant Alger to focus on the goal of the Fire Safety House: to educate and connect with the community!

Sergeant Emily Alger smiling in collared red Fire Department shirt pictured in front of the Fire Safety House

Sergeant Emily Alger smiling in front of the Fire Safety House

It’s no wonder the Fire Safety House has such a booked schedule when the program and its staff are so beloved and respected by the community. There is no one better suited for the job than Sergeant Emily who has the ability to keep you laughing from first introduction and over 14 years of experience in Athens-Clarke County Fire. “I had no idea I’d have so much fun doing what I’m doing,” she said about running the Fire Safety House.

The ACC Sustainability Office teamed up with the Fire & Emergency Services Department to fund the generator switch as a pilot project. Everyone involved was thrilled to help the planet and the greater Athens-Clarke County area kids who are learning crucial lessons in fire safety.

And the cherry on top? Diesel generators are a fire hazard—one the department was glad to eliminate.

Special thanks to the ACC Fire & Emergency Services Department for their collaboration!

Learn more about the ACC Fire Department services on their website!

www.accgov.com/fire

Join us to Celebrate the Transformation of Dudley Park Through the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Grant

Wednesday May 29th, 2024 11:00 AM - Noon at Dudley Park

There will be guided walks to see:

Restoration Areas and Trash Trap
Dudley Park Public Art Review
Boat Launch Pavilion and Restrooms
Nesting and Roosting Boxes
Native Plants
Refreshments will be served.

Visit our updated website to learn more!

Putting energy into greener Spaces

Athens-Clarke County Sustainability Office

www.accgov.com/green

706-613-3838