Environment Blog

Free Money Available for ‘Green’ Projects

Over the past few years, state and local governments have been getting hip to the green movement and what it means for local energy savings and water quality, in particular. Many cities and watershed districts now have programs to assist homeowners with making improvements on their properties, including financial assistance in the form of grants or tax credits. Some cities are more progressive than others, so you’ll need to check with your city to see if they have any programs available. Or, you can work with your county or local watershed district to find out what types of programs they offer. A good resource for some of this information is www.bluethumb.org/grants. Here you can find all sorts of information on planning your project, raingarden hydrology, and where to search for grant monies. Some grants will pay up to half of the cost of the project… all you have to do is ask!

Finally, when planning your project, make sure to consult a professional if you are not 100% comfortable with the design and installation. Although raingarden and shoreline restoration plantings seem relatively simple, there is some very intricate grading and soil stabilization involved to ensure that the installation will work properly for its entire lifetime. Do some research into which contractors have done similar installations and ask to see pictures or physically drive by their sites. An experienced professional will be able to help you with everything from calculating the proper size of your raingarden to explaining or performing long-term maintenance on the installation. Raingardens and shoreline restorations are not just trendy, they are beautiful additions to your landscape as well as environmentally responsible. Take your time researching and planning your project and you will end up with tremendous results. Now go out and get that free money!

by Sarah Hartung