By Bill Sullivan

Tanja Eltze has a disarmingly simple yet eloquent philosophy on the subject of “being green.”

Tanja Eltze. (Photo: Tanja Eltze)

“I believe that we borrow our planet from future generations,” the Frisco resident and mother of three says. “So I try to live a life that does not impact this planet too much.”

When she first moved to Frisco from Germany in 2000, Eltze wondered if that would be a minority opinion in her new home. In contrast to attitudes she found in Europe, many Americans seemed blissfully unaware of their carbon footprint.

“Many things that are considered ‘green’ in America were just a normal part of living in Germany where I grew up,” she says. “After we moved here, I saw many things that bothered me, like, for example, the huge amount of use and toss plastic bags, idling cars, or the amount of trash being produced every day.

“But I must say that in recent years, things have changed for the better.”

Eltze does her part in making things better. She volunteers as the Environmental Chairperson for the Frisco Council of PTAs, where she trains and supports the Environmental chairs at the individual campuses. Part of her work involves helping those chairs with ideas on how to educate students and increase environmental awareness using reduce, reuse and recycling activities, walk-to-school days and clean-up events to reinforce the message.

Last year, she decided to take part in Earth Hour, a World Wildlife Fund project that calls for cities, companies and individuals to turn out their lights for one hour to show their support for climate change awareness. An evening spent partially in the dark proved to be enlightening.

“We of course turned off all lights and electronics before Earth Hour started, then gathered up our own and our neighbor’s kids and went for a night walk,” she recalls. “The children were carrying shaded tea lights or lanterns that hang on sticks. Those are traditionally used in Germany for St. Martin Day parades, but I can imagine that Earth Hour might become our new family tradition.

“After the night walk, we spontaneously gathered in our house with the neighbors for a late evening candlelight snack. It was so much fun and several kids asked if we could do that more often.”

For the Eltzes, however, “green” is hardly a fad or a one-day affair. They’ve installed an “intelligent” sprinkler system with a rain sensor at their home. They compost and recycle. They have installed low flow faucets, Energy Star appliances, programmable thermostats and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

“I also like to buy items that are made from recycled material whenever possible to close the cycle,” she says. “Our next project will be to harvest some rainwater in a former olive barrel.”

Tanja, Jens, and their three children. (Photo: Tanja Eltze)

While Tanja was the original activist, her family has bought into the idea. Her husband, Jens, has become Environmental chair at Allen Elementary.

“And since our kids see their parents on stage quite a bit, they became young environmentalists themselves,” she says. “One of our daughters just won the overall prize at Allen’s ‘Reduce Challenge’ through a blind judging, and all three remind their peers – and sometimes teachers – that certain items should end up in the recycling bin.”

Over the course of her time in Frisco, Tanja Eltze has been pleased by the community’s growing awareness of the need to protect the environment. Sometimes venturing away from the city serves as a reminder that her adopted home is ahead of the curve in that regard.

“On a recent trip to New Mexico, when I couldn’t find a recycling container anywhere, I realized again what a great job Frisco is doing with their recycling program, building codes and other environmental initiatives, for example the ‘Clean It & Green It’ day,” she says.

These days, Tanja still worries about climate change, but takes heart in the possibility that personal change can still make a difference.

“I am definitely alarmed by the scientific evidence of global warming, but I try to convert this anxiety into positive action,” she says. “This is what keeps me motivated to do my volunteer work.

“As a parent, you have to be optimistic about the future, right?”

Frisco residents take part in the annual "Clean It and Green It" event. Photo: City of Frisco

Join the Frisco Green Team in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with our annual city-wide clean up event “Clean It & Green It” on Saturday, April 24, in the IKEA parking lot, 7171 IKEA Dr.

Here’s the schedule for the day:

Registration/Check-In: 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Citywide Cleanup: 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Earth Day Celebration: 11:15 a.m.
(More Information: FriscoTexas.gov/recycle)

The program promotes environmental awareness in our city and increases volunteerism and pride in our community. Volunteers will be assigned to an area to clean when they check in.

All participants are invited to return to IKEA for an Earth Day celebration including food, games and prizes beginning at 11:15 a.m. Registered volunteers also will be entered in a drawing for raffle prizes, receive a green gift and T-shirt, and enjoy a free IKEA lunch. In addition, Rufus – Frisco’s favorite recycling dog – will join everyone for the fun.

Rufus makes the day a little more fun for younger helpers. Photo: City of Frisco

Individuals and families can register the day of the event, pre-register online at myvolunteerpage.com or contact Volunteer Coordinator Kris Daniel by email or at 972-292-5078.

Home Owners Associations, schools, churches and community groups are also encouraged to pre-register and receive cleanup supplies in advance to hold ‘Clean It and Green It’ events in their own neighborhoods.

For group pre-registration or more information about the event, please contact Frisco Environmental Education Coordinator Jeremy Starritt at (972) 292-5914 or JStarritt@FriscoTexas.gov.

In conjunction with “Clean It & Green It,” the spring “Chunk Your Junk” event also will take place in the IKEA parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon. For a list of items you can drop off to recycle, donate or safely dispose of, go online to FriscoTexas.gov/recycle.

The City of Frisco's water management plan is in effect.

When you adjusted your clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST), did you remember to adjust your sprinklers?  As part of the City of Frisco’s Water Management Plan, time of day restrictions begin with DST. This year DST runs from March 14 through Nov. 7. During DST outdoor watering is not allowed between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

These watering times were adopted to help reduce what Public Works Director Gary Hartwell calls a “water traffic jam.”  “In addition to requiring no watering during the heat of the day due to evaporation, Frisco chose to adopt the 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. hours to offset the demand for water when residents are getting ready for work and school,” said Hartwell.

The plan also recommends limiting outdoor watering to two-days-per-week with the start of Daylight Saving Time through June 30.  From July 1 through Sept. 30, two-day-a-week watering becomes mandatory for the summer months. The mandatory watering schedule coincides with residents’ trash and recycling service day plus an additional day. The watering day schedule is available to view online atFriscoTexas.gov/water.

Restrictions apply to automatic sprinkler systems. Hand watering, soaker hoses, and drip/bubbler systems are allowed at any time on any day of the year.

“Some of our residents wonder why we exercise water restrictions given our recent snowy and wet months, and the fact that North Texas isn’t experiencing drought at this time,” said Mayor Maher Maso.  “As a member of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) we work collectively as a region to promote water efficiency because it’s important to the prospective development of reservoirs for future generations.   We always encourage our residents to use what they need, but don’t waste water.  Use it wisely and efficiently.”

Help with any of your outdoor watering questions is always available online atFriscoTexas.gov/water. There you can also read the complete contents of the City of Frisco Water Management Plan. The Frisco City Council adopted the plan in April 2009 to comply with a state law that required Texas cities to adopt and/or update their water conservation and drought contingency plans.

By Laura Gorecki

One of my personal goals is to always look for more ways to “Be Green”. I plan to expand my home gardening this year and I had been considering buying a rain barrel for my yard. I was surprised to find out commercial models can cost as much as $150 or more for a one-barrel system.

The finished rain barrel. (Photo: Laura Gorecki)

After reading an instruction sheet on the Internet on how to make a rain barrel at home, I decided to give it a shot. I had a large garbage can in the garage that we were not using, and I thought it would do the trick.

I took my instruction sheet to Home Depot to get the supplies. A worker helped me find everything I needed. I got the parts to make a 2-barrel system, and planned to add the second barrel later. I opted for a $7 splitter attachment that allows for 2 hoses to be connected to one faucet. The cost for all of the materials was about $40.

I got home and learned that my garbage can had a small hole in the bottom so it would not hold water. Back to Home Depot I went. I found 32-gallon heavy-duty trash cans, with lids, for $14.95 each so I bought two of them. That brought my cost up to $70 for two barrels.

I took all of the parts and pieces to the back yard to get started. Selecting a location for the barrels was an important step. I wanted the barrel close to the plants I plan to water, but wanted it somewhat out of sight as well. The location has to be level, so that was another consideration. Also, I wanted to connect it directly to a down spout. There just so happened to be a downspout half-way down the side of the house, where there also happened to be plenty of space, so I selected that location.

A $7 splitter attachment that allows for 2 hoses to be connected to one faucet. (Photo: Laura Gorecki)

The directions said to use a drywall saw to cut the holes in the barrel, and I already had one, so I didn’t have to purchase any tools. I used a drill bit to start the hole and used the saw to enlarge it to the right size for the faucet to fit. I enlisted help in holding the barrel still, and we took turns cutting the hole. Liquid epoxy is used to seal the hole around the faucet to prevent it from leaking. This stuff is quite noxious – I had to be very careful not to breathe the fumes or get any on my hands.

At first test there was a small drip from around the faucet, but another layer of epoxy sealed it up. I put the barrel on cinder blocks for extra height, which increases water pressure. I cut a hole in the lid for the down spout to fit in and put the mosquito netting on, and all I had left to do was connect it to the down spout.

The spout was connected to the side of the house with screws, so I used a drill to disconnect the downspout rather than cutting it. If I ever decide to move the barrels I can simply reconnect the spout. I had a flexible down-spout extender, so I connected it to the end of the gutter spout and ran it directly into the lid of the can. My rain barrel was ready to go!

The actual time it took to make it was less than an hour.

It rained all night, and is still raining as I am writing this. I am sure my barrel is full and overflowing, and I regret that I didn’t connect the second barrel yesterday. I’m excited to go home to see how well it worked, and I’m looking forward to using the harvested water instead of the sprinkler or garden hose to water this season.

I’m glad I decided to make the rain barrel myself instead of purchasing one. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment when I can build something myself. Now every time I use the water from the barrel I will know that I did something good for the environment, and I’m saving money in the process.

Laura Gorecki is an intern in Water Education in the City of Frisco’s Public Works Department.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2010, Aaron Brothers Art & Framing, sponsored a kids’ art contest themed Coloring Earth Green. Entries were accepted at Aaron Brothers store at 3333 Preston Road in Frisco through April 18th.

Approximately $26,000 in prizes will be awarded to kids and their schools – including a Grand Prize trip to the Crayola Factory for two students and their families. The contest was open to legal residents of Texas who were 5 to 12 years of age on Feb. 28, 2010.

Aaron Brothers said it will offer teachers a complimentary kit that contains “Green Thought Starters” — ideas, fun facts and “eco-easy” tips to be green and to raise awareness of the natural environment. Teachers may download or request the free teachers kit, which includes “Coloring Earth Green” art entry examples and the Green Thought Starters Kit.

To enter the Coloring Earth Green contest, artists should create artwork that focuses on the planet and the protection of the environment. To be eligible, the piece of art must be unframed on 9 inch by 12 inch paper. Artists are welcome to use any medium, including paint, crayons, markers and three-dimensional objects. Finished artwork can be entered at Aaron Brothers’ Frisco store. In addition to the original artwork, each child will need to submit a completed entry form, which requires parent/guardian consent. Complete contest rules can be found at www.aaronbrothers.com.

Aaron Brothers’ Frisco store will display its entries, and two winners will be selected from the store during a voting event April 24th and 25th. The two categories are 5-8 years old and 9-12 years old.

The winning entries from each store will be posted online for the nation to vote May 5th to May 21st. Online voting will determine the Grand Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize winners. Winners will be announced around May 28th.

Create a design to be printed on Frisco reusable bags. This is a public education campaign to encourage the use of reusable bags and to educate the citizens of Frisco about the harmful effect of plastic bags on the environment.

Get your entry form online at FriscoTexas.gov/recycle.

Winning entries may be used in a variety of ways (posters, reusable bags, T-shirts, etc.) by the City of Frisco Environmental Services. Specially designed bags will be sold at Tom Thumb starting on Frisco Earth Day, April 24, 2010.

The bags will also be used by Environmental Services as promotional items at events and educational opportunities.

Contest rules

• Open to all children age 0-18 either living in the City of Frisco or attending a Frisco ISD school.
• One graphic design entry per person will be accepted.
• Photographs are not allowed.
• Original artwork must be submitted on the back of the official entry form ONLY.
• Entries must be done in black ink, pencil, crayon, or marker.
• Computer generated entries are allowed but must be 100% original work.
• Entries with glue, stickers, 3-D embellishments, or non-original work will not be accepted.
• Incomplete entries will not be accepted or judged.
• Entries must be returned on or before March 12, 2010 to the Green Team coordinators at any FISD school, Jeremy Starritt at the City of Frisco Environmental Services, or the contest drop-off box at Frisco City Hall.
• Entries will be judged on originality, simplicity, legibility, appropriateness to the theme and creativity.
• Winners will be announced on April 24, 2010 at the “Clean It and Green It” event at IKEA in Frisco.
• Please direct questions to Jeremy Starritt at jstarritt@FriscoTexas.gov or 972-292-5914.