Environmental Health

Peoria, AZ

By

April Kinsey

Photo by April Kinsey

What Makes Up the City of Peoria 2010 Census indicates population of 154,000 with 174.4

square miles of land area averaging 883 people per square mile.

Median age: 37

Low desert climate zone with the average summer temperature 105 degrees and winter being 68 degrees.

Flora = Cactus: Saguaro, Barrel and Prickly Pear

Trees: Palo Verde, Ocotillo and varieties of Citrus

Primary employment fields: Retail, Healthcare, Education and Government

Saguaro

Prickly Pear

Photos by April Kinsey

Local Attractions

Approximately 35 miles of scenic hiking trails

Lake Pleasant (2nd largest lake in AZ) provides activities such as boating, swimming, camping and fishing

Venues such as Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, Arizona Broadway Theatre

Challenger Space Center

Peoria Sports Complex providing spring training games

West Valley Art Museum

Beautiful Desert Landscape With

Mountain Range Backgrounds

Lake Pleasant

Desert Sunset

Photos by April Kinsey

Green Practices In Our Community

City Buildings Constructed with Energy Star, LEED Silver and Gold Certifications

City Curbside Recycling Program

Recycling within Public Buildings, Hazardous Waste and Drug Take Back Return

Opportunities

“Green” Practices Continued

Water Conservation Programs and Educational Opportunities

City Vehicles are Bio-Diesel, Ethanol E-85 (Flex-Fuel) and Hybrid

Farmer’s Markets and Community Opportunities to Share

and Purchase “Green” Products

“Natural” Grocery Stores and Small Businesses that Produce All

Natural, Organic Products

Tree City USA Status Awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation

“Green” Practices Still Continued

Environmental Community Education Events

Air & Water Quality

Safe Water Supply (Meeting All Requirements of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the US Environmental Protection Agency)

Monitoring of Lakes and Streams For The Prevention and Rapid Treatment of Potential Contamination

Air Quality is Monitored and Reported Daily (When Particulate Matter Reaches Over PM10 – An Alert Can Be Set Up Via Cell Phone Or Other Device To Make Activity Plans Accordingly)

Prevention of Air Pollution Through No Burn Days, Dust and Emission Control and Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions When Necessary

Photo by April Kinsey

Neighborhood Efforts

Variable Speed Pool Pumps

Planting Trees for Shading

Installation of Sun Screens

Attic Re-Insulation

Landscapes That Conserve Water

………And Of Course…..

Photos by April Kinsey

Neighborhood Efforts Continued

Solar Technology

• Solar Energy with Roof Panels

• Solar Hot Water

Energy Roof Panels

Hot Water

Photos by April Kinsey

Recap of What the City & Community Are Doing Right

Educational Opportunities

Implementation of Solar Technology

City Leading By Example with New Building Construction Designed as LEED Certification and

Environmentally Friendly Vehicles in the Fleet

Recycling, Hazardous (Household) Waste and Drug Take Back Programs

Quality Control of Air and Water Pollution

Tree Planting Programs

Doing Wrong?

Depletion of Natural Resources Within the City in the Past 30 years.

Urban Sprawl

Minimal Amount of Large Solar Fields

Community Needs

More Involvement on the Elementary Education Level to Start the New Generation Down the Path of Good Environmental Habits and Promote Change at

Home

Offer More Incentives to Rebuild on Old Properties Versus Land Clearing-New Builds to Contain Urban Sprawl

Continue Incentives in the Form of Credits or Refunds to Remodel Existing Homes and Businesses for

Newer More Environmentally Friendly Technologies

Enforcement of Recycling in Places Like Malls, Restaurants, Medical/Professional Office Buildings. There Should Be Recycling Everywhere

What To Do……..

Have Local School Grown Plants (Fruits & Vegetables) for Educational Purposes and Then Donate to The

Community For Neighborhood or Private Gardens

Possibly Implement (small) Fines to Businesses Who Blatantly Disregard Recycling When Accessible to Business by the City

Fines Could Be Put Into Educational Funds or For Purchasing Solar Devices to Power Lights in Parks and School Grounds or to Provide These Technologies to Those Unable to Afford It.

Reduce Urban Sprawl by Limiting Permits on the Outer Bounds of the City

Utilize Solar Capabilities on the Roofs of Buildings Able to Support It.

Outcomes The biggest concern I have about our community is the

rate of urban sprawl that I have physically witness over the past years and while doing research for this project, the lack of information on the city’s natural resources. After many hours of research and remembering what the state is known for (cotton, cattle, citrus and copper) I began to think back how the citrus groves, animal farms and cotton fields that I used to see all over our city are now gone! This explains to me why the city does not proudly boast on the website information about these resources.

A greener community’s citizens would work to preserve the resources gifted to us by mother nature and respect them. We would contribute to a sustainable world and learn to live within our means therefore reducing disease, pollution and our impact on the environment.

For myself it would impact my health and my heart knowing I am doing the right thing.

Our Family

Carbon Footprint:

We were sad to see that our Carbon Footprint

results were 77.7 tons of CO2 per (Family of 4). Our biggest culprit is

lengthy driving vacations. We pull a 5th wheel trailer

so we need our diesel truck in order to pull it. In 2012 we traded in the old

truck for a newer more emission friendly

biodiesel vehicle. We have been disappointed

however in how few biodiesel fueling stations

there are.

My Food Miles

This was an eye-opener to say the least. I have

encouraged friends and family to take the same

challenge. Once we became aware, it has had a

positive influence on our food selection. The

frightening aspect of these results is that some of this came from close farmer’s

markets.

Our Family's Green Practices

Recycle – All Products We Can Including Electronics and Purchase Materials

that are Recyclable or Sustainable

Driving – Strategically Plan Errands and Day Events to Reduce Miles

Driven

Groceries – Try and Acquire As Many Products as Possible Through the Local Farmer’s Market

Home Efficiency – Utilize CFL and LED Light bulbs, During Summer Months

Keep Thermostat at 82 Degrees Indoors and Use Room Darkening Drapes Where Possible

CFL

Room DarkeningDrape…. Get It….Ha Ha

LED

Photos by April Kinsey

Our Family Contribution Update and Assessment

Farmer’s Markets – While we still shop as much as we can at these markets

we are now more aware of how many miles we are driving to get to

them.

Recycle – We continue to recycle and make careful purchases but also have now become more inquisitive on where we recycle our E-waste.

Garden – In response to learning the state of the food supply, carbon footprint results ands food miles – we have decided to start a garden. Before we jump in full force we planted a small one to see how we do and are very excited to announce that after only 6 weeks we are getting produce! So far one Bell Pepper and 2 Chili Peppers.

Photos by April Kinsey

How We Can Still Improve

Perform An Energy Audit On Our Home, Replace Outdated-Poor Performing AC Units and Add Solar Technologies

Meat Products – Research Local Multi-Culture Farms to Purchase Meat, Eggs and Dairy

Driving – Replace Older Inefficient Vehicle

Increase Size Of Garden

Be Involved In Community Education and Activities

Thoroughly Research Political Candidates

Stay Up To Date With Green Organizations

Educate Future Generations and Be A Voice!

ReferencesCommunity Profile. (2010). Retrieved from City of Peoria, AZ:

http://www.peoriaed.com/uploadedFiles/PeoriaED/Data_Center/IEDC_Standard_Data_Set/Demographics_and_Trends/PeoriaDemographics.pdf

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. (2013, April 14). Air Quality Forecast. Retrieved from Air Quality Index: http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. (2013, April 14). Phoenix - Today's AQI foercast. Retrieved from Local Air Quality Conditions and Forecasts: http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=33

Arizona Department of State, Office of the Secretary of State. (2013). The Five C's - An Arizona History Lesson. Retrieved from SOS for Kids - Ken Bennet Secretary of State: http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/kids/five_Cs.htm

Central Arizona Project. (2013). Water Quality. Retrieved from Central Arizona Project: http://www.cap-az.com/Water/Quality.aspx

City of Peora. (2012). Sustainability Action Plan 2012. Retrieved from Sustain and Gain: http://www.peoriaaz.gov/uploadedFiles/NewPeoriaAZ/About_Peoria/Sustainability/Sustainability_Action_Plan/Sustain_Action_Plan_2012_Final.pdf

City of Peoria. (2012, December 20). All About Peoria... Then and Now. Retrieved from About Peoria: http://www.peoriaaz.gov/NewSecondary.aspx?id=50427

Maricopa County Air Quality Department. (2013). Rapid Response Notification System. Retrieved from Air Quality: http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/news/RapidResponseNotification.aspx

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, March 6). Basic Information about E. coli 0157:H7 in Drinking Water. Retrieved from Water: Basic Information about Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/ecoli.cfm#four

Relax and Enjoy Some Quiet Time

This is How the Kinsey Animals Chill on a Lazy Afternoon

Photos by April Kinsey