Green 101
Bethesda Green invites you to review the broad range of resources found here with links to numerous organizations, businesses, government agencies, articles, and more to help you educate yourself about the environment, your community, and how you can help. The Resources section presents information from the Bethesda community and beyond. Browse freely, or if you’re looking for a specific interest area or topic, use the search tool above.
Topics:
Video clips offer a series of environmental tips, produced in partnership with Mark Leisher Productions and Montgomery Community Media.
Community
Spotlight: Local Communities Going Green
Citizens Associations
East Bethesda Citizens Association
The Town of Chevy Chase
The Town of Glen Echo
The Town of Oakmont
Government
Healthy and Sustainable Community Project: Set of goals and indicators to help policymakers and community members judge how their policies, programs, and actions contribute to achieving goals such as clean air and water in Montgomery County.
Non-Profit Associations & Advocacy Groups
A Wider Circle: A Wider Circle provides basic need items to families transitioning out of shelters or simply living without life’s necessities.
Aubudon Naturalist Society: Fosters stewardship of the region's environment by educating citizens about the natural world, promoting conservation of biodiversity, and protecting wildlife habitat.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber, in concert with public and private sectors, will lead the effort to have the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area recognized as the leading commerce district in Metropolitan Washington.
Bethesda Urban Partnership: Non-profit organization that manages downtown Bethesda, including landscaping, maintenance, and promotion of events and marketing campaigns.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN): The first grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Its mission is to educate and mobilize citizens of this region in a way that fosters a rapid societal switch to clean energy and energy-efficient products, thus joining similar efforts worldwide to halt the dangerous trend of global warming.
Conservation Montgomery: Non-profit coalition of civic and environmental organizations as well as individual residents who address a broad spectrum of environmental and quality of life challenges facing Montgomery County.
Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light: A non-profit initiative that helps congregations, religious institutions and others in the Washington, DC area work for a more just, sustainable and healthier creation by reducing the threat of global warming.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center: Recognized as the web's leading organization for relevant and authoritative information regarding asbestos and health complications associated with asbestos exposure.
Little Falls Watershed Alliance: Dedicated to improving the environmental health and well-being of the Little Falls Watershed.
Montgomery County Sierra Club: With more than 5,000 members in Montgomery County, the Sierra Club is the largest organized environmental voice on county issues.
Trash-Free Potomac Watershed Initiative: A program to reduce trash and increase recycling, education and awareness of trash issues in the Watershed.
Schools
Eco-Schools.us: Non-profit that provides resources to make sustainable and healthy school buildings available to all children and teachers.
Green Education Foundation, National Green Week: Non-profit that was founded in early 2008 with the goal of promoting and enhancing the state of environmental education in our schools today.
GreenKids Audubon Society Program: Grant-funded outreach program designed to assist Montgomery Co. Public Schools to foster environmental stewardship while meeting curriculum goals.
Maryland Green Schools: A holistic, integrated approach to authentic learning that incorporates local environmental issue investigation and professional development with environmental best management practices and community stewardship.
Montgomery County Public Schools:
Montgomery County School Energy and Recycling Team: Promotes efficient and responsible energy use in all Montgomery County Public Schools.
Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools (EPA): EPA-sponsored guide to help schools and school districts reduce the amount of waste generated.
Local
Chesapeake Bay Program: A unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay since 1983.
Community Woodlands Alliance: A cooperative sustainable development initiative to conserve community woodlands through recovery and more efficient use of waste wood resources.
Cool Capital Challenge: A non-profit consortium of leading Washington-area businesses, institutions, government agencies, congregations, and community and environmental organizations, united to bring about an immediate and dramatic reduction in regional greenhouse gas emissions to lead the US in reversing global warming.
Maryland Department of the Environment
Maryland Native Plant Society: Promotes awareness, appreciation, and conservation of Maryland's native plants and their habitats.
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Rainscapes: Rainscapes recreate natural ecosystems to help soil capture and filter rain water, which prevents pollution runoff and erosion, while also recharging groundwater supplies.
National
350.org: An international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis.
Center for a New American Dream: Center to help Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.
Climate Lab: A non-profit organization whose mission is to develop web-based tools for knowledge sharing and collaboration that drive action to address climate change.
Earth Share: An opportunity for environmentally-conscious employees and workplaces to support hundreds of environmental groups through workplace payroll contribution campaigns.
EarthTrends, World Resources Institute: A comprehensive online database focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world.
Environmental Defense Fund: Partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions.
Fair Trade Federation: The trade association that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to fair trade.
National Geographic: All about the environment, climate change, and habitats.
Wildlife Habitat Council: A nonprofit, nonlobbying 501(c)(3) group of corporations, conservation organizations, and individuals dedicated to restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat.
World Watch Institute: An independent research organization recognized by opinion leaders around the world for its accessible, fact-based analysis of critical global issues.
Energy Efficiency
Alliance to Save Energy: Promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security.
Earth Aid: Energy monitoring program that rewards you for decreasing your energy consumption.
Energy-Related Tax Credits: Information about federal and Montgomery County tax credits for energy efficiency home improvements, renewable-energy devices and energy-conservation devices.
Energy Savers, U.S. Dept of Energy: Learn ways to save energy and use clean, renewable technologies at home, while driving, and at work.
Energy Star: A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Home Energy Saver: Calculator is designed to help consumers identify the best ways to save energy in their homes, and find the resources to make the savings happen.
Maryland Clean Energy Center
Maryland Energy Administration
Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star: Program designed to reduce energy costs, improve indoor air quality, and help the environment.
Montgomery County Energy Wise Homes
US Energy Efficiency Executive Summary
Renewable Energy
Clean Currents: Provides low-cost, renewable energy to power your home, business, or institution.
Common Cents Solar: Company that helps to facilitate solar energy projects to benefit the local community and the planet.
Montgomery County Clean Energy Rewards Program: Sign-up for clean energy through one of the program’s approved energy suppliers or REC marketers to receive awards for amount of clean energy used.
Montgomery County Property Tax Credits: Earn tax credits for renewable energy.
Local green businesses
American Plant: A trusted source of quality merchandise and gardening information, with a commitment to organic and EarthWise gardening.
Amicus Green: Center is a one-stop source of genuine "green" products, resources, and expert support to help you create a healthy, environmentally friendly, stylish, energy smart and sustainable building.
Green Paper Studio: Offers unique, beautiful, and eco-friendly stationery for all occasions and provides elegant, high quality paper products while reducing environmental impact.
Mom’s Organic Market: Health food market specializing in quality organic foods and health products.
Sweetgreen: Serves all natural salads and frozen yogurts to the Bethesda community.
Whole Foods Market: Sells high-quality natural and organic foods.
Resources for “Greening” your Business
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber, in concert with public and private sectors, will lead the effort to have the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area recognized as the leading commerce district in Metropolitan Washington.
Co-op America: Non-profit that works to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
Earth Share: An opportunity for environmentally-conscious employees and workplaces to support hundreds of environmental groups through workplace payroll contribution campaigns.
Montgomery County's Green Business Certification Program: Businesses that are interested in making their operations more sustainable can use the resources offered through the Green Business Certification Program to achieve this goal.
Sustainable Business Network of Washington: Works with companies to help them integrate environmental and social responsibility principles into their operations and strategy.
Construction
Builder’s Guide to Reuse and Recycling: Directory for Construction and Demolition Materials in the Metropolitan Washington Region.
Community Forklift: Provides affordable construction in communities, reduces construction industry waste, and promotes environmentally friendly building.
Green Building Institute: Fosters sustainable building practices through education and example.
Green Building, Environmental Protection Agency: Government resource for green building.
National Green Building Program: Helps members move the practice of green building into the mainstream through incorporating energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, sustainable or recycled products, and indoor air quality into the everyday process of home building.
US Green Building Council, Green Home Guide: Resource on how to incorporate smart design, technology, construction and maintenance elements to significantly lessen the negative impact of the home on the environment and improve the health of the people who live inside.
US Green Building Council: A non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.
Woodsurgeon.com: A Maryland woodworker who uses local and salvaged timber to make his products.
Home/Lifestyle
buygreen.com: Environmental friendly products for Consumers and Business.
Going Green At Home: Program that offers free expert presentations focusing on ways homeowners can reduce energy costs and use green products to lessen their impact on the environment.
Green Holiday Tips from the Sierra Club: List of ideas to make the holidays greener.
Green Paper Studio: Offers unique, beautiful, and eco-friendly stationery for all occasions and provides elegant, high quality paper products while reducing environmental impact.
Green Renter: Online directory of "green" or environmentally conscious commercial and residential rental property.
Live Green: Membership organization providing support to green businesses and discounts on everyday green products and services for consumers in the DC area.
greenZag: Focused on helping you make greener choices in your day-to-day life, with an emphasis on home. Hosts a Green Bank of services and products.
Sustain Lane: The web's largest people-powered guide to sustainable living.
The Green Guide for Everyday Living- National Geographic
TreeHugger Holiday Gift Guide
Uncommon Goods: Online store for creatively designed and unusual home accessories and gifts.
Articles/Videos
Reduce Runoff: EPA video that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff.
"To Revive Urban Streams, Think Small," (PDF) by Dan Kulpinski (a Bethesda Green volunteer). Published in the Audubon Naturalist News, Winter 2010.
Blogs
Eat Local Challenge: A group blog written by authors who are interested in the benefits of eating food grown and produced in their local foodshed.
Green Gaithersburg -- an independant website offering news with an impact on your environment.
Montgomery County Sustainability News -- Environmental news and information for Montgomery County, MD. Includes detailed calendar listings.
Organic Mania: Blog devoted to making sense of healthy green living and how to save money while going green.
News/Magazines
BioCycle: The only magazine advancing composting, organics recycling and renewable energy.
Environmental News Network: Online news source that provides a collection of resources, teachers, experts and tools that provide objective information and knowledge about the increasingly complex field of environmental science.
Grist: Online source for reading friendly environmental news and commentary.
Waste & Recycling News: A daily, online environmental news source.
Social Networks
Carbon Free DC
EcolocityDC
Facebook-BethesdaGreen
LinkedIn-BethesdaGreen
County Government
Division of Solid Waste Services
How to Recycle/Dispose of…: List of how to recycle/dispose various materials in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Go Green- Overview of tips from the county on going green,
Use it Again: Search Montgomery County database for local businesses and organizations that help you get the most out of items by either renting, repairing, donating or selling them used.
Resources
Maryland Recycles: Find out which materials are recyclable, and what companies will take your recyclable materials.
Recycling in Maryland, Department of the Environment
Greendisk: recycling of used plastic cases for CD’s and DVD’s
Sustainable Food and Agriculture
Farms/Local Food
Bethesda Central Farm Market: New farmer's market held locally on Thursdays and Sundays.
Button Farm/Menare Foundation: A living history center depicting 19th century slave life in Maryland and seeks to preserve the Underground Railroad legacy using history as a resource for community revitalization, race dialogue and cultural growth.
Community Supported Agriculture Farm Directory for Maryland
Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture
Eat Local Challenge: A group blog written by authors who are interested in the benefits of eating food grown and produced in their local foodshed.
List of Farmers Markets in Montgomery County
Local Harvest: Find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.
Montgomery County Agricultural Preservation: As farmers and landowners, you are part of this effort to preserve agricultural land. You can be both participants in, and beneficiaries of, efforts to preserve agricultural land.
National Capital Farms- Promotes and supports agriculture within an approximately 150 mile radius of the nation’s capital.
Red Wiggler Farm: A community farm in Montgomery County, MD, that operates a community supported agriculture program and creates jobs so that adults with developmental disabilities can succeed at work.
Slow Food USA: To learn about table to farm to benefits.
Virginia Cooperative Extension: An educational outreach program that stimulates positive personal and societal change, leading to more productive lives, families, farms, and forests as well as a better environment.
Gardens
Grow It, Eat It: Resources for food gardening network.
Home and Garden Information Center: Information regarding plants, soil, wildlife and other gardening issues.
Maryland Master Gardeners: Program to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.
Organic Food
Mom’s Organic Market: Health food market specializing in quality organic foods and health products.
Organic Consumers Association: An online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability.
Sweet Green: Serves all natural salads and frozen yogurts to the Bethesda community.
Whole Foods Market: Sells high-quality natural and organic foods.
Community Groups
Bethesda Circulator: Free trolley around downtown Bethesda.
Bethesda Transportation Solutions: A free resource available to commuters and employers in Bethesda's business district who are looking for "another way" to get to work.
Bike Racks in Bethesda
Bike Washington: Maps of multi-use trails in the Washington area.
Carpool World: Carpools in the DC metropolitan area.
Carpooling in Bethesda information
Commuter Connections: A regional network of transportation organizations coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
erideshare: Carpool listing search
Fleet Efficiency: The Movie -- A short video from Environmental Defense Fund about how to reduce costs (and carbon emissions) of corporate fleets. See their Fleet Vehicles site for more details.
North Bethesda Transportation Center: A free service dedicated to providing information about commuter alternatives for employees, employers, residents, and visitors in the North Bethesda area.
Ridesharing: Ridesharing promotes alternative ways for commuters to get to work such as carpooling and vanpooling.
Street Smart: Pedestrian and Bicycle safety campaign in the Washington D.C. area.
The Capital Crescent Trail
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Government
Metro Trip Planner
Montgomery County Department of Transportation
Ride-On Routes and Schedules
SmarTrip Card
Other Resources
Car-Free Diet: The easy, fun way to see how incredible it can feel to live a car-free or car-lite lifestyle.
Divide the Ride: Helps to create and manage a calendar for school-based pooling, including scheduling and email/text alerts.
E-Ride share: Bethesda carpool center.
Map My Run
Perils for Pedestrians: A monthly television series promoting awareness of issues affecting the safety of people who walk and bicycle.
ZipCar: Car-sharing company.
Adventure Theatre: Located in Glen Echo Park, it is the longest running theatre program in Metro DC area for children and families.
City Renewed: Comprehensive green resource guide for the DC area.
GreenListDC: A green-info guide to the Washington, DC, region.
Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage (Paperback book) Amazon
How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life: Why not owing a vehicle can lead to a happier, healthier and much wealthier lifestyle. (Paperback book) Amazon
Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities: Explores the growing urban bike culture that is changing the look and feel of cities across the U.S. (Paperback book) Amazon