Local Government
Air Quality
Air Quality Improvement Ideas for Local Governments
B2 (Breathe Better): An anti-idling/clean air campaign. This program is designed to improve air quality around school campuses by reducing vehicle emissions. It’s a great way for schools to help the environment and protect the health of students! The goal is to identify and provide solutions for reducing air pollution around school campuses by enlisting the efforts of students, faculty, administration, staff, local government, and other community partners.
Clean Cities
The mission of the Clean Cities Program is to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of petroleum consumption. Clean Cities carries out this mission through a network of more than 80 volunteer coalitions, which develop public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction.
Climate Change 101: Local Solutions (PDF)
Across the country, local governments are addressing climate change with their own solutions. This report describes the actions taken by cities and towns.
Developing Community Trails (PDF)
Enviroflash
Local air quality affects how we live and breathe. Like the weather, it can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. Up-to-date information allows citizens to make decisions based on forecasted air quality. EnviroFlash notifies the public about air quality information that you don't have to go searching for it.
Trade it in for Cleaner Air – Gas Can Exchange Program
To help clean the air in some of South Carolina’s most polluted areas, S.C. DHEC and several partners hosts events where local residents can obtain free low-emitting, spill-proof gas cans in exchange for their old gas cans. In addition, if residents bring in their old gas-powered lawnmowers, S.C. DHEC and partners offer a $199 rebate for the first 70 participants toward the purchase of any new electric, battery-powered, or non-motorized push mower. A $299 rebate is offered with no trade in.
- Gas Can Exchange Program Tool Kit
Instructions for implementing a Gas-Can-Exchange Program be downloaded for your use.
Woodstove Changeout Campaign
Just 20 old non-EPA-certified woodstoves can emit more than 1 ton of fine particles into your area during the cold months of the year. -U.S. EPA
- Woodstove Changeout Campaign Kit
A Woodstove Changeout Campaign is a mechanism you can use to reduce the amount of air pollution from wood smoke in your area. EPA has developed a how-to guide for use to determine whether it is feasible for your jurisdiction to develop and implement a Woodstove Changeout Campaign.
U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
When it comes to global warming, cities are both the problem and the solution. Worldwide, cities account for 78 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. But because cities are where the people are, your climate protection actions really can make a difference. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is committed to substantially reducing cities' contributions to climate pollution with actions that make sense for your city, your environment and the economy. But it is an effort that depends on community-wide actions - individuals, businesses, schools, commuters, governments - in short, everybody.
- Mayor's Powerkit
Move into action. Get the facts.
Development and Planning
Smart Growth.org
Smart Growth Online — maintained by the Sustainable Communities Network (SCN), and supported with funding from the US EPA.
Smart Growth — EPA
EPA helps communities grow in ways that expand economic opportunity, protect public health and the environment, and create and enhance the places that people love. Through research, tools, partnerships, case studies, grants, and technical assistance, EPA is helping America's communities turn their visions of the future into reality.
Smart Growth Toolkit
Smart growth is a principle of land development that emphasizes mixing land uses, increases the availability of a range of housing types in neighborhoods, takes advantage of compact design, fosters distinctive and attractive communities, preserves open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas, strengthens existing communities, provides a variety of transportation choices, makes development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective and encourages community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.
Greening Programs
Green Seal
Today, governments at all levels — Federal, state, county and municipal — are seeking to incorporate environmental considerations into their activities.
DHEC is a partner in EPA's WaterSense program. This water efficiency program makes it easy for South Carolinians to save water and money. Look for WaterSense labeled products when shopping for faucets, toilets, and other fixtures to begin reducing your water use by as much as 30% every day.
Recycling
S.C. Recycling Grants
Since its creation in 1991, the Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling has been responsible for assisting counties and municipalities of South Carolina in achieving their source reduction and recycling goals. One of the ways the Office does this is by providing grant funds from the Solid Waste Trust Fund, enabling counties and local governments to implement source reduction and recycling programs. For more information, call 1-800-768-7348