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Easy Ways to Make Your World Safe, Clean & Green in 2024!
It may be chilly outside, but that’s no reason for Steve Ward, program manager of Scranton Tomorrow’s Safe, Clean, Green & Design program, to hibernate ― and neither should you! In fact, Ward says the start of a new year is the perfect time to incorporate new and eco-friendly habits into your routine. Here are a few easy ways to do just that:
Stay Safe
- Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to be sure they are functioning properly. You should check both monthly.
- Look for air leaks in your home. Inspect the insulation, outside pipes, walls, garage, attic and cellar.
- If your furnace uses filters, this is a good time to change them.
- Be sure your outside spickets and water lines are shut off and insulated.
- Charge batteries for all your mobile devices in case inclement weather causes a power outage.
- Create an emergency kit.
To learn more about these and other home safety tips, visit ready.gov and cdc.gov.
Do Spring Cleaning Now
- When it comes to decluttering and sprucing up our homes, why wait until spring? Make room for the new items you received as gifts at the end of 2023, and donate gently used items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or a local shelter.
Go Green
- Add some cheer to your indoor space with plants. Ward recommends spider plants, which enhance the air quality, and ferns. Both are easy to care for, and they add natural beauty to any room.
- Plant seedlings. Even if you have no gardening experience, you can start an herb garden, grow micro-greens, or plant flowers indoors right now. Use egg cartons, paper cups, or small plastic clamshells (grape and cherry tomatoes are often packaged in these containers). Just be sure to thoroughly wash and sanitize plastic clamshells. Use a high quality seed starting mix, water as needed, keep your seedlings in a warm, light location, and enjoy watching them sprout as spring approaches. To learn more, visit Penn State Extension.
- Be an eco-friendly pod person! Coffee drinkers who use single-use coffee pods are encouraged to save their used pods and donate them to Scranton Tomorrow’s recycling program instead of throwing them away. Scranton Tomorrow sends pods to a specialized recycling facility where components are separated, the plastic part is recycled and remanufactured, and coffee grounds are composted. Pod donations are accepted Monday through Friday during regular business hours at Scranton Tomorrow, 307 Linden Street, Downtown Scranton. To learn more, email Steve Ward at steve@scrantontomorrow.org.
Design Your Own Walking Tour
Winter walks can be a lot of fun, especially when you’re exploring Scranton Tomorrow’s public arts program in Downtown Scranton. Here is the route Ward recommends for a 1.7 mile walk:
- Start at The Dream mural on the corner of Mulberry Street and Adams Avenue.
- From there, head to The Office: The Story of Us mural at 503 Lackawanna Avenue.
- The next stop will “bee” Rear 234 Mifflin Avenue to explore The Good of the Hive
- Round out your tour at the Danseur de Corde mural at 328 Penn Avenue.
Another opportunity for winter fun in Downtown Scranton is just around the corner as Scranton Tomorrow will host Downtown on Ice, February 9 and 10 in the Business District. Featuring an “Under the Big Top” circus theme, the family-friendly event will include ice carving demonstrations with artists from Sculpted Ice Works, winter activities, a curling rink, scavenger hunt, live music, selfie stations, and seasonal cuisine and beverages at restaurants, cafés and pubs throughout the downtown.
To learn more, visit scrantontomorrow.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
