Tipping the balance on winter deicing impacts: Education is the key

Abstract

Winter deicing results in substantial export of road salts to fresh waters and causes numerous ecologicalproblems. Extension faculty and other educators at the University of Connecticut implemented NewHampshire's Green SnowPro program, a voluntary training program for salt applicators. University ofConnecticut facilities staff applied 3,479 fewer metric tons of salt to campus in the 2 years after theeducational training, equating to a cost savings of $459,251. Substantial environmental and economic benefitscan be realized in northern climates if Extension and other educators rally behind this program.