GOING GREEN: What Your Local Government Can Do - Kevin Greene Illinois EPA Illinois Government Finance Officers Association 2009 Annual Conference ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
GOING GREEN: What Your Local Government Can Do Kevin Greene Illinois EPA Illinois Government Finance Officers Association 2009 Annual Conference Springfield, IL
Overview
Discuss importance of
being a good
environmental
steward
Identify what local
governments can do
to green their
operations
Provide examples of
environmental
stewardship projects
Identify where to get
more information
Some of the topics for today’s
presentation….
Using energy more
efficiently
Generating less waste
Greening employee travel
Purchasing
environmentally
preferable products
Incorporating green
features into building
projects
Why should government lead?
Engaged in a number activities that impact
the environment
Spends considerable funds on electricity,
water, solid waste and travel
Large user of natural resources through
purchase of goods and services
Have educational value (“lead by
example”)
Reduce future liabilities
Why should we care?
Energy Demand Municipal Solid Waste
With less than 5% of the world’s Total annual municipal solid waste
population, the U.S. consumes generation in the U.S. has
22% of the world’s energy increased more than 60% since
Each day, the U.S. per capita 1980 to the current generation of
energy consumption includes 3 246 million tons per year. Per
gallons of oil, 20 pounds of coal capita was generation is about 4.5
and 200 cubic feet of natural gas. pounds per person per day
Residential daily consumption of Water Consumption
electricity is greater than 12 On a daily basis, Americans,
kilowatt hours per person directly and indirectly, use more
Energy Supply than 380 billion gallons of water, or
U.S. is highly dependent on foreign approximately 1,668 gallons per
nations to meet its energy needs – person
net imports met 60% of oil demand Vehicle Miles Traveled
in 2006. Projected to reach 71% in Annual average vehicle miles grew
2030 2.1% from 1995 to 2005. Popu-
Rate Material Use lation grew 1% over the same
Total material consumption rose period
57% from 1970 to 2000, reaching Sources: University of Michigan, Center for
6.5 billion metric tons Sustainable Systems and U.S. EPA
Living in a more sustainable manner?
Natural resources of our
planet are precious and
limited
Responsibility to leave a
healthy planet to future
generations so that they
can meet their needs
Thinking long-term about
the decisions we make on a
daily basisBenefits of being pro-active
Reduce environmental impacts
and save resources
Save money through efficient
use of energy, materials and
water
Improve workplace safety and
health
Lower waste handling and
disposal costs
Avoid future regulations
Enhance your public imageBarriers to incorporating sustainable
practices into government operations
Lack of upper management
support
Focus on first costs
Short term planning horizons
Perceived conflict between
environment and economy
Resistance to change (turf, risk
aversion, etc.)
Lack of time, resources and
motivation
Access to information and
toolsSteps to greening your facilities
Obtain management
support
Create a green team
Assess operations and
impacts
Establish goals
Identify specific actions
Develop action plan
Build understanding
within your organization
Track your progress and
celebrate successesStep 1: Obtain management support
All department Pasadena City Council
Resolution (Feb. 4, 2008)
directive or support Join California Green Cities
memo from mayor or Program and commit to:
board president Purchasing 100% post-
consumer recycled paper for
municipal operations
City Council Avoiding the purchase of
Resolution bottled water for municipal
operations and government
Environmental
sponsored events
Adopting a carbon offset plan
Charter or Policy for municipal employee air
travel
Ordinance creating Adopting municipal fleet fuel
efficiency standards
environmental Promoting the purchase of
advisory committee California foods for municipal
events and operationsExcerpts from City of Eugene (OR)
Environmental Policy
The City of Eugene exists in a special and unique environment…The City of Eugene
recognizes the value of these natural resources and takes responsibility for its
environmental impacts…
Therefore, the City of Eugene is committed to protecting, preserving and restoring the
natural environment. City decision-making will be guided by the goals of increasing
environmental benefits and reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts in
all aspects of the City’s activities, while maintaining the City’s fiscal integrity and the
community’s economic vitality.
To achieve these goals, the City is committed to:
Ensure that each employee understands that they are expected to take personal responsibility
for the environmental effects of their actions while performing City work.
Reduce environmental impacts in all activities including operations, maintenance, construction
and waste disposal. Therefore, the City is committed to continually review all activities to
identify and carry out cost-effective and achievable strategies to reduce energy consumption,
conserve water, reduce consumption and waste, reduce reliance on non-renewable
resources…
Consider long-term as well as short-term environmental consequences when making
planning, design, engineering, purchasing, contracting, and budgeting decisions, including the
impacts of producing, using, and disposing of materials.Step 2: Convene green team
Establish a green team to People who communicate well
and/or thrive in team
direct environmental initiative
environment
Who should be included on the Other employees that have
team time and dedication to
Upper level staff who have participate
experience in leading Size of team will vary
collaborative efforts
depending on size and
Staff that have familiarity with complexity of operations
major operations and services
Usually minimum of six
In-house experts with
employees
knowledge in environmental
improvement. Time commitment: 3-5 hours
per monthGreen Team: Normal, IL
Green Team Members
Planning
Fire
Library
Facilities Management
Parks & Recreation
Finance
Community Development &
Purchasing
Public Works
Water Department
Administration
Information Technology
PoliceMayor’s Green Team Memo:
Missoula, MT
Mayor sends out all-department Green Team prepares list of 25
memo announcing formation of action steps, primarily
Green Team recommended work practices for
Indicates that City Parks would like employees (e.g., double side
to form a voluntary green team copy, avoid engine idling, reuse
Invites each department to seek file folders, use rechargeable
volunteers for a small time batteries, match vehicles to job)
commitment (3-4 meetings over
Mayor and Department Heads
the next few months)
review list and issue a green
Meetings will be designed to
policy
brainstorm on no/low cost
measures to reduce energy, water, Green Team members go over list
fuel and product use with employees in their
Urges support for this effort and departments to encourage
encourages participation. participation
Create a program to track resultsStep 3: Assess operations and impacts
What do your Department functions
departments do? Operational activities:
Buy office supplies
What are the key Heat/cool buildings
operations and Treat wastewater
activities? Maintain parks
Environmental impacts:
What are your Energy use
environmental Paper consumption
impacts? Waste generation
Fuel purchases
Products purchases with
hazardous materialsOperational activities that potentially impact the
environment
Office Operations Grounds Maintenance
(printing, copying) (irrigation, planting,
Facility Operations & mowing, mulching)
Maintenance (HVAC, Construction &
building materials, Demolition
cleaning products) Wastewater Treatment
Purchasing (equipment, Meetings &
supplies, services) Conferences
Employee TravelEnvironmental Impacts
General Activities Resource Waste Hazardous Environmental &
Operations Use Generation Chemical Resource Use
(fossil (including Use Impacts
fuels, oil, releases to
water, air and
materials) water)
Building Interior - Indoor air quality
Maintenance Cleaning - Potential worker
X X exposure to
hazardous
materials
Lighting - Energy use
X X - Disposal
- Air emissions
Pesticide - Indoor air quality
Use X X - DisposalStep 4: Establish long-term goals & targets
What would a more Set Goals and Targets:
sustainable government Goals: Broad statement of
operation look like? direction
Foster long term thinking Sample goal: Reduce
Be meaningful to staff and energy and water demand
community in buildings to a minimum
How might your
departments: Targets: What specific
Conserve energy and reduce
results are you trying to
utility costs achieve and by when
Reduce use of resources and Sample target: Decrease
materials (e.g., paper, water, energy use in municipal
motor fuel) building by 15% by 2010
Increase purchase of recycled
or recyclable products
Protect natural systemsEnvironmental Targets:
Ft. Collins, CO
Reduce or divert total trash production by 50 percent by 2010
Each department reduce overall annual paper purchases by 10 percent by
2006
Purchase three to five of the highest fuel efficient and/or lower emission
light-duty City fleet vehicles per year according to U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency s Green Vehicle Guide
All new construction of City buildings will pursue LEED-NC Silver
requirements; certification submissions will be determined on a case-by-
case basis
Publish a purchasing guideline by December 2004
Identify three sites to pilot for improved irrigation efficiency.
Audit the sites for initial efficiency, evaluate opportunities to improve irrigation,
implement changes where appropriate and monitor results.
Commence in 2006 and select three new sites each year thereafter.Step 5: Identify strategies and actions to
achieve your goals
Compile and review past Prioritize strategies based on:
environmental Quick wins
accomplishments Cost-savings
Conduct research on Internet Efficiencies
Need for training
Have green team members
Educational/Visibility
conduct building walk-throughs Synergy with other priorities
Solicit ideas from employees Start with easier projects first
Research achievements of to build momentum before
other local governments taking on major challenges
Identify resources in
community that can helpWhat environmental actions are local
governments taking?
Energy Efficiency (lighting retrofits, equipment
procurement)
Renewable Energy (electricity purchases, on-site
systems)
Alternative Fuel Vehicles (biodiesel, hybrid vehicles)
Trip Reduction (carpool to meetings,
videoconferencing, flex schedules)
Waste Reduction (paper reduction, composting)
Land and Water Resources (tree planting, buffers
around water bodies)Energy Efficiency Projects
Arlington, TX Milwaukee, WI
Installed 170 occupancy Installed vending machine
sensors on light switches misers that reduce electric use
throughout city buildings: during non-peak hours
Total cost: $8,500 Asked employees to remove
Estimated payback period: 5 portable electric space heaters
years when it is estimated the from work spaces
sensors will save 70,000 kWh
Installed economizer controls
of electricity
that make use of outside air
Converted traffic signals to supply when building requires
LED lights at over 300 inter- cooling and the outdoor air is
sections: cooler than the indoor air
LEDs use 82% less electricity
Several other improvements
Total cost: $1.1 million
Reduced energy by 10% in
Payback period: > three years 2006
Annual savings: 2.8 million Saved $55,000
kWh of electricityWaste Reduction: Naperville, IL
Finance Department Community Relations
Online distributions of solicitations City newsletters and press
Converted paper copy invoices to releases are all sent electronically
electronic document management Citywide
system
Project to reduce the production of
Conducts annual “swap meet” to paper based agendas for Council,
redistribute office supplies Boards and Commissions
(reduced new purchases, saving
Effort to reduce the number of
$7,500 annually)
sheets of paper used through two-
E-bill service sided copying and printing fewer
Created online version of budget emails
books and financial reports
(eliminated 30 books over 400
pages long, saving $3,000
annually)Waste Reduction: NYC WasteLe$$ Program
NYC Dept. of Business Services NYC Dept. of Environmental
Issued memo from Acting Protection
Commissioner urging Created internal electronic phone
employees to: directory, reducing annual paper
usage by 1.29 tons. Saved about
double side copy,
$14,800 annually
reuse outdated letterhead to
Developed a standardized format
print faxes
for letterhead that includes logo
return unwanted supplies to and the commissioner’s name.
mail room for reuse by other Provided individual computer
employees templates for each office, allowing
Initiated reuse program for staff to personalize and print
office supplies. Major supplies letterhead on demand
diverted from disposal were file The print shop makes double-sided
folders and desk accessories copies unless a special request for
Saved $800 a year on a single-sided job is made. Saved
purchase of new supplies about $26,000 a year in paper
purchasing costsGreening work travel
Hybrid Vehicles: Rock Island, IL Employee Bike Share Program:
Purchased 24 hybrid electric Tucson, AZ (2008)
vehicles (21 Honda Civics and 3 Consist of 18 bicycles at 11
Ford Escapes) locations
Replaced vehicles used by the Locations near popular bike routes
public works, fire, and community and multi-use paths
and economic development 88 employees made total of 615
departments and police detectives. business trips
With state $1,000 rebate, federal Logged at total of 1,408 miles, with
rebate and dealer discount, the average trip lasting 2.3 miles
Honda hybrids cost $18,765 per
Reduced CO2 emissions by 926
vehicle
pounds
Projected to reduce CO2
emissions by 50,000 pounds a
year and save about $76,000 in
fuel costs over the 10-year life of
the carsStep: 6 Create an action plan
What will it take to meet your 2008 Actions:
goals and targets Reach the target of 25 percent
of new light duty fleet vehicles
Break strategies into discrete
to be flexible fuel, hybrid,
steps electric or fuel cell
Make assignments to Begin a pilot to purchase E-85
responsible parties ethanol and B-5 bio-diesel fuel.
Set a schedule Issue a RFP for qualifying
companies to install, own,
operate and maintain solar
Sample Action Plan: photovoltaic systems on City
Sacramento, CA property
Develop citywide policies to (1)
Goal: City operations will be
keep City facilities two degrees
substantially fossil-free warmer in the spring and cooler
(electricity, motor fuels) in the winter and (2) to turn off
lights and computers when not
in useStep 7: Build understanding and support
from staff and others
Communicate reasons for
taking action
Consider kick-off event
Keep employees informed
Hold brown bag lunches on
environmental topics
Post updates in newsletters,
bulletin boards or intranet
Highlight employees changing
practices
Include environmental
practices in new employee
orientation
Develop checklist on what
employees can do at home to
green their activities
Brief civic groups on effortsStep 8: Track and report progress
Track annual
progress
Benchmark against
leading peer
institutions
Evaluate results and
look for new
opportunities
Recognize
accomplishmentsSustainability Report Card: Santa Monica,
CA (2008)
85% of municipal fleet Purchased 100% post
powered by consumer recycled
alternative fuels copy paper for
Purchase 100% municipal operations
renewable power for
municipal operations
Civic Center Parking
structure certified as
LEED Green BuildingEnvironmentally Preferable Purchasing
Green Products – have lesser
or reduced effect on human
health and environment when
compared with other products
that serve same purpose:
Require less energy or water to
operate
Are more easily recycled
Made with recycled content
Less toxic than conventional
products
Made from renewable
resources
Designed to be long lasting
Safely managed at the end of
their useful lifeGreen Purchasing: Ocean City, NJ
Converted city diesel vehicles to bio-diesel fuel
Using 100% recycled plastic products in
reconstruction of parks and playgrounds by
purchasing recycled plastic trash containers,
planters, parking stops and park benches
Purchased 100% recycled content copy paper
and Energy Star rated office equipment
Implemented integrated pest management
practices in city parks and gardensBuilding Construction or Renovation
In the United States
alone, buildings
account for:
39% of total energy use
12% of total water
consumption
68% of total electricity
consumption
38% of total carbon
dioxide emissions
Source: U.S. EPAGreen Building Project: West Valley Branch
Library (San Jose, CA)
Completed 2003: 20,000 square feet and $7.9 million
project
Building is located with ¼ mile of 2 or more bus lines
Landscaping is drought tolerant and features high-efficiency
irrigation controls
The site’s mature, redwood trees were preserved
Building constructed to use 30% less energy
Photo-cells turn off lights when daylighting is adequate
One-half of the wood used for the project came from sustainably-
managed forests
More than 25% of the construction materials contain recycled
content
Low-emitting paints and adhesives were used
90% of the construction and demolition waste was recycledWhere to get more information
ICLEI Local Sustainlane
Governments for Government
Sustainability www.sustainlane.us/
www.iclei.org
Local Government
CitiesGoGreen Environmental
http://citiesgogreen.com/ Assistance Network
http://www.lgean.org/html/p2-
toc.cfmBest practices, tools & case studies
U.S. Conference of U.S. Green Building
Mayors, Best Council, Resources
Practices Guide for Local and State
http://usmayors.org/climateprot Governments
ection/bestpractices.htm www.usgbc.org/Docs/Member
_Resource_Docs/toolkit_statel
UW Extension, ocal.pdf
Toward a Sustainable
Community: Toolkit U.S. EPA Region II,
for Local Planning for a
Governments Sustainable: A Guide
www4.uwm.edu/shwec/publica for Local
tions/cabinet/reductionreuse/S Governments
ustainabilityToolkit.pdf www.epa.gov/region2/sustaina
bility/greencommunities/Energy Efficiency: Grants and Incentives
Contact your local utility Economic Stimulus (ARRA)
about availability of grants Energy Efficiency &
and rebates Conservation Block Grants
www.usmayors.org/pressrele
Search the web for grants ases/uploads/DOE_032609.P
and other incentives DF
Illinois Clean Energy www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bure
aus/Energy_Recycling/Econo
Community Foundation mic+Stimulus/EconomicStim
www.illinoiscleanenergy.org ulus.htm
Illinois Department of Sign up for listservs and
Commerce & Economic email notices
Opportunity
UIUC, Smart Energy Design
Public Sector Electric
Efficiency Programs
Assistance Center
http://smartenergy.arch.uiuc.edu/
www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bure
aus/Energy_Recycling/Energ
y/Energy+Efficiency/Questions or Comments?
You can also read
