Resources for Residents: Green Your Home
Air, Soil, Water and You
Sustainability is about meeting our present needs while protecting the needs of future generations. Most communities consider this common sense, but the complexities of the modern world can make this goal hard to see and protect. Fortunately, simple lifestyle choices can protect our health, safety and even save money without sacrifice. Below are resources to help County residents learn about common issues so they can make the best decisions for their families.
Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety
Fire and carbon monoxide detectors are not just critical safety devices, they are legally required in rentals and new homes. You can contact your local fire station for free advice about your home’s safety. Learn more about fire prevention and CO safety.
County and State Programs
- County Housing Rehab Loan Program—Offers low- and no-cost resources to correct hazardous conditions, eliminate safety hazards, repair or replace major systems, correct interior and exterior deficiencies, energy improvements, modifications for persons with disabilities and eliminate lead-based paint.
- Maryland Healthy Homes Program—Highlights common indoor air quality and health concerns, with services and practical steps for improvement.
- Green and Healthy Homes Initiative—Provides a comprehensive set of direct services to address issues that undermine the health, energy efficiency and safety of home environments.
- For Seniors—Civic Works Housing Upgrades can help seniors age in place or improve the health and safety of any home.
- For Flooding—County flooding resources are available for homes that have been flooded.
Indoor air quality guides
Many people spend most of their time indoors, so it makes sense to protect our indoor air quality. Various ordinary products, tobacco or vape smoke, poorly maintained appliances and more can impact indoor air.
Home Cleaning
Healthier products are plentiful and affordable, and most clean just as well, or better, than their less healthy competitors. These nonprofit organizations study and certify products that meet high standards of cleaning, health and environmental quality, as well as focus on scientific evidence and rigorous testing.
Laundry
The most cost-effective laundry detergents are dry powders, but sometimes they don’t dissolve properly in the wash, usually due to the naturally-occurring pH of our local water. Add a splash of vinegar or citric acid to the fabric softener well in the washing machine. This will also help your clothes feel softer.
- Clothing—Wearable clothing can be donated locally. Clothing like old underwear, ripped jeans or stained clothing can be taken to a recycling drop-off center.
- Miscellaneous Items—For atypical items, learn where and how to recycle almost anything.
- Recycling—View the weekly collection guidelines and Accepted Materials Directory (now with quick online search)
- Reuse Directory—Find reused items you need or pass along things you don’t.
- Library of Things—Your local branch of the Baltimore County Public Library branch may have camping gear, star-gazing telescopes, seed starting kits and more.
- Baltimore Tool Library—Teaches a wide variety of classes for home repairs, hobbies and even gardening. You can also borrow a huge variety of tools instead of buying expensive equipment.
A sustainable lifestyle sees the home as a living system. So the systems that support our lives—like food, water, safety, indoor air quality, HVAC, energy use and more—all work together. Understanding these systems can help us optimize them for our health and well-being. Learn more from the local resources below.
Local Programs
In the News
Sustainable Building Standards
Help Us Track Environmental Data
Residents can help the County track environmental data—including where individuals plant trees or install rain barrels—that is used to inform potential mitigation methods and for mandatory reporting. Take a moment to log your environmental efforts in the Environmental Reporter tool.
Log Your Environmental Efforts
Green Infrastructure Projects
When rain falls on impervious surfaces (i.e. roofs, streets, parking lots, sidewalks, etc.) the water cannot soak into the ground as it naturally would. This stormwater rolls through gutters and storm drains, then rushes into nearby streams, ponds, etc. Stormwater carries trash, bacteria, heavy metals and many other pollutants. Sometimes it causes erosion and flooding that can damage habitat, property and infrastructure.
Green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater by protecting, restoring and mimicking the natural systems that slow it down, collect pollutants and encourage it to soak into the ground, through:
- Plants or soil systems
- Permeable pavement, surfaces or substrates
- Stormwater harvest and reuse
- Landscaping
Green infrastructure also provides habitat for wildlife, flood protection, and cleaner air and water. Learn more about at-home projects below.
Rain barrels are containers that collect about 40 to 75 gallons of water from rooftops and store it for use in yards, gardens and indoor plants. Rain barrels divert stormwater while also conserving tap water, which in turn conserves energy and saves money.
| Cost | Difficulty | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Easy |
When food or yard waste goes to landfill, it can create potent greenhouse gases (GHGs). Baltimore County landfills account for 30 percent of our total carbon pollution. Composting food and yard waste has a huge impact by keeping these materials out of the landfill. Large or small, there are many ways to fit composting into a busy lifestyle. Learn more below.
County Resources
State Resources
Compost Services
- Pick-Up—Provide homes and apartments with a collection container and pick it up each week for a fee.
- Drop Off—Check with your local farmer’s market for available drop off services.
Rain gardens are installed in small depressions and contain native shrubs, perennials and flowers. They are designed to absorb rainwater runoff and have the ability to remove up to 90 percent of nutrients and chemicals, and up to 80 percent of sediments from runoff. They can also host beautiful flowers and provide pollinator habitat. Here is a rain garden maintenance guide.
Permeable pavers have strategic gaps that are designed to allow water to seep into the ground below. They are smooth and safe to walk on, most people don’t even realize they’re different from normal pavers. Permeable pavers reduce runoff, filter stormwater and function the same as impervious pavement.
| Cost | Difficulty | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| High | Medium |
Redirect water coming off your roof and gutters away from hard surfaces like your driveway or storm drains. Send that water to pervious surfaces in your yard, like grass, a rain garden, or a garden bed away from your foundation. This can greatly reduce demand on storm water systems while also keeping pollutants out of rivers and streams. The idea is to slow the water down so it can soak into the ground.
| Cost | Difficulty | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Easy |
Protect yourself and your family from tick-borne diseases. Here are some prevention and management resources for these eight-legged hitchhikers.
Conservation landscaping involves modifying the visible features of an area of land to incorporate:
- Environmentally-sensitive design
- Integrated pest management
- Low-impact development
- Noninvasive species
Conservation landscaping also reduces the need for fertilizer and pesticides, filters and slows stormwater and provides habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
Guides
- Conservation Landscaping Guide—From the University of Maryland Extension
- Stormwater Garden Guide—From the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
What to Plant
Edible landscaping means choosing plants that feed you, local wildlife or both. Choose a shrub or tree that will produce enough for your family, but won't overwhelm you to harvest. Trees like Serviceberry start small, but grow huge fast. You may want several blueberry shrubs and or strawberry plants to enjoy all season.
Local Resources
- Local gardening groups—Can help homeowners choose disease-resistant plants to minimize maintenance and the cost of care. Some apples, for example, cannot fruit without constant care because of killing diseases, but heartier varieties can thrive. Don’t throw your time and money away on pesticides and fungicides if a better option is available.
- Backyard Fruit Growers—Local informal networks like this can help members learn important skills and improve their crop. Extra food can be gifted to friends, family and neighbors to build community. Keep in mind that selling food may require expensive training and permits.
Guides and Regulations
Pollinator populations have been declining from pesticide use, loss of habitat and climate change. Plant flowers that originate from our region, and provide food and habitat for butterflies, moths, birds, etc. Some require less maintenance and care.
| Cost | Difficulty | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Free or All Budgets | Varies |
Find Seeds and Supplies
- Visit GroGive's Free Seed Library at The Avenue Market.
- Locate native plant nurseries and vendors.
- Search for local native gardening clubs for plant and seed giveaways.
- Visit the Enoch Pratt Library branches in Northwood, Central Library and Patterson Park. Some Baltimore County branches may also have supplies and seeds. All libraries have videos, books, and other gardening resources.
- Absorb, filter and store rainwater
- Clean pollutants from the water and air
- Reduce erosion
Native trees require less maintenance and provide habitat for local wildlife.
After you plant a new tree, water at least once per week during the hottest weeks of summer; best practice is to do this for three years after planting. A good, deep soak encourages them to build robust root systems to weather future heat waves.
- Tree-Mendous Maryland provides discounted trees for public lands and homes.
- Baltimore County tree planting programs are available for all property types.