NorthBethesdaMarket.com n 301.287.8900

LIVING BETTER. LIVING RESPONSIBLY.

INDOOR AIR

Americans spend on average 90 percent of their time indoors where levels of pollutants may run two to five times–and occasionally more than 100 times–more than outdoor levels.– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

n In addition to not smoking in your home, another way to improve the indoor air quality is to use natural materials and cleaners that don’t have toxic materials or emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

n Select solid woods when possible for furniture rather than pressed woods or composites that may contain formaldehyde or other toxic chemicals.

n Use green cleaning products.

n Prevent moisture and mold buildup. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/mold/preventionandcontrol.html

IN YOUR APARTMENT HOME

n Please dispose of all trash and recycled items properly. Do not mix trash with the recycling, which may cause the entire bin to be thrown out by the waste management firm.

n Correctly dispose of hazardous household products. Keep paints, used oil, cleaning solvents, polishes, pool chemicals, insecticides and other hazardous household chemicals out of drains, sinks and toilets. Many of these products contain harmful substances that can end up in nearby water bodies.

n Contact your local sanitation, public works or environmental health department to find out about hazardous waste collection days and sites.

n Use nontoxic household products whenever possible.

n Never flush non-degradable products such as disposable diapers or plastic tampon applicators because they can damage the sewage treatment process and end up littering beaches and waters.

MAINTAINING YOUR CAR

n Recycle used motor oil.

n Keep up with car maintenance to reduce leaking of oil, coolant, antifreeze and other hazardous fluids.

n Get your engine tuned and keep your tires inflated to help fuel efficiency. A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4% to 40% and a new air filter could get you 10% more miles per gallon.

n Conserve water and choose a car wash that recycles its water.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

If every household in the U.S. replaced 1 roll of 1,000 sheet bathroom tissues with 100% recycled rolls, we could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water.– National Building Museum

There are many different ways that you can conserve resources when buying products to reduce, reuse and recycle.

n Reduce the amount of resources you consume. Bring cloth bags to stores and keep a mug at work. Recycle old clothing by donating it to homeless shelters, thrift stores and other community organizations.

n When you make a purchase, think about what the end of life is for the product. Purchase materials that you know you can reuse or recycle, or that are biodegradable.

n Purchase materials that are made from preconsumer or post-consumer recycled content. This helps increase market demand for the products as well as keeping finite resources in the industrial product loop instead of the landfills.

n Purchase materials that are extracted, manufactured and assembled locally to reduce additional energy use and pollution associated with transportation.

n Choose materials made from natural fibers and resources versus synthetic.

TRANSPORTATION

26 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions are a result of transportation fuel combustion.– IEA 2000

The best way to reduce the negative environmental impact from transportation is to minimize single occupancy vehicle use. For more ways to reduce energy consumption and emissions from transportation, see below.

n Drive less. Drive smart.

n Choose alternatives to single occupancy driving like public transit, biking, walking and carpooling. Group your errands together so you’ll make fewer trips. Choose an efficient vehicle. A car with 20 miles per gallon (mpg) will emit about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. A car getting 40 mpg will emit half that. Over the average lifetime of a car, a 40-mpg car will save roughly $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car.

ENERGY

Buildings consume approximately 37% of the energy and 68% of the electricity produced in the United States annually.– U.S. Department of Energy

The actions that you can take to participate in energy conservation in your home can be no-cost or very lowcost items.n Unplug seldom-used appliances and chargers.

n Turn off power strips.

n Set computers to sleep and hibernate mode.

n During the summer, set the thermostat to 78 degrees or more. In winter, set the thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day and 55 degrees before going to sleep or when you’re away for the day.

n Use sunlight to your advantage. During the winter, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer when using

air conditioning.

n Use kitchen appliances efficiently. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees and your freezer between

0 and 5 degrees. Use the power-save switch if your refrigerator has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. Washing dishes in a fully-loaded dishwasher with a short cycle can be more energy efficient than washing dishes by hand.

n Use laundry appliances efficiently. In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold. Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use. Dry heavy and light fabrics separately and don’t add wet items to a load that’s already partly dry. If available, use the moisture sensor setting.

n Turn off lights. Always shut off incandescent light bulbs when not in use. A good rule of thumb is to shut off fluorescent or compact fluorescent lighting if not using it for 15 minutes or more. Use natural daylight when possible.

n Make sure your light fixtures are clean so light can pass through to maximize brightness. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Lighting accounts for about 15% of household energy use. Today’s compact fluorescent bulbs use only one quarter to one third the energy and last 10 times as long. A compact fluorescent bulb is initially more expensive than a standard bulb, but it can save you on electricity during its lifetime, and also keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air, which helps mitigate global climate change.

North Bethesda Market encourages overall wellness by integrating walkable spaces, transport planning and smart urban design, while complementing it with health-promoting retail tenants and eco-friendly features such as:

n Walking distance to Metro

n Ample bicycle storage

n Pedestrian-friendly environment within walking distance to restaurants, shops and entertainment

n Recognition by the Washington Smart Growth Alliance

n Two environmentally-friendly green roofs, totaling ¾ acres of green space

n Smoke-free community

n On-site access to organic fare like Whole Foods Market and Seasons 52

n Health and wellness facilities including an on-site LA Fitness

n Energy Star appliances

n Recycling

n Motion sensor lights and faucets in common areas

WATER

On an annual basis the current water deficit in the United States is estimated at about 3,700 billion gallons. This means that Americans extract 3,700 billion gallons more than they return to the natural water system.– U.S. Green Building Council

There is not an endless supply of water on the planet, so conservation of this resource is important for future generations. There are water conservation measures that you can implement in different areas of your home, including the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.

n Use the garbage disposal sparingly and use a garbage can instead.

n If you are going to be putting dishes in a dishwasher, you don’t have to pre-rinse them, just scrape them. For hand washing, fill the sink with water instead of running water continuously. For food preparation, use a brush and bowl full of water to wash vegetables. Thaw frozen food in your refrigerator, not under running water. Cook vegetables with a minimum amount of water. Instead of cooling water by running the faucet, keep a container of cold water in the refrigerator.

n Check your toilet for leaks and report any maintenance needs to the Leasing Office. A “running” toilet can waste two gallons

of water per minute, up to 7,000 gallons per month.

n Don’t waste water at the sink. Fill the sink bowl with water or shut off the water instead of letting the water run when you brush your teeth, wash up or shave.

n Inspect faucets for leaks or sink drips; report any maintenance needs to the Leasing Office.

n Take shallow baths and plug the drain before you run water. Keep showers short.

n Run the clothes washing machine efficiently. Use the load selector to match water level to size of load. Presoak

heavily soiled items, and always use the minimum amount of detergent.

We know that preserving our environment is vital to the health of our planet. It’s a quality-of-life issue. And we’re proud to be building smart while thinking green. That’s why we developed environmental stewardship guidelines for residents. By each of us doing our part to help the environment, we have the power to create a more sustainable future.

Living Better. Living Responsibly.