HARRINGTON (July 21, 2011) - Beginning today, when the 2011 Delaware State Fair opens its 10-day run, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control staff will be waiting to greet you and present you with your Passport to Green Living. Step inside, and the passport will take you on a tour of Delaware through DNREC's all-new exhibits, from the First State's beaches and wetlands to the woods and state parks, plus a visit to the environmentally-friendly Smart Energy House.
"We want to show that Green Living is great living, and it's easy to achieve. Plant a tree, take your children outside to play, change to more energy efficient lighting and you're on your way to living greener. But that's just a small preview of what we have to share. We hope fairgoers will put our building on their can't-miss list and come by to learn more and enjoy our new displays," said DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara.
Open your passport and start exploring. Delaware State Parks is highlighting "No Child Left Inside," an initiative to encourage families to leave the couch behind and head for Delaware's great outdoors. State Parks offer plenty of activities - boating, hiking, canoeing, fishing, picnicking, biking and long summer days at the beach, to name a few.
Visit the woods through a partnership between the Delaware Conservation Districts and the USDA, and play a tree game while you learn more about why trees are important habitat for humans as well as wildlife. See how forested wetlands provide natural buffers against flooding and get acquainted with some of the rare and endangered species that make their homes in our beautiful and fragile coastal wetlands. Take a stroll by the beach, and learn about the protections dunes provide.
Walk the Boardwalk Arcade for games and prizes. Try your skill at the is-it-recyclable-or-isn't-it Recycling Toss, play Environmental Jeopardy, take the Water Quiz and accept the Livable Landscape Challenge by creating and analyzing your own backyard design. And don't forget to make a pledge to live greener and enter the grand prize drawing to win a home energy audit, a rain barrel, a compost bin or another great prize.
Then visit the Smart Energy House along with DelDOT's Liveable Lawn display, and see how you can live green - and save green. For example, you can shade your house with trees and your windows with awnings to reduce summer cooling costs, or use a rain barrel to save rain water for your lawn and garden while shrinking your water bill and usage. And don't forget to pick up information about Energize Delaware's Green for Green program, which is currently offering rebates of $3,000 to $6,000 to help offset the cost of implementing energy efficiency measures in newly-constructed homes. Then check out the power-generating Energy Bike and DNREC's V2G Electric Car.
Adjoining the main display area is the Division of Fish and Wildlife's live animal room, which this year features a wide range of wildlife from raccoons to native fish, plus special displays and historic photos highlighting the Division's 100th anniversary.
The DNREC Building is located at the north end of the Fairgrounds near the 4-H Building and across from the tractor displays. The building will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. on preview night Thursday, July 21, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from Friday, July 22 through Saturday, July 30. For more information, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov.
