“A Green Planet Is a Clean Planet” Eco-Life in Boca Raton

Posted by Boca Raton Luxury Home Specialist on Friday, May 13th, 2016 at 5:16pm.

 Green Friendly Boca Raton
Look around and you can see the effort being made to make the Boca Raton community more environmentally friendly. Everything from businesses, colleges and the city itself are constantly looking for ways to ensure a cleaner planet.
 
Many of our luxury condominium properties are also jumping on the eco-friendly train. Properties such as 200 East Condos and Boca Towers have taken specific measures to do their share.

Environmental problems are prevalent in today's world. These continue to be a complex and difficult to solve. Agenda's with water conservation, chemicals contaminating our waters and erosion are all a part of the many issues we face. The dilemmas will become greater for future generations if everyone ignores the obvious warning signs. This is why it is so important for us to do what we can for sustainable living.

Boca Raton City Council appointed the Green Living Advisory Board is otherwise known as GLAB and formally known as the Green Living Task Force to engage the community.  Their mission began by implementing a program that would include education, collaboration and involvement with the citizens living here full and part time.

GLAB focuses on the following areas: 
-         Prevention of Litter
-         Water Conservation and Storm Water Reduction
-         Recycling
-         Organic Gardening
-         Renewable Energy
-         Transportation
-         Composting

organic gardening
Neighborhoods are encouraged to become 'Green Ambassadors' acting as liaisons between Green Living Advisory Board as well as the residents. The board meets twice per month to provide benefits promoting health and quality of life.  There's an emphasis to increase property values, and lower energy costs.

Many of our luxury condominium properties are aware of these efforts.  They too are cultivating environmentally-friendly buildings. Premier properties like Boca Towers recommend their residence to recycle trash and to use biodegradable dogie bags for waste.  They take this matter seriously and are doing their part by recently incorporating high-efficiency washer and dryers in their laundry room facilities.   In addition, each floor, includes recyclable containers so the residents can foster their participation as well.
Our local businesses such as Safetek International and Siege Chemical Company have taken an eco-friendly approach to running their daily operations. Sustainable solutions such as non-toxic, biodegradable materials as well as other green products are incorporated into their best practices.

Organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency are constantly monitoring things such as short trips to gridlock. The way that our vehicles consume primary energy is vital for us to understand emissions. The city of Boca Raton encourages people to use alternative styles of transportation such as bicycles, walking and public buses. By utilizing things such as carpooling, we are eliminating the carbon footprint by about 10%. While that may not seem like a big number, it’s a start to the ongoing situation.

Since our ecology is vulnerable in South Florida, many of the landscaping companies take that into consideration. Fertilization must be selected with great care. Many of the chemical compounds found in fertilizer often wash into drain systems finding its way into our oceans and lakes. Several of our luxury condominium properties insist that the landscapers utilize organic fertilizers or compost as an alternative to chemical-based fertilizers.
Save energy
Plans are in the works to expand the reclaimed water.  Project IRIS focuses on utilizing reclaimed water for irrigation. A number of our area parks, commercial green spaces, such as the golf course residential lawns and landscaping are all monitored by Project IRIS.  Currently, IRIS (In-City Reclamation Irrigation System), produces 9 to 10 million gallons of reclaimed water per day and 2.2 billion gallons of fresh water every year. In the near future, Iris plans on expanding the reclaimed water system to 15 million gallons per day. This is important as it will be available year round and recharges the groundwater needed for keeping the lawns in pristine condition.

Many of Boca Raton’s premier restaurants such as Farmers Table located off of NW. 19th St. and Military Trail, use advanced water systems, purchase hormone and antibiotic free beef and do not use any type of chemicals in their cooking.  Everything from the tables to their chairs have been recycled.  The herbs grown in their backyard are all a part of this philosophy for living cleaner.

In 2011 Boca Raton opened a small community garden to inspire others toward the goal.  Today, you may still find many of the homeowner’s associations continue to keep this feature. Organic gardening within our neighborhood, helps resist land erosion and provides less landfill matter.
Important to all city residents, is the prevention of litter. The city of Boca Raton operates park and beach cleanups several times per year.
You can help by getting involved in programs such as "Keep Palm Beach Beautiful" or Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, which has a strong focus on our marine life. If you’re more daring, you can organize a cleanup group within your country club connections as a great contribution.
There are several ways that you can reduce, reuse and recycle particular materials.  You can start by rerouting garbage in landfills. If you live in a luxury condominium or townhome, ask for recycling containers and bins to be added to the trash areas. Other ways that you can be more conservative is by reducing the number of water bottles, plastic shopping bags, newspapers etc. 
Hazardous materials such as paint, Styrofoam, light bulbs should all be properly disposed in a local recycling center.
There are several recycling centers and sanitation departments in the city of Boca Raton. Businesses such as Suncrest and Gulfstream Recycling will purchase materials such as polyethylene, nylon, and cardboard. It is recommended to contact these facilities ahead of time.  You'll want to see what the current requirements are for shredding, bailing and how these products are accepted.

If you live in a condominium community with no recycling service, the Solid Waste Authority or S.W.A will send a field service representative to the community.  They will help implement recycling containers in the proper areas for more efficient procedures.
Keeping our planet safe from pollution benefits us all.  By purchasing items like Energy Star appliances and recycling your trash allows you to take preventative measures making our planet more sustainable. Eco-friendly products, also prevent contributions to air, water and land pollution. Establishing principles and procedures for a healthier way of living not only creates a higher quality of life for you, but for many generations to come.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Boca Raton area, contact one of our luxury specialists for additional questions.

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