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Green Works Orlando Green Updates July 2008July 25
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lawn and garden watering makes up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most, during periods of drought, to water plants, wash your car or to top a swimming pool. It provides an ample supply of free “soft water” to homeowners, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing. A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy. Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams. Therefore, a rain barrel is an easy way for you to have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use, free. For more information on rain barrels, visit
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In support of
Mayor Dyer’s Green Works Orlando initiative, the
City of Orlando approved an agreement with OUC
to replace the current lighting system in the
City Commons Garage. This new energy efficient
lighting system will reduce the energy
consumption and costs in the garage by 751,368
KWH per year for an estimated $55,601 savings
per year. This is the equivalent of removing 79
cars from our highways. 
Water
conservation has taken on an increasingly
important role in Central Florida. Due to the
dry season, the amount of water used to irrigate
green spaces is at a record high. As a City, we
must work together to avoid wasting one of our
most precious natural resources. Rain barrels
are one effective way to conserve water by
capturing runoff which otherwise might carry
pollutants to our lakes. The water can be used
to offset a portion of the irrigation demand at
a home, saving groundwater in the process.