Resolve to be Pearly in 2015!

So much of the progress we have made in restoring our waterways is a result of the great work our residents are doing to change their practices and adopt more sustainable behaviors. These PEARL HOMES are all over Virginia Beach. PEARL HOMES are places where people care about our community and our environment and want to do what they can to live responsibly and help protect our resources

Since 2012, we have been working with homeowners to change their practices and adopt more sustainable behaviors. We have already reached just over 2,000 pearl homes in Virginia Beach, and are adding new folks all the time.

If you are already doing 15 of these practices, you qualify to become a Pearl Home!

Pledge to "Scoop the Poop" if you are a pet owner Installed a "Scoop the Poop" sticker on my black trash can  Reduced my lawn area and converted it to a planted bed  Chose native plants for my landscape and avoided invasive species  Did not feed ducks and geese  Planted a tree  Switched from bottled water to a reusable water bottle that I refill  Buy locally made products whenever possible  Consistently use reusable grocery bags  Helped with one of LRNow's River Cleanups during the past year  Installed Lynnhaven River storm drain markers in my neighborhood  Installed a rain barrel or cistern to reduce the runoff from my property  Installed a rain garden to reduce runoff, hold storm water and give it a chance to infiltrate  Grew oysters for our conservation reefs  Drove fewer miles, consciously eliminating unnecessary trips, used public transportation or a bicycle  Chose a more fuel efficient vehicle Consistently recycle or reuse  Reduced my fertilizer use to be more water friendly Pumped out the holding tank on my boat  Display a River Keeper sticker on my boat  Switched to marine approved cleaning products for my boat  Became a member of Lynnhaven River NOW and helped support our work  Serve on one of LRNow's Committees  Installed a Buffer Garden between my lawn and the waterway or between my lawn and the street  Installed a programmable thermostat or purchased energy efficient appliances  Installed low-flow faucets and/or toilets  Did an energy efficiency renovation on my home (new windows, increased insulation, new heating and air conditioning system, etc)  Dispose of hazardous waste properly (batteries, paint, etc)  Heard an LRNow presentation at my Civic League, Garden Club, Rotary or other civic organization (email trista@lrnow.org to set this up!)  Participated in a LRNow workshop or program  Communicated with one of my elected officials about an environmental issue  Composted leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste  Raised the mower blades to 3 inches or higher to keep the lawn a little longer and healthier  Turned off the sprinklers and irrigated less frequently, only when really needed  Got a soil test before applying any fertilizer  Kept the gutter area in front of my home clear of dirt, leaves and debris to prevent these from going into the storm water drain  Redirected my downspout into a planted bed away from paved surfaces  Installed pervious pavers in place of concrete or blacktop  Created a backyard habitat for wildlife  Switched to an electric mower or a push mower  Keep a grease can in my kitchen and reduced or eliminated my use of the garbage disposal  Line dry my laundry whenever possible  Recruited a new Pearl Home  Installed a living shoreline  Grow some of my own fruits and vegetables  Turn off lights and appliances when not in use

You can apply here online, or fill out an application at our office (3663 Marlin Bay Dr, Brock Environmental Center) or at one of our events.