Media Borough

Environmental Advisory Council (EAC)(members: 7 / term: 3 years)

The Environmental Advisory Council shall advise Media Borough Council, and the Borough of Media's Committees, and to educate the citizens of the Borough of Media on matters that afect the quality of the environment in the borough, including those relating to the protection, conservation, management, promotion, and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources located within the Borough.

Walt Cressler, Chairperson
Brian Taussig-Lux
Vivian Williams
Brett Lester
Adeline Ciannella
Kristina Rutsky
Dean Sherwin
Eric Stein - Council Liaison

Take advantage of grants and loans to lower your utility bills
A presentation for local homeowners and contractors

Media Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and Transition Town Media (TTM) present an information session on Home Performance: how to use existing and upcoming programs to subsidize home improvements - improvements that can guarantee energy savings. This is a chance to learn about common sense ways to save energy and make homes more efficient and more comfortable. And just as important, it is also a chance to learn how government programs can help with the cost. Existing programs will be discussed as well as the potential Home Star program that will make federal money available for bona fide energy improvements.

The presentation will take place on Tuesday, July 6th, 7 :00 p.m., at the Media Community Center, 3rd & Jackson Streets, Media. It will be led by Walt Yakabosky, Director of Training at the Knight Green Jobs Training Center, a nationally recognized center in Philadelphia that is spearheading efforts to make homes more energy efficient.

Install Rain Barrels
Every time it rains, run-off from your home flows into storm drains and sewers. Those drains flow into nearby rivers and streams.
Run-off from your driveway, yard and roof picks up lawn chemicals, oil and trash. You can stop run-off with a rain barrel, which is connected directly to your downspout. Installing rain barrels holds back the flood, reduces pollution and provides a source of cost-free fresh water for lawns and gardens.

Rain Barrel Checklist
Rain Barrel Resources
Rain Barrel Photo #1
Rain Barrel Photo #2

Recycling Information

Philadelphia Sustainability Awards

Media Powers Up With Sunshine
Click here for the news article from NBC10

Media Borough to receive the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence
Media Borough Council has been awarded the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for the year 2006. A ceremony recognizing this achievement will be held May 3, 2007 from 3pm to 4pm at the Media Theatre at Monroe and State Streets. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty will be on hand to present the award.

The Borough of Media is being honored for their Solar Energy for Media Initiative that has installed 5 kilowatts on each of four buildings in the borough: Media Elementary School, Media Upper Providence Library, Media Theatre and the Media Fire House. The initiative was conceived by Councilman Pete Alyanakian who has lead Media's Environmental Advisory Committee since its inception in 2004. This is the fourth award the initiative has won including two Penn Future Awards as Cleanest Borough in PA, and the Southeastern PA Associations of Environmental Advisory Committees Environmental Recognition Award. These installations will bring the total amount of kilowatts produced in the borough to 25kW. The project is the beginning of a clean energy micro grid in Media that will provide electricity for vital civic function during a state of emergency. There is a 5kW system on the Media Armory that was the first building in Media to receive solar panels as well as the first Energy Harvest Grant for solar panel installation.

The five solar PV systems will produce approximately 25,000 kilowatt-hours each year. Solar generated energy is one of the cleanest energies. It uses the light of the sun to make electricity. The advantages are a reduction in green house gases that will reduce global warming. The next advantage to solar power is a reduction in the importation of foreign oil. This project has a strong educational component, as there will be educational displays at each site. This installation added to the Borough's inventory of PV making the Borough of Media the leading municipality in producing clean energy in Pennsylvania.

Media will develop solar RECs (renewable electricity credits) that will add to the portfolio of renewable energy produced in Pennsylvania. While the total amount of solar is small compared to use, the small amounts of solar electricity will offset demands on the grid. This process will gradually add up over time, and all utility ratepayers will benefit. This is because solar produces the most electricity on summer days, especially summer afternoons, when air conditioners are in full use and people arrive home, turning on TVs and computers. Solar energy creates load reduction for the major energy grid and reduces market price for the borough and other stakeholders. By taking the edge off demand from the grid, utilities will not need to fire up backup generation plants as often. The effect will be less costly summer electricity for all. By investing in small customer sited photovoltaic generation, the Commonwealth has helped reduce needed investment in new natural gas and nuclear power plants. The question is where do we want to be in the next 20 to 30 years, as oil production declines? Media Borough is showcasing solar energy and legitimize the use of this vital and proven technology. By reducing our peak energy demand, the Borough will lessen its energy bill throughout the year.

The Borough of Media is planning continued development of a new electric grid based on distributed solar generation, and through these projects, demonstrate the viability of solar power in urban settings.
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Information on Lawn Mowing
Tips for Mowing your Lawn

Information on Rain Barrels
How to Make a Rain Barrel

Media Borough Water Quality Hotlines
A list of contact numbers to help citizens report violations or problems. Click here for more information.

Water Quality Information Posters
PennState Car Washing Poster
PennState Pet Waste Poster

Clean Energy Community
Media Borough commits to becoming a Clean Energy Community by 2010. Click here for more information.
Sign Up Form
Declaration of Energy Independence

Stormwater Brochure
The Borough of Media is proud to present a new brochure regarding the importance of trees in preventing stormwater runoff, improving the quality of our drinking water and preserving the environment. Click here to view.

League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund - Water Resources Education Grant
The Borough of Media was awarded grant funding in the amount of $4,000 to conduct educational activites to improve the quality of Media's water resources. For additional information about this grant, please read the linked press release.

Energy Harvest Grant Awarded
The Borough of Media has been selected by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to receive an Energy Harvest Grant in the amount of $94,245.00. This funding will be used to install additional solar panels throughout Media making the Borough the "Solar Capitol of Pennsylvania". See press release for more information.

Solar Panels at the Armory
The Borough of Media was awarded grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install solar panels at the Armory as an alternative energy source. The Borough is proud to do our part by taking steps toward energy conservation. The solar panels signify the First Energy Harvest Project in Southeastern Pennsylvania. For additional information on the solar panels and coverage of the September 16, 2004 press release click here.

DEP Grant Program To Help Small Businesses WIth Pollution Prevention, Energy Efficiency

The Media Armory is the Featured Buyer of Clean Electricity
Approximately 100,000 consumers in the Mid-Atlantic region are buying clean electricity, helping to protect their families and communities. For more information on the Borough of Media's role as a featured buyer of clean electricity go to http://cleanyourair.org and select clean buyers.

NPDES Phase II
NPDES Phase II is a storm water management program focused on preventing storm water pollution. The Borough of Media, as an operator of a storm sewer system, holds a MS4 permit that requires participation in the NPDES program. The program addresses storm water pollution from construction, new development, illegal dumping to the storm sewer system, and pollution prevention and good housekeeping practices in municipal operations. It also continues to educate the community and get everyone involved in making sure the only thing that storm water contributes to our water is... uncontaminated water! The Borough of Media distributed an informational brochure entitled "When it Rains, it Drains" with the spring 2004 newsletter. See below for other stormwater outreach information.

One of the most important ways you can get involved in protecting our water supply is by reporting activities you observe that you think will harm the storm sewer system. In case of a storm water emergency, please contact Media Borough at (610) 566-5210 or the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Office of the Department of Environmental Protection at (484) 250-5900.

More information regarding the protection of our storm water system can be obtained by contacting the U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management at www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater or (202) 564-9545.

Wind Energy
Additionally, as part of a continued effort in energy conservation, the Borough of Media is proud to announce the purchase of wind energy from Energy Cooperative Proposal for 2004.