Specific Communities Strategies
Energy Savings Program
To enable residents and small businesses to save significantly on their electricity bills in the immediate future, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has created the Energy Savings Program (ESP) through its Clean Air Counts Campaign. Not only will participating residents and small businesses realize enhanced savings, they will also receive four energy-reducing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Using CFLs will contribute toward a significant improvement in local air quality. The following tools have been created to assist you with promoting the program to your residents; blurb, myths and facts, press release, put cash back into your economy summary of savings throughout your community, faq, next steps, and newsletter article. Download Tool Kit in PDF or DOC. To sign up all residents need to do is grab their ComEd bill and sign up here. Alternatively, they can go through the link on the upper left hand page of the Clean Air Counts website.

Energy Efficient Lighting
Energy-efficient lighting can involve a combination of strategies such as using more natural daylight, using energy efficient light bulbs that operate at a lower wattage, improving lighting controls and adjusting light to appropriate task levels, and performing basic maintenance on light fixtures to keep them running longer. By utilizing energy-efficient lighting you will lower electricity costs and make your workplace more comfortable. <more>

Energy Star Buildings
The Energy Star Buildings strategy encourages participants to reduce energy consumption and air pollution resulting from the generation of energy. Participants are encouraged to achieve these objectives by either becoming a Energy Star® partner or contract with a professional energy consultant. <more>

Energy Star Office Equipment
Energy Star® is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. Energy Star® Products include a wide variety of products that meet efficiency standards including office equipment, appliance, and electronics. <more>

Gas Can Replacement
The Gas Can Replacement strategy informs citizens of the benefits of using more environmentally sound gas cans and promotes events in which people can trade older models for newer “cleaner” cans. <more>

Lawnmower and Leaf Blower Buy Back
Buy Back Programs aim to reduce air pollution by encouraging people to trade in gas- powered mowers and blower for electric, battery, or non-motorized lawn care equipment. <more>

Low-VOC Building Materials
The low-VOC building materials strategy encourages the use of adhesives, caulks, sealants, manufactured wood products and other building materials with a VOC content significantly below current EPA limits. The use of these products is considered one aspect of “green building”. <more>

Low-VOC Cleaning Products
Participants in this strategy use low-VOC, or clean, cleaning products in lieu of conventional counterparts that emit hazardous and smog-forming chemicals. <more>

Low-VOC Paints
Participants in this strategy use low-VOC and zero-VOC paints, primers, and sealants in lieu of conventional counterparts. <more>

Natural Landscaping
Natural landscaping is a method for beautifying and enhancing areas around buildings and other structures. Natural landscaping utilizes wild flora to create surroundings that are aesthetically pleasing, easy to maintain and resistant to seasonal stresses -- unlike conventional landscaping which often involves the removal of native plants and the extensive planting of lawns. Because natural landscaping requires less active maintenance (such as mowing, fertilization and pesticide treatment), it also promotes cleaner air. <more>

Diesel Retrofit
The Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program encourages participants to reduce emissions from diesel powered construction equipment and heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks or buses, by installing pollution control equipment, using cleaner fuels, or both. These voluntary reductions go beyond any State or Federal requirements. <more>

Workplace Transportation Options
The Workplace Transportation Options strategy encourages employees to drive less to work on a daily basis. Employers can achieve this objective by offering a range of alternatives to driving alone to work, through incentives to encourage this behavior and by working with transportation service providers in implementing a WTO program. Employers with a strong WTO program are encouraged to join EPA’s Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative. <more>