Office of Energy and Sustainability

​This site from the U.S. Department of Energy  includes resourses and tips on how saving energy can also save you money. From lighting and appliance tips to energy saving landscaping ideas, find it here.   

AWWA has provided us with an interactive virtual tour of how water is collected, treated, and used in a typical water supply system.  You can take the tour at the URL provided below. http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/departments/water/CD/water-system-tap-back-1.html

The furnace or boiler is the largest energy user in most homes.

    * If health permits, keep thermostat at 68°F or below.
    * Lower thermostat at night and when you're gone (55°F lowest setting).
    * Check the furnace filter once a month during the heating season. Change or clean when dirty
    * Have a professional tune-up of your heating system every other year.
    * Replace your older, 60% efficient furnace with one of at least 90% efficiency.
    * Consider switching from a fuel oil or LP gas furnace to a natural gas furnace.

The emerald ash borer is moving into West Michigan, but a growing number of area residents are fighting back by treating their ash trees to prevent the invasive insect from destroying valuable trees. Property owners now have the opportunity to head off the borer, thanks to insecticide products that are providing effective and affordable protection from the beetle.

The City of Grand Rapids is continuing to pick up Christmas Trees that have been placed at the curb and have a Bulk Yard Waste Tag attached. Please make sure all plastic bags, ornaments and tree stands have been removed.

If your tree has not been picked up, please contact the Public Services Department at 456-3232.

The city of Grand Rapids Water System was recently recognized by the Great Lake St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) for it's significant progress on water conservation.

Most electricity produced today in Michigan comes from coal-burning power plants.
Electricity generated from commercial-scale wind turbines is cost- competitive with coal-electricity today.

* You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
* Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
* Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.
*Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to let in the winter sun.
*Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weatherstripping at all movable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.
* Repair and weatherize your current storm windows, if necessary.

Mayor Heartwell has adopted the U. S Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement.

Avoid excess packaging, buy in bulk when you can and look for beverages in refillable bottles.

Re-use or carry your own grocery bags to the market.  Decline a grocery sack when you can carry the items by hand.

Single stream recycling refers to a system in which all paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic that are currently separated into different recycle bins are now placed all together in one recycling cart.  It is still important to follow the same preparation guidelines for recycling preparation except you just put everything in one container.

Business may participate in the recycling program if they have access to a public/local street.

Collecting recycling every other week reduces the number of trips into neighborhoods, which will reduce fuel consumption and emissions.  It is also more cost efficient because most carts are full on collection day.

Hard cover and paperback books, Styrofoam, plastic film wrap and batteries cannot be placed in the recycling cart.  Hard cover and paperback books can be taken to a Paper Gator at a school or a church for donation; plastic film wrap need to be placed in the container with household trash.  Batteries and Styrofoam can be taken to a drop-off location.  For a list of drop off locations, go to www.recyclekent.org.

Water and Sewer Customer Service is pleased to announce that customers can access billing information on their accounts via Interactive Voice Response (IVR), beginning Thursday, February 10, 2011. This system gives customers the option of pressing a number for automated information on their account balance, current due date, past-due balance, and scheduled shutoff date.We anticipate this option will better serve our customers by providing quick information without waiting in a queue. Customers can retrieve this information 24 hours a day by calling the Customer Service phone number at 616-456-3200. Of course, during normal working hours, customers still have access to customer service representatives.Customers will soon be able to pay their account on-line with their credit card or bank account. The Water System is working with the City Treasurers Office to make this option available mid-March 2011. Customers currently have the option to have payments automatically deducted from their bank account through “EZ-Pay.” Information on this service is available <a

​Find out which Grand Rapids buildings have been certified to LEED standards and which are making their way there. This link is provided by the U.S. Green Building Council.