City of Delray Beach, FL
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Living Sustainably
Small Changes with a Big Impact
When you make your house more sustainable, you are not only helping to reduce your impact on the environment, but you can lower the cost of running your home, save energy, water, waste and maintenance on systems and appliances. It also creates a healthier environment for yourself, your family and pets.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert in this area, there are so many ways you can be more sustainable. There are many options to consider, and the information below can be used to help you with this endeavor.
Energy
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Energy efficiency means you are using less energy to do the same jobs, reducing your home's energy waste, and saving money. Here are some top tips to help your home save energy and be more efficient:
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Use LED lightbulbs instead of CFL’s (compact fluorescent lights). LEDs last longer and save an average of 90% of energy – which means even though it has a higher upfront cost, you will save more money with LEDs overall.
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Wash your clothes in cold water if possible.
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Use natural light when possible.
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Don't leave your electronics on all day long. Only turn on your computer, monitor, printer and fax machine when you need them, since many of these devices may still use energy when not in use.
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Turn off the lights when they are not in use.
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Clean or replace air filters in your home regularly. Dirty filters make your system work harder and run longer than necessary.
Solar
Thinking of going solar? South Florida is a great place to go solar. Costs for solar panels are becoming more affordable. Solar panels can reduce your monthly power bill significantly and you may be eligible to receive a tax credit on your purchase. Homeowners can benefit from installing a solar power system, either with or without a battery storage system. Before installing a solar power system you will need to submit an application and obtain a permit from our Building Division. Follow the Solar Check List to make sure you meet all the requirements. Residential property owners may want to discuss your improvement with your homeowner’s association with respect to placement of the solar panel, but the State of Florida prohibits homeowner’s associations from denying a property owner’s right to install solar.
Solar Co-op
Solar cooperatives or “co-ops” have been developed regionally by third-party, non-profit organizations that want to help neighbors organize to purchase and install solar equipment in “bulk”. By pulling together many households into a co-op group, the participants can leverage their buying power and purchase solar arrays and installation at a lower cost. Also, the solar co-ops send out requests for proposals to receive bids from multiple solar vendors and installers. The bids are carefully reviewed by solar experts and members of the community, and one vendor is chosen for the group. This model helps diminish fears of selecting an overpriced or under qualified installer, or having faulty work done.
In Palm Beach County, the League of Women Voters has organized two solar co-operatives in partnership with Florida Solar United Neighborhoods (FL SUN), a statewide organizer of solar cooperatives.
Solar Energy Information
The following sites provide a good starting point, for research into many topics related to solar energy:
PACE
PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a financing platform that reduces the barrier to making property improvements which address energy efficiency, green energy, or hurricane wind mitigation by allowing property owners to finance these types of home or building improvements through a voluntary non ad valorem assessment on their property tax bill.
The city approved agreements with four major Districts, and now residents have access to the following programs:
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Florida Green Finance Authority offerings through RenewPACE
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Florida Resiliency Energy District administered by Florida Development Finance Corporation
These programs will finance qualifying improvement projects, including energy efficiency, renewable energy and wind resistant property improvements to residential and commercial property which is re-paid alongside your property taxes. Property owners are advised to research each agency’s terms and conditions prior to selecting one to do business with. Qualified contractors may be interested in getting certified as an installer in collaboration with their financing products.
Working from Home
Working from home offers many sustainability benefits. Remote employees usually have smaller carbon footprints because they don't have to commute to and from the office. It not only offers you more flexibility and freedom but gives you the opportunity to work in a more sustainable way. Here are some tips that you can apply to be even more sustainable while working at home:
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Adjust your thermostat to save energy and money on your utility bill.
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Use eco-friendly supplies: there are all sorts of products available nowadays, including biodegradable pens, supplies made from recycled plastic, reusable notebooks and more.
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Unplug devices as much as possible: some devices continuously use energy, even when not in use. To save energy and money on your utility bill, try to remember to unplug devices as often as you can.
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Utilize sunlight to light the room as much as possible.
Water Conservation
Water is used in many different ways and is vital to our daily lives. Water conservation has become essential in all regions, even where water seems abundant. That is because our water resources are finite, and they are getting smaller every year. Saving water also means saving energy and greenhouse gas emissions, since it takes energy and infrastructure to treat and distribute water to each household.
Information on our water sources and drinking water program, which is overseen by the Utilities Department, can found by clicking here. Please use the information below to help you get started with conserving water at your home.
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Test for leaks: Water leaks can cost you unnecessary costs on your water bill if they go unnoticed. Testing for leaks regularly will help you prevent this.
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Faucets: Some faucet leaks are easily spotted, but others take a little more effort to locate. Dry sinks and tubs thoroughly and allow to sit for an hour. If you notice wetness, you have found a leak. To find leaks from faucet handles, dry the area around them before running water and if there is a leak water will collect next to them.
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Toilets: Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.
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Water Meter Tip: Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read the same number, there is probably a leak.
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Install easy retrofits: Retrofitting a device means…
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Fit Household Faucets with Aerators: A simple low-flow aerator saves water in the bathroom and kitchen faucets. Swiveling aerators also serve multiple purposes when installed in the kitchen.
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Low-flow shower heads: Low-flow shower heads allow you to take a shower that uses less water without sacrificing quality. The average showerhead uses 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), and low-flow showerheads will have a GPM rate that is lower than this. There are numerous brands and models that you can explore at a local home department store or online. By using less water and saving money, you can pay off the cost of even a 2.0 GPM low-flow showerhead in just 1-2 uses!
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Toilet Tank Bank: Placing a water displacement device in the tank can reduce water use by ½ gallon per flush. You can make your own device by filling a water bottle with small rocks and placing it in the tank, or you can purchase a device, such as a Toilet Tank Bank.
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Use an Adjustable Toilet Flapper: An adjustable toilet flapper can save up to 2.5 gallons per flush (GPF) when installed in an old 5 to 7 GPF toilet!
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Look for appliances with the WaterSense label: WaterSense labeled products meet EPA's specifications for water efficiency and performance, and are backed by independent, third-party certification. Products with WaterSense labels are 20% more water efficient than average and perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts. Read more here: epa.gov/watersense/watersense-label
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Save water whenever possible.
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Irrigate responsibly: The South Florida Water Management District has lawn watering restrictions all year, which can be found here. Amid recent dry conditions, property owners should take additional measures to conserve water including: A Florida-friendly landscape will also help you conserve more water, please read below for more information on landscaping that is built to thrive in our climate.
Recycling
Garbage collection, recycling, and bulk trash pickups are managed by the City’s Neighborhood and Community Services Sanitation Division, which holds a contract with Waste Management (WM), our City's trash hauler. Delray Beach's trash is transported by WM to the Solid Waste Authority facility in the northern section of our county and most is incinerated.
Educating the community and providing an array of sustainable solid waste management options is important in maintaining the overall health and sustainability of our community. We ask residents to learn about and commit to proper recycling - recycling that correctly sorts recycling items into blue bins for co-mingled glass, cans and recyclable plastics, and yellow bins for clean paper and cardboard. Proper recycling, in contrast to "wishful" recycling (putting items one hopes will be recycled" into the recycling bin), reduces contamination, making recycled materials more valuable and viable in the recycling marketplace. As they say, "When in doubt, throw it out!" The graphic below lists items that can be placed in the blue and yellow bin.
The Solid Waste Authority also operates a Home Chemical and Recycling Center in Delray Beach, a convenient one-stop drop-off sites for both your Home Chemicals and regular Recyclable items. Home chemical products can be dangerous if not properly used, stored or disposed, and residents are encouraged to separate them from their household garbage. More information on what can be dropped off at this center can be found by clicking here.
Composting
Composting is the decomposition of organic materials (food scraps, leaves and landscaping waste) by microorganisms and produces nutrient rich soil. Anybody can compost, even apartment dwellers. All you need is a little space, water, air, some organic material, and the desire. Composting is an easy way for you to reduce costs and be more environmentally friendly; it is an important way to divert waste from the landfill and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Most people compost in a bin, which in Florida may be in the shade or partial sun. The University of Florida’s Extension Service offers helpful resources such as a quick tutorial and methods to help find the best way to compost at your home. Find out more by clicking here.
Growing Plants and Trees
We are committed to planting trees, creating, and maintaining green spaces and natural habitats, and educating the public about the value of green, biodiverse community spaces and food systems.
The City of Delray Beach has a goal of planting 10,000 trees by year 2025 to increase our tree canopy. We focus on areas with tree canopies lower than the citywide average (23 percent), and as part of this goal, we are planting trees and periodically host live tree giveaways in the community. Our events are posted in advance on our social media and city calendar.
Palm Beach County’s Native Canopy Program offers free educational resources and vouchers for free trees and plants. For more information on this program, please go to discover.pbcgov.org/coextension/horticulture/Pages/Native-Canopy.aspx
Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Landscaping with native plants helps promote a healthy natural landscape that creates a habitat for local birds, bees, and butterflies. By installing native plants, you can have a beautiful landscape that saves you water and time from mowing less. By having plants and trees in your yard that provides shade, you can also save energy in your home since the shade helps you cool down the building and reduce costs associated with A/C.
The University of Florida’s IFAS Extension provides resources and helpful information to help you with Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles to maintain your beautiful yard. Find out more about this program by clicking here.