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Pearl Homes: Every person & every home can make a difference in the health of our waterways!

Virginia Beach residents need to check off at least 15 actions to qualify as a Pearl Home.  Make sure to check every action that your household is doing.  Actions are listed as things you can do in your home and community.  If you aren't able to check 15 actions, make note of the actions you could be doing and apply again once you have implemented them. 

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* 1. Is your home a Pearl Home?
Click all that apply. 15 "YES" responses qualify your home as a Pearl Home.This program is FREE to all Virginia Beach residents. 

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* 2. If you are representing your student's school as part of the Pearl School program, please provide the school's complete name below. Please note if you would prefer to receive a Pearl Home flag or magnet.

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* 3. Please note if you would prefer to receive a Pearl Home flag or magnet.

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* 4. My home is a(n)

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* 5. Do you rent or own your home?

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* 6. REDUCE WASTE.
Answer "Yes" to the actions that you are doing consistently, as appropriate.

  Yes I don't now, but I will start No N/A
Consistently recycle or reuse items 
Use reusable, refillable drink bottle instead of single-use, bottled water
Consistently use reusable grocery bags when shopping
Refuse plastic, disposable straws at restaurants
Buy secondhand goods at thrift & consignment stores
Recycle old, used electronic devices, & printer cartridges
Participate in recycling programs in addition to municipal recycling
Buy groceries & household items in bulk packages to reduce packing & shipping materials
Reuse shipping materials when sending packages
Re-purpose packaging for storage or other household uses
Pick up litter & dispose properly
Do not release balloons into the environment; dispose of properly

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* 7. CONSERVE ENERGY
Answer "Yes" to the actions that you are doing consistently, as appropriate.

  Yes I don't now, but I will start No N/A
Install programmable thermostat
Purchase energy-efficient (Energy Star) appliances
Run only full loads of laundry
Turn off lights & appliances when not in use
Unplug electronics when not in use
Replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs
Open blinds/curtains to help with heating in winter, close to help with cooling in summer
Drive fewer miles, eliminating unnecessary trips

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* 8. PLANT FOR THE FUTURE.
Answer "Yes" to the actions that you are doing consistently, as appropriate.

  Yes I don't now, but I will start No N/A
Plant a tree
Reduce lawn area by converting to planted, landscaped beds
Get soil test results before applying fertilizer & reduce, as able
Choose native plants for landscape
Raise mower blades to 3-inches or higher to slow runoff & keep turf grass healthier
Grow vegetables, herbs or fruits
Grow house plants to improve indoor air quality
Buy locally made or grown food & products
Buy organically grown food products
Support restaurants & grocers that locally source food items

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* 9. TAKE ACTION.
Answer "Yes" to the actions that you are doing consistently, as appropriate.

  Yes I don't now, but I will start No N/A
Donate to LRNow to keep VB clean, green, & resilient
Support LRNow by registering my Kroger Rewards card
Shop AmazonSmile for LRNow
Help with LRNow waterway cleanup or another community cleanup
Communicate with an elected official about a environmental issue
Display a LRNow Clean Boating sticker on boat

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* 10. KEEP OUR WATERS CLEAN.
Answer "Yes" to the actions that you are doing consistently, as appropriate.

  Yes I don't now, but I will start No N/A
Pledge to Scoop the Poop
Display a Scoop the Poop sticker on VB city trash can or in building common area
Install a BMP (rain barrel, rain garden, infiltration trench, etc.) to reduce storm water runoff from property
Sweep fertilizer off driveway, sidewalk, & road
Keep gutter area clear of dirt, leaves, & debris so rain doesn't transport them to the storm drain
Wash car on lawn instead of driveway or use car wash that recycles water
Use non-toxic, environmentally safe, biodegradable, cleaning products
Do not feed ducks & geese
Keep grease can in kitchen for proper disposal
Reduce or eliminate use of garbage disposal
Turn off water in bathroom sink while brushing teeth
Take short showers to conserve water
Run only full loads in dishwasher
Install low-flow faucets/ toilets

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* 11. There are many ways to "green" a home and be kind to our local waterways.  Are there any other actions you are doing that are not listed elsewhere on your Pearl Home application?

If you were not able to check 15 items, Lynnhaven River Now hopes that you found some new actions to implement and will try to qualify again once you have put those in place.

If you were able to check at least 15 actions you are doing in your home, in your yard, on the water and in your community, congratulations on becoming a Pearl Home!  Clean and healthy waterways are important to all of us. For qualifying households, your Pearl Home flag (with stand) or magnet is waiting for you. During this time our office is closed. However, we will be hosting flag/magnet pick up locations each month. We will email you the time and location.

If you are participating in a Pearl Homes Drive as part of the Pearl School program, check with your school to see how you will receive your flag or magnet.  Make sure you listed the name of your student's school and whether you would prefer a flag or a magnet in Questions #2 and #3.

If you are participating in a Pearl Neighborhood Campaign, check with your neighborhood captain to see how you will receive your flag or magnet. Make sure you listed the name of your neighborhood and whether you would prefer a flag or a magnet in Questions #1 and #3.

Now, it's time to put your flag in your yard and spread the word to your neighbors.  We look forward to driving around Virginia Beach to see all the Pearl Homes taking care of our beautiful waterways!  If your neighborhood has lots of Pearl Homes already, check into becoming a Pearl Neighborhood.  Thank you for all that you do for a clean and healthy Virginia Beach waterways.

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