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Get Involved!

Get Involved with the City of Bethlehem Sustainability

Many people feel overwhelmed when they first start to think about climate change and what they might be able to do about it. The following resources list actions you can take that range from quick decisions at the grocery store - eating less meat - to getting involved with community efforts to address climate change.​
 
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint, New York Times 
 
A variety of effective steps to reduce your owncontributions to climate change.
 
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Work, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions 
Suggestions for energy efficiency and reducing waste specific to the workplace.
 
Teaching Climate: Human Responses to Climate Change 
A wide variety of educational resources focused on how individuals, communities, businesses, and governments can respond to climate change.
 
Member Organizations, U.S. Climate Action Network -
A list of organizations active on climate change that present opportunities to get involved with others pursuing solutions.
 
 
 
  • Learn More


    Check out the following educational resources:
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Energy 

Energy Transition:
Energy Conservation Measures

Visit PApowerswitch.com

Electrifying Your Home:

Overview of financial incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act

Wire your home for electrification
Visit Rewiring America's Personal Electrification Planner

Clean Energy 101 - these are a collection of short videos explainers of various clean energy appliances and technologies. 

Energy Efficiency:

Explore the US Department of Energy's Energy Saver page for info on how to save money and energy at home. The page includes

·         Seasonal Energy-Saving Tips

·         An Energy Efficient House Tour

·         Financing & Incentives

·         Information on Home Comfort, Weatherization, Efficient Design, and Renewables & Electricity

PPl offers Energy Star Smart Thermostats, Power Strips, Energy Assessments, rebates and more. 

Switch to LED Lighting- LED bulbs use significantly less electricity than incandescent bulbs. The LED energy usage for a 75W equivalent bulb is 7W, almost 10x the energy savings!

Eco-Friendly Landscaping

Invasive Plants are non-native plants that spread quickly and cause economic, human health, or environmental harm. PA's Department of Conservation & Natural Resources has a thorough webpage with information about invasive plants in PA which you can access here

For help in identification in invasive plants, treatment, and protection suggestions, visit this inventory of invasive plant fact sheets from DCNR.

Native Plants

Visit Lower Merion Conservancy's What to Plant page for resources about planting native, including a Planting for Pollinators webinar!

Michelle Detwiler’s site Wild About Native Plants has a huge library of resources regarding native plants. 

PA's Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Native Plants Brochure from PA DCNR

The Pollinator Pathway is a nation-wide effort to expand wildlife habitat and reduce pesticide use.

Do you plant native plants, remove non-natives, avoid pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and leave winter habitat for pollinators? If so, add you property to the Pollinator Pathway!

Mosquito Treatments can kill pollinators and negatively impact the other wildlife that depend on those insects. Say NO to spraying your property, and choose eco-friendly mosquito control methods instead.

Eco-Friendly Mosquito Control

·  Check out this Eco-Friendly Mosquito Control Poster.

For a short tutorial video on building a Dunk Bucket, follow along HERE.

Tree Planting & Care

Tree Care Tips

Become a PHS Tree Tender

Submit a tree to the Heritage Tree Program

  • The Heritage Tree Program is a cooperative program between the Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council, the City and City residents to celebrate Bethlehem’s special trees.
     


    City Tree work

A tree permit is required to perform work on any public property tree within the City of Bethlehem.

Licensed City Arborist
Arboricultural work (other than tree planting) on public property must be performed by a tree service with personnel licensed to do work in the City of Bethlehem.

City Forester
Olivia Teel
Bureau of Urban Forestry: 610-865-7073
BETHLEHEM TREE INVENTORY MAP

Mobility & Sustainability Development in Bethlehem

40 in 10 parks and recreation plan 
The City of Bethlehem is creating a community-driven parks and recreation plan! 

The Plan is in the planning Phase which is the most iterative and collaborative phase of this project, where the City of Bethlehem and Omnes facilitate creative discussions on how to see the park and recreation system through new “lenses.” In this community-driven planning process, Omnes will utilize public feedback to define a vision for a park system – linked together with connectivity, resiliency, and recreational amenities.

Parks & Trails

Citizen's Traffic Advisory Committee (CTAC)/Vision Zero Task Force

Broad Street Active Transportation Plan

This Active Transportation Plan provides a long-term planning blueprint for safely accommodating all users of Broad Street in the City of Bethlehem, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, PA. This plan is intended to serve as a resource to guide the improvement and transformation of Broad Street. 

Broad Street Active Transportation Map
Broad Street Active Transportation Plan

Beth Connects: A Trail Study

BethConnects A Trail Study

Public Transportation Resources:

Bethlehem LANTA

Bethlehem Parking Authority

Waste Minimization