Planning for a Sustainable Future
A Guide for Local Governments
-------
-------
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Sustainability Planning 5
What isSustainability? 5
Reasons to Plan 5
2. Getting Started 7
Assess the Challenge 7
Identify Vulnerabilities and Prepare for Natural Disasters 8
Work Through Existing Resources and Networks 10
Build Coalitions 10
Educate Colleagues and the Public 11
Secure Funding, Reduce Costs 12
Use a Planning Framework 14
3. Areas of Opportunity 17
Transportation 17
Land Use Planning 21
Biological Conservation and Open Space Preservation 25
Solid Waste Generation and Recycling 29
Energy, Air Quality and Climate 35
Protecting Water Quality and Ensuring Future Supply 41
Green Building 47
Green Procurement 53
4. Conclusion: Moving Beyond Planning to Action 55
Goal-Setting, Targets, and Performance Measurement Strategies 56
Wrapping Up and Moving Forward 56
5. Preparing the Guide 57
-------
-------
Introduction to Sustainability
Plannin
What is Sustainability?
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) defines Sustainability as
"meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs." In
other words, Sustainability attempts to
balance the needs of people today with
the future needs of our children and the
natural systems that sustain all life.
In an era of population growth,
increasing economic competition, and
environmental challenges ranging from
climate change to air pollution and
decreasing water levels to rising energy
costs, planning is essential to our future
and the well-being of our communities.
Planning in the face of these challenges
must transcend traditional zoning or
general land useconsiderations.ltcan also
promote Sustainability by incorporating
the three "E's" - economy, environment
and equity in plans for development.
bearable
'
sustainable
equitable
Environment viable Economic
Increasingly, many local governments,
ranging from towns and cities to counties
and regional partnerships,aretaking more
long-term, comprehensive approaches to
economic development, with the goal of
improving overall Sustainability.They have
recognized that planning for a sustainable
future can bring real-world benefits to our
towns and cities.
What are the best Sustainability practices
currently in use? How can a community
move from an idea to a plan to successful
action? This handbook, which includes
information gathered from more than
two dozen cities, towns and counties
across the United States, will provide the
answers to these questions and provide a
roadmap for developing effective plans
for a sustainable future.
Reasons to Plan
Sustainability planning is becoming main
stream. Once the domain of only the
"greenest" cities, Sustainability planning
is being undertaken by more cities and
towns across the nation. While efforts
like New York City's PlaNYC are better
known, smaller cities like Cleveland, Ohio,
towns like Sedona, Arizona, and counties
like Westchester County, New York are
benefiting from an integrated approach
to resource and community planning.
Municipal Sustainability planning is
helping communities across the country
lower energy costs, secure sustainable
supplies of water, reduce air pollution,and
encourage new economic development.
Although every area of the country faces
its own challenges, sustainable concepts
and ideas can be adapted to the needs of
any size community.
-------
-
V
1
*
J
-------
Getting Started
Assess the Challenge
The critical first step in developing a suc-
cessful sustainability plan is an assess-
ment of community strengths and weak-
nesses as well as current and future needs.
Every community is characterized by a set
of unique features - from its climate and
topography to local development pat-
terns. The issues on which you focus will
determine the structure of your local sus-
tainability plan, but most of the municipal
plans discussed in this handbook cover
the following topics:
transportation
land use planning
open space protection
energy, air quality and climate
water supply, storm water and wastewa-
ter
solid waste and recycling
Your final plan may include some or all of
these issues or other areas of concern, but
the overall goal is to be comprehensive
because many of these areas are intercon-
nected.
A look at the best practices used by similar
communities can provide a comprehen-
sive list of the opportunities and options
useful in reaching sustainability goals.
The following are some helpful questions
to ask in developing community-specific
benchmarks:
What communities in your region or state
are facing similar challenges in terms of
the environment, population growth and
the local economy?
What are the similarities between your
community and others, and what plans
have been devised and/or implemented
to meet the challenges?
Are there examples of "best practices," as
is or modified, to help your community
reach its objectives?
Environmental threats, economic pres-
sures and changing regulations often
spur or drive planning efforts, so it's worth
thinking through these related issues as
well:
What environmental, economic or regu-
latory impacts are the highest priorities?
How were the priorities determined?
What studies or projections (environmen-
tal, land-use patterns, economic develop-
ment) exist foryour community, region, or
state for the next five, 10,20, or 50 years?
What are the regulatory requirements
that currently apply or that may be devel-
oped down the line?
What is the potential for mitigating or pre-
venting various threats and how difficult
or easy will it be to implement change?
What are the potential synergies that
might result from tackling a range of is-
sues at the same time? For example, can
improved open space protection preserve
biological resources and reduce flood
risks? Can improvements to a govern-
ment's vehicle fleet lower its energy costs
and reduce local air pollution?
TIP: As your list grows longer, you may
wish to employ a spreadsheet or data-
base of some kind.
Recommended
Resources:
Start with a basic self-assessment. The
National Environmental Services Center,
funded by EPA, provides a comprehen-
sive checklist to jump start the process.
www.nesc.wvu.edu/netcsc/Self Assmnt/
SelfAssessment.pdf
www.nesc.wvu.edu/traininq.cfm
7
-------
Identify Vulnerabilities
and Prepare for
Natural Disasters
Protecting against natural disasters should
be a key planning priority. Natural disas-
ters will always pose potential threats, but
careful planning can keep them from be-
coming management disasters. By assess-
ing your community's vulnerabilities and
implementing mitigation strategies, the
potential impacts can be reduced.
Risk is determined by evaluating the po-
tential hazard and assessing the vulner-
ability to the impact. Although evaluating
risk is often more qualitative than quanti-
tative, it can be useful to think about risk
as a product of the hazard multiplied by
the vulnerability. Risk assessment usually
follows a three-step approach:
understanding the nature, location, in-
tensity and probability of the key threats
in your area
determining the degree of vulnerability
to those threats
identifying the resources available to
manage or respond
In evaluating vulnerabilities to particular
threats, it is common to consider:
land use patterns, engineering of key
infrastructure such as roads and bridges,
and the architecture of the built environ-
ment
social factors related to the well-being of
individuals, communities and society
economic conditions, with an under-
standing that distressed and low-income
neighborhoods may have a more limited
capacity to evacuate or recover
environmental concerns, including how
the degradation of natural areas such as
wetlands can increase the damaging im-
pacts of events
Particular care should be taken in evalu-
ating how risks associated with natural
disasters can be potentially compounded
by the existence or condition of human-
made infrastructure such as a flood caus-
ing an overflow of a wastewater treatment
plant. Your emergency preparedness
strategy should also consider possible
threats such as the potential for an acci-
dental or intentional chemical release, ex-
plosion, outbreak of disease, or even, de-
pending on the area, radiological release.
Government agencies in your area, such
as police, fire and emergency manage-
ment, routinely track and evaluate these
types of threats, so a multi-stakeholder
approach that involves relevant local and
regional agencies is critical. In addition, it
is worth considering global threats such
as climate change and population growth.
iiiini
illinium
Illl111 II III
Illllllllll
-------
Recommended
Resources:
General information on preparing for di-
sasters, determining risks and planning for
emergencies can be found on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Web site.
www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm
In collaboration with FEMA, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) has developed a Community Vul-
nerability Assessment Tool to help deter-
mine and prioritize vulnerability hazards.
www.csc.noaa.gov/products/nchaz/
startup.htm
FEMA developed HAZUS (Hazards US)
software for estimating potential losses
from natural hazards.
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/
index.shtm
The Climate Change Science Program
is a portal to federal research on climate
change impacts across all agencies.
www.climatescience.gov/
NOAA, among other organizations, has
been looking at the potential regional im-
pacts of climate change via the Regional
Climate Modeling Tool.
www.ncar.ucar.edu/research/climate/
regional.php
Planning Locally for Climate Change is a
climate change guidebook produced by
the Climate Impacts Group at the Univer-
sity of Washington and members of King
County, Washington, in collaboration
with ICLEI.
www.iclei.org/index.php?id=7066
EPA Regional Vulnerability Assessment
www.epa.gov/reva/
EPA Events of National Significance Web
page studies major disasters and inci-
dents.
www.epa.gov/emerqencies/content/
learninq/nationaLresponse.htm
Center for Disease Control Natural Disas-
ters and Extreme Weather
www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/
ICLEI Global Platform for Disaster Risk Re-
duction
www.iclei.orq/index.php?id=6880&tx_
ttnews[backPid]=6877&tx_ttnews[tt_
news1=2008&cHash=a05f248d7d
UN World Conference on Disaster Reduc-
tion
www.unisdr.org/wcdr/
Additional resources may be found on the
Web sites of municipal governments such
as the Portland Office of Emergency Man-
agement.
www.portlandonline.com/oem
The Sarasota County and City of Santa Bar-
bara Offices of Emergency Services
www.scqov.net/EmerqencyServices/
EmerqencyManaqement/
emerqencymanaqement.asp
www.santabarbaraca.gov/Resident/OES/
-------
Work through Existing Resources and
Networks
As you begin to create your sustainability plan, it's a good idea to take a look at related
work being done by other organizations in your area. Are there agencies conducting rele-
vant studies? Is there a local group involved in protecting open space, a business associa-
tion analyzing the impacts of growth, or a school program focusing on stream cleanups
or water quality?
Chances are that at least some plans,
studies and committees have been cre-
ated over the years. Organize a meeting
with the coordinators of existing projects
to better coordinate your planning.
Annual reports tracking water and energy
consumption as well as wastewater and
solid waste generation should be readily
available from local and regional utilities.
Land use planning and environmental
documents such as open space preser-
vation plans and natural resource pro-
tection plans, and environmental impact
statements and reports will also be useful
in identifying what has been done and
what needs to be done. Anything older
than five to 10 years may need to be up-
dated, but even older efforts can provide
worthwhile guidance and data, which will
come in handy when targets are set and
progress is measured.
Once you've taken a survey of ongoing ef-
forts and historical data, the next step is to
look at the local capacity needed to man-
age the planning.
Build Coalitions
Successful planning efforts are typically
broad-based and encourage participation
by the whole community. By partnering
with residents and existing groups, the
effects of your sustainability plan can be
amplified and staff workload can be mini-
mized.
Local volunteers are a key group to con-
sider as part of your partnerships, since
they directly benefit and can help make
the public case for your plan to their
neighbors and friends. Organizing volun-
teer days and getting community mem-
bers involved in the planning process is
not only helpful, but required in some
areas such as land use planning.
Forming ad hoc committees or commis-
sions, overseen by government officials, is
another effective way to address specific
environmental planning issues while al-
lowing interested community members
to contribute their expertise. Inviting com-
munity members to participate in meet-
ings is a good way to recruit them to serve
on a committee. The Westchester County
Global Warming Task Force in New York,
for example, allows interested commu-
nity members to work on specific issues
without being permanent members.
Local environmental groups are another
potential set of organizations with which
communities can partner during the plan-
ning process. Environmental groups often
bring specialized expertise in areas such
as watershed protection or smart growth
planning. Ensuring that all local environ-
mental concerns are considered can help
create broad-based support for the plan-
ning process. Some examples are Denver,
Colorado, where the city has involved the
FrontRange Earth Force in its planning
process, and Westchester County, New
York, which is working with the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and
Riverkeeper, among other groups.
Because environmental sustainability and
the long-term economic viability of com-
munities are linked, businesses, business
associations and chambers of commerce
-------
are also important partners. Resource and
planning issues, such as the availability of
water, the price of energy and accessibil-
ity to transportation, are often of critical
importance to the local business com-
munity. In addition, local businesses can
provide both technical resources and
funding for your sustainability planning
process.
Along with community members, non-
profits and business groups, other gov-
ernment agencies are another key con-
stituency to consider. For instance, a city
or town may want to, or in some cases, be
required to involve regional or state agen-
cies in their planning process. Outside
agencies may be able to provide a wealth
of resources and assistance, including
grants, loans or other financing.
Academic organizations are also possible
partners. As members of the commu-
nity, universities, colleges and technical
schools may have a direct interest in the
local government sustainability planning
process. In addition, these organizations
can provide technical resources, research
support and venues for public discussions.
The Montgomery County Greenhouse
Gas Task Force, for example, was devel-
oped as the result of a project conducted
by Pennsylvania State University graduate
students.
Faith and service organizations, transpor-
tation advocacy groups and labor unions
are also potential partners depending
on the interests of local groups and the
needs of the community.
In creating workable coalitions, try to bal-
ance the desire for broad support from
many sectors of the community and the
need to keep the groups from becoming
unwieldy.
Educate Colleagues
and the Public
Once you take your baseline, look at ap-
plicable planning approaches, and assess
potential partners, the next essential step
is to articulate the need for a plan to your
city, town or county government. As part
of your internal outreach, you may want
to create a project brief that outlines pos-
sible benefits, looks at costs and creates a
timeline for major milestones.
Based on an analysis of various sustain-
ability plans, the best ones are concise,
discuss top-level goals and are not too
technical. They emphasize the challenges
unique to individual communities and
the benefits of planning for the commu-
nity. They also make a combined appeal
to civic culture, area values and economic
benefits.
Strong leadership is essential to the suc-
cess of your sustainability plan. This role
can be taken on effectively by an elected
official, a planning or community devel-
opment department in the local govern-
11
-------
merit, a community-based commission, a
prominent local business or a hybrid ap-
proach that combines all of these stake-
holders. The importance of leadership
cannot be over estimated.
In developing your plan, confirm that
leaders in local government and senior
managers in implementing departments
a re aware of:
the implementation strategy and sched-
ule for the programs
the estimated labor commitment need-
ed for program success
when, how and what to communicate to
employees on a regular basis
how your programs align with current
management plans and programs
One of the most significant challenges
in discussing sustainability is creating
greater public awareness of the interde-
pendence between the environment, the
economy and community life, and the
reasons they don't have to conflict with
each other. Cooperation between public
agencies, non-profit organizations and
the private sector can create compelling
messages and materials to improve public
understanding of the issues and the plan-
ning process. Effective outreach materials
should be specific to your area and based
on the actual experiences of local people,
organizations and the government.
Recommended
Resources:
Place Matters: This is an educational Web
site for citizen engagement and commu-
nity education.
www.placematters.org
Sustainable Communities Network is a
Web site that offers several resources and
links to organizations working on sustain-
ability education.
www.sustainable.org/living/education.
html
The Education for Sustainability Web site
was created by the Center for a Sustain-
able Future.
www.ffof.org/pcsd/toc.html
Secure Funding,
Reduce Costs
As initial planning is conducted and en-
vironmental objectives are being defined,
you will also need to consider how you
will fund the planning process and future
projects. Just as each municipality's sus-
tainability plan will vary, so will their ap-
proach towards funding.
Some municipalities find supportthrough
government grants programs. Various
grants are available from EPA, the U.S.
Department of Energy and state depart-
ments of environmental protection. For
example, the Burlington Legacy Project
in Vermont was funded in part by an
EPA Sustainable Development Challenge
Grant.
TIP: Prepare your organization to apply
for grant opportunities by registering
your search parameters and automati-
cally receive an e-mail notification of new
grant opportunities.
www.qrants.gov/search/
subscribeAdvanced.do
Public-private partnerships are also po-
tentially valuable financing tools. The
United States Conference of Mayors pro-
vides numerous examples of municipali-
ties teaming up with non-governmental
organizations, utilities, water boards, busi-
nesses and other partners. Not only do
such efforts frequently result in funding
to help in reaching sustainability goals,
they also help foster support for planning
efforts.
Among the most frequently cited and
successful sources of sustainability fund-
ing are programs that result in cost sav-
ings. In some cases, upfront investment
in long-lasting infrastructure projects
that are amortized over decades can
be offset by long-term savings.
-------
According to the United States Confer-
ence of Mayors, typical cost savings come
from:
energy reduction strategies (e.g., on-
site renewable energy or replacement of
lighting with high-efficiency alternatives)
purchase of low-energy appliances
green building projects
vehicle emissions reduction programs
such as the replacement of leaking gas
caps
arbor projects that add shade and/or cre-
ate natural stormwater buffers
recycling programs
education and training
traffic-signal optimization
Weighing the benefits and costs of a
given approach is a frequent first-step
in the budgetary process, but it is rarely
straightforward, especially when assess-
ing environmental benefits. How does
one quantify the value of clean air, open
space, a pristine shoreline, quality of life,
or, for that matter, human lives, especially
those of future generations? One broad
rule of thumb is that it is usually best to
start with the most pressing problems
and those that lend themselves to the
most direct and cost-effective solutions.
Then use a systematic planning approach
such as an environmental management
system (EMS), described in the next sec-
tion of this handbook, to continue to im-
prove performance over time.
It is also important to consider the full
cost and full benefits of each approach
to determine an accurate payback period.
For example, preventing sewer overflows
into rivers and seas can improve drink-
ing water, aquatic-based commerce and
tourism. Electricity and fuel-saving pro-
grams can reduce operating costs, and re-
cycling materials, like aluminum and cop-
per, can be lucrative.The payback periods
may be shorter than you think. In just one
instance, the San Diego Refuse Disposal
Division saved $868,000 in heavy equip-
ment and diesel charges by shutting off
equipment during breaks and lunch peri-
ods.
13
-------
TIP: Use ENERGY START'S Cash Flow op-
portunity calculator to estimate the pay-
back period for investments. ENERGY
STAR is a joint EPA, U.S. Department of
Energy program that helps businesses
and individuals protect the environment
through superior energy efficiency.
www.enerqystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=qovernment.bus_qovernment_
local
Recommended
Resources:
EPA and other federal grant opportuni-
ties
www.qrants.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy database
of incentives for renewable energy and
efficiency has detailed information on
state and local incentives and funding
programs.
www.dsireusa.org/
U.S. Department of Energy Funding for
Energy Efficiency
wwwl .eere.energy.gov/financing/
The U.S. Department of Housing and Ur-
ban Development offers incentives for
redevelopment via its Home Ownership
Zones.
www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/
affordablehousing/programs/hoz/
EPA's Guidebook of Financial Tools: Pay-
ing for Sustainable Environmental Sys-
tems
www.epa.gov/efinpage/efinfin.htm
Center for American Progress Green Re-
covery: A Program to Create Good Jobs
and Start Building a Low-Carbon Econo-
my
www.americanprogress.org/
issues/2008/09/pdf/g reen_recovery.pdf
Survi
and \SB
PLAN
Survey environmental impact
and issues Assess environmental
activity plans
ACT
r/anagement review
of operations
CHECK
Internal audits
Corrective and
prevefrtionmeaELirefi
Use a Planning
Framework
Even the most successful sustainability
planning effort needs a systematic ap-
proach for managing and reducing envi-
ronmental impacts. Environmental Man-
agement Systems (EMS) provide a vetted
framework that allows communities to
address both specific and broad environ-
mental issues in order to realize desired
outcomes. By addressing root causes and
integrating environmental approaches
into everyday operations, environmental
stewardship can become a priority across
your entire organization.
Every EMS follows a basic four-step mod-
el:
The Plan phase is used to analyze current
environmental impacts and legal require-
ments, and then to set appropriate envi-
ronmental goals and objectives.
The Do phase moves to implementing
specific programs and processes to meet
objectives and targets. Tasks might in-
clude training employees and establish-
ing operational controls. Being precise
about assigning responsibilities to ensure
DO
Implement environ-
mental activities Build
implementation and
operation systems
Educate employees
-------
accountability is a must.
The Check phase includes internal audit-
ing, monitoring progress, assessing suc-
cesses and failures, identifying areas for
improvement and benchmarking. Evalu-
ating employee understanding of the
system and retraining employees when
necessary is key to keeping the system
current and useful.
The Act phase is for reviewing progress,
performing management reviews and
implementing improvements to the plan,
which can start the planning process
anew.
General information the EMS process can
also be found on EPA's Web site:
www.epa.gov/ems/index.html
EPA has found that an EMS can help mu-
nicipalities:
improve environmental performance
and enhance regulatory compliance
prevent pollution and conserve resources
reduce environmental hazards
attract new businesses and create new
markets
increase energy efficiency and reduce
costs
enhance employee morale and aware-
ness as well as recruiting
enhance a community's image with the
public, regulators, lenders and investors
qualify a community for recognition and
incentive programs such as the EPA Per-
formance Track Program
www.epa.gov/perftrac
Communicating the successful results of
your EMS is a great way to demonstrate
cost savings, environmental improve-
ments and leadership.
Recommended
Resources:
The Public Entity EMS Resource Center is
a collaborative effort between EPA and
the Global Environment and Technology
Foundation.
www.peercenter.net/
EPA funded the creation of Clean Air Cli-
mate Protection (CACP) software by Lo-
cal Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI).
CACP is designed to help local govern-
ments formulate climate action plans and
is used by the U.S. Conference of Mayors
to compute emissions numbers and calcu-
late cost savings.
www.iclei-usa.org/action-center/tools/
cacp-software
Climate and Air Pollution Planning Assis-
tant (CAPPA). EPA funded this ICLEI tool, as
a more comprehensive planning support
tool.
www.iclei-usa.org/action-center/tools/
decision-support-tool
The International Organization for Stan-
dardization (ISO) developed management
system standards including quality and
environmental management.
www.iso.org/iso/iso cataogue/
management standards/iso 9000
iso 14000/iso 14000 essentials.htm
Sustainability Reporting Framework and
Guidelines. Although primarily for busi-
nesses, this product of the Global Report-
ing Initiative can help communities and
organizations track and report indicators.
www.globalreporting.org/AboutGRI/
The U.S. Green Building Council, known
for its energy-efficient and environmen-
tally-conscious construction and opera-
tion standards, is pilot testing a new LEEDฎ
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) system for neighborhood design.
www.usgbc.org/Disp avPage.
aspx?CMSPagelD=148
15
-------
-------
Areas of Opportunity
Transportation
In 2005, according to the U.S. Department
of Transportation, traffic congestion re-
sulted in 4.2 billion hours of travel delay,
2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel, and a
net urban congestion cost of nearly $80
billion. The social and environmental im-
pacts of congestion, such as the value of
lost time and extra air pollution created
by idling, are no less important. Propos-
ing more and wider roads only tempo-
rarily mitigates congestion and results in
lasting consequences - more air pollu-
tion from increased vehicle traffic, more
stormwater run-off due to increases in
impervious surfaces, and threats to open
spaces and wildlife corridors.
What are called for are innovative ap-
proaches that add more options for pub-
lic transportation and reduce the need
for driving. The good news is that com-
munities that have successfully added
public transportation and revitalized
downtown areas have often reaped big
rewards, including reduced commute
times, improved air quality and a reduc-
tion in greenhouse gas emissions. Other
less quantifiable benefits include reduced
asthma rates, improved integration of
disparate neighborhoods, especially for
communities with environmental justice
concerns, and increased safety for pe-
destrians, cyclists and drivers alike. Com-
muters who have public transportation
options are often able to save money, es-
pecially as fuel prices continue to increase.
Promoting walking and bicycling can pro-
mote physical fitness and reduce health
care expenses.
Best Practices and
Solutions
Planning approaches range from simple
changes of existing infrastructure to com-
prehensive efforts to rethink how a region
travels. Although the creation of major
new projects, such as the introduction of
light rail, can take time and require ma-
jor capital spending, these efforts can be
linked with other large-scale projects to
revitalize downtowns and reshape devel-
opment patterns.
There are a range of feasible and cost-
effective transportation approaches that
are worth considering, including:
car-pooling programs
creation or upgrade of bike lanes and
paths, sidewalks and walking paths to en-
courage non-motorized transportation
installation of clean diesel technologies
on municipal vehicles, equipment and
buses
upgrade and expansion of public trans-
portation services such as bus rapid tran-
sit, trolleys, ferries, trains and light rail
optimization of transportation routes and
timing
agreements with local businesses to
stagger delivery and commute times, and
encourage telecommuting
incentives to use public transportation by
providing park and ride spaces
promotion of car sharing services such as
providing on-street parking for car shar-
ing businesses in your community
support of walking and biking by pro-
viding bike route maps, bike parking and
street beautification programs
development of "transportation corridors"
between communities by linking existing
17
-------
public transportation services with neigh-
boring communities
creation of public transportation along or
parallel to existing highway/arterial cor-
ridors
To develop a strategic action plan for
sustainable transportation, communi-
ties may need to establish a dedicated
planning group to work jointly with local,
state and federal agencies. Reducing con-
gestion and improving access to public
transport requires the integration of land
use planning for new residential develop-
ment and major employment and enter-
tainment attractions with the creation of
accessible transit hubs.
Measuring Success
Communities may evaluate their progress
by measuring operational effectiveness
and efficiency, environmental impacts,
behavioral changes in public transporta-
tion choices and infrastructure security.
Some specific indicators could include:
fossil fuel consumption, by mean annual
gallons of fuel savings
greenhouse gas emissions, in annual tons
of carbon equivalents
traffic congestion, in total hours saved
each year
commute times, by average length
miles of bike lanes
public transit ridership and system rev-
enue
miles of public transit routes
distance traveled to public transportation
circuits
results of rider or driver satisfaction sur-
veys
plans to modify public transportation sys-
tems such as retrofitting buses or invest-
ing in electric-powered systems
the number of people traveling by car-
pool
Recommended
Resources:
EPA regulates air pollution from all kinds
of motor vehicles and engines and en-
courages travel choices that minimize
emissions. The Agency has a lot of useful
information for state and local govern-
ments on its Web site, including easy-to-
use calculators and modeling tools.
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/index.
htm
EPA also provides information on trans-
portation "conformity," required by the
Clean Air Act to ensure that federal fund-
ing and approvals are given to highway
and transit projects that are consistent
with the goals established by each state's
air quality implementation plan.
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/
transconf/index.htm
The U.S. Department of Transportation
offers several programs to assist rural ar-
eas and small communities, such as the
Transportation Toolbox for Rural Areas
and Small Communities and Urban Part-
nership Agreements.
http://ntl.bts.gov/ruraltransport/toolbox/
www.upa.dot.gov/
The U.S. Department of Transportation
has developed "Transportation Vision for
2030," a document that provides specific
strategies for passenger transportation,
freight transportation, financing and part-
nerships, and technology and innovation.
www.websl .uidaho.edu/ce501 -
400/resources/Addressing%20
sustainbilitv%20in%20transDortation%20
svstems.pdf
The U.S. Department of Transportation
has information on how to get funding
for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/
bikeped/bp-broch.htm#fundinq
-------
Transportation Case Study:
Westchester County, New York
Action Plan is on a Roll
In its sustainability plan, Westchester County, a com-
munity just north of New York City, included an as-
sessment of local transportation infrastructure and
approaches to reducing greenhouse gases from the
transportation sector. The benefit: more efficient
fleets, lower municipal costs and less traffic cut down
on air pollution. To achieve these goals, the plan set
out a series of transportation strategies:
The first strategy is the creation of partnerships with
neighboring communities and local businesses to
reduce transportation demands. Specific approaches
include:
use of carpools and van-pools
participation in ride sharing programs such as Nu
ride
encouragement of car sharing via services provided
by private rental companies that will rent cars for short
(hour long) or long (week long) periods of time
establishment of a private transportation network
where people who have common local or far desti-
nations can carpool to save on costs, air pollution and
so they can enjoy each other's company
promotion of flexible work weeks and telecommut-
ing
consolidation of transportation across school districts
by establishing a county-wide network of school dis-
trict coordinators for clean transportation
A second strategy is support for the use of public
transit. Westchester is fortunate to have an extensive
network of public transit and school bus services avail-
able in many communities.
The third strategy is the promotion and development
of alternate modes of transportation such as biking or
walking.
The fourth strategy is the replacement of vehicles and
better management of municipal fleets. The plan en-
courages the purchase of hybrid, flex-fueled and alter-
native fueled vehicles. Some effective fleet manage-
ment practices include:
a comprehensive survey to determine fleet needs
a green vehicle replacement and retrofitting strategy
matching of vehicle size to the required tasks
retrofitting buses with devices that prevent idling and
unnecessary burning of fossil fuels, and older buses
with tailpipe and crankcase filters to reduce air pollu-
tion
The plan includes other strategies to reduce green-
house gas emission such as encouraging businesses
and households to purchase carbon offsets and substi-
tuting virtual technology, such as video conferencing,
for travel.
Further information is available at:
www.westchesterqov.com/pdfs/ENVFACIL_
qlobalWarminqAction2008FINAL.pdf
-------
-------
Land Use Planning
Land use planning is a critical element in
developing vibrant and livable communi-
ties, increasing property values, ensuring
economic vitality, addressing potential
human health issues, promoting trans-
portation efficiency, ensuring affordable
housing, and improving environmental
sustainability. Compact, efficient urban
development improves the health and
quality-of-life of area residents, revital-
izes the local economy and increases
environmental sustainability. Develop-
ment of compact areas, even in small
downtown areas, can reduce travel times,
help preserve open space and reduce the
commercial pressure to sprawl. Neigh-
borhoods with walkable areas stimulate
a strong sense of place and enhance an
area's overall livability, while encouraging
the development of strong, vibrant com-
munities.
Zoning is the main tool in land use plan-
ning and can be used to direct develop-
ment and redevelopment in urban areas
to ensure that municipalities grow in a
sustainable manner. Innovative land use
planning policies and smart growth tech-
niques are central in creating comprehen-
sive municipal sustainability plans.
Larger municipalities may find it benefi-
cial to create a new office for sustainabil-
ity to work in cooperation with existing
planning. Smaller municipalities may not
have this option. In such cases, it may be
effective to recruit local residents, com-
munity leaders, business owners and
environmental groups to advise local
government on land use decisions and
development goals.
Best Practices and
Solutions
Smart growth principles can be applied
to a range of critical planning issues in-
cluding community quality of life, urban
design, economic development, environ-
mental issues, human health, affordable
and accessible housing, and transporta-
tion. Smart growth principles usually en-
compass the following:
a range of housing choices and price-
points based around compact, walkable
neighborhoods
mixed land use in the form of combined
retail and residential development
community and stakeholder collabora-
tion in development decisions
support for distinctive, attractive com-
munities with a strong sense of place
predictable development decisions that
are fair and cost effective
preservation of open space, farmland,
natural beauty and critical environmental
areas
a variety of transportation choices
development directed towards existing
communities and transportation corri-
dors
compact building design
appropriate remediation and redevelop-
ment of brownfields
formal parks and plazas in proximity to
residential areas
Large cities such as Denver, Seattle and
Portland offer excellent insight into sus-
tainable land use planning practices.
While smart growth principles offer an
excellent theoretical framework for taking
steps towards sustainable growth, these
city planning departments have demon-
strated how such principles can be used
on the ground.
Measuring Success
Some specific indicators of successful land
use planning are:
population density and distribution
percent of green space per neighbor-
hood
vehicle miles traveled per capita and av-
erage commute times
frequency of walking or bike trips per
capita
results of surveys of neighborhood safety
21
-------
and livability
energy use per capita
number of energy efficient buildings in
the municipality
Recommended
Resources:
EPA's Smart Growth Web page contains
more information on applicable tech-
niques.
www.epa.gov/smartqrowth/
Smart Growth Principles
www.smartqrowth.org/
The City of Portland's Sustainable Devel-
opment Commission has created a com-
prehensive guide for identifying indicators
and measuring progress to determine the
success of sustainable planning and de-
velopment strategies. The indicator ma-
trix can be found on the City of Portland's
Web site.
www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/
imaqe.cfm?id=133058
Seattle Department of Planning and De-
velopment
www.seattle.gov/dpd/
Green Print Denver
www.greenprintdenver.org/
City of Portland Bureau of Planning
www.portlandonline.com/planninq/
-------
Land Use Planning Case Study:
Portland, Oregon
Land Use Planning Evolves
Recognized among American cities as one of the most dedicated to planning, Portland is frequently
progressive transportation and land use policies, downtown redevelopment and success in conta:
sprawl. Building on this success, Portland's Bureau of Planning initiated a comprehensive plan to guide
development within the city over the next 30 years. The "Portland Plan" identifies a number of goals i
regional development policies that encourage walking, access to public transit and the preservation of
cited for its
ning urban
growth and
nd outlines
open space,
ile allowing for population growt
nomic development
The goals of the plan include:
creating a rich and enjoyable environment for pedestrians throughout the central city
striving for excellence in the design of new buildings
encouraging construction to enhance the human scale of buildings, streets and open spaces
promoting districts with distinct characters and a diverse and rich mixture of uses
identifying and protecting significant public views
locating the highest density populations downtown and along potential and existing transit corridors
Through careful planning and a holistic approach to land use decisions, Portland's I
for substantial increases in new jobs, housing units and commercial spaces, without increasing the nun-
occupied by the central city.
Further information is available online
www.Dortlandonline.com/olannina
-------
Land-use planning should protect
ecosystems and open space as these
areas often provide critical natural
services.'
-------
Biological Conservation and
Open Space Preservation
As our nation's population continues to
grow and as development of open space
continues, preserving special natural
places and prime agricultural land be-
comes ever more important. Open space
can be a soggy wetland, a verdant forest
or a breezy grassland. These ecosystems
provide habitat for an abundance of wild-
life, critical protections such as flood con-
trol, and add to aesthetic appeal and a
general sense of well-being.
Preserving open space is a frequently
used strategy in comprehensive munici-
pal sustainability planning and garners
high levels of public support because of
the attractiveness of open spaces and
their value to local residents both socially
and economically. Open space preserva-
tion can provide aesthetic appeal and
recreation opportunities, while enhanc-
ing local real estate values and making
communities more livable. Burlington,
Vermont; Westchester County; Sarasota
County, Florida; Brownsville, Texas; and
Davis, California all provide excellent ex-
amples. Lake Champlain Bikeways, for
example, a public-private partnership in
Burlington, Vermont connects various
practical as well as historic sites around
the city, appealing to both residents and
visitors alike.
Best Practices and
Solutions
Techniques to safeguard environmentally
sensitive areas vary across communities
and types of surrounding ecosystems.
EPA identifies three of the most common
approaches:
protecting wetlands
establishing buffers along rivers and
streams
creating greenbelts and conservation
easements
Plan Smart New Jersey identifies three
key open space protection tactics. First,
it promotes conservation easements, re-
strictions requiring a property to be main-
tained forever in an underdeveloped or
natural state. Second, it encourages de-
veloper set-asides, which are voluntary
protections created when projects are
planned. The Plan Smart guide suggests
that for maximum effect, "the jurisdiction
should encourage developers to set aside
land in stream corridors, mature forests,
and other key environmental areas iden-
tified during the planning process, or it
should use the in-lieu contributions to
purchase this land." And third, it includes
outright purchase, which, "provided the
jurisdiction is committed to maintaining
the land in a natural state, is the best way
to ensure that land remains preserved."
Measuring Success
Some specific indicators for biological
conservation and open space preserva-
tion are:
acres of land in easement
acres of protected wetland areas
number of bike paths in proximity to
popular sites
25
-------
Recommended
Resources:
To measure and assess the status of eco-
system health, it is important to have
good indicators. EPA discusses this topic
in its report, Community Based Environ-
mental Protection.
www.epa.gov/care/library/howto.pdf
New Jersey's Plan Smart Full Guide
www.plansmartni.org/projects/gig/index.
html
The Defenders of Wildlife Incentives for
Conservation has extensive information
on available approaches.
www.defenders.org/programs and
policy/habitat conservation/private
lands/landowner incentives
-------
-------
1
7
,
-------
Solid Waste Generation and Recycling
According to EPA statistics for 2006, the
average person in the U.S. generated 4.6
pounds of waste per day and recycled 1.5
pounds. The energy saved by recycling
is the equivalent of more than 10 billion
gallons of gasoline per year. Yet, the two
most common management strategies
for municipal garbage are to construct
local landfills to dispose of solid waste or
to transport the waste to other communi-
ties.
As populations increase, landfills reach ca-
pacity and newer facilities remain difficult
to site. If municipalities choose to remote-
ly dispose of their waste, they incur the
added cost of transporting it. These costs
include depreciation of vehicles, person-
nel hours to transport trash, fuel for the
vehicles, as well as administrative costs
and uncertainty associated with contract
negotiations.
Wherever your trash goes, a comprehen-
sive sustainability plan should have the
goal of reducing the amount of trash that
enters the waste stream. Solutions include
programs to encourage recycling and re-
using materials, increasing composting of
organic waste and turning waste into us-
able energy. More and more communities
are looking at their waste stream as a po-
tential source of energy. The term waste-
to-energy is used for many different types
of projects, including capturing landfill
methane for electricity generation or fuel
use, diverting organics for processing in
anaerobic digesters, or converting waste
vegetable oil into biodiesel.
As we reduce our waste stream, more
land can be used for other services, and
less money needs to be spent to man-
age waste. A community sustainability
plan should address the 3 R's of the waste
stream reduce, reuse and recycle.
In addition, many items placed in house-
hold trash are hazardous materials that
should be disposed of properly. These
include paints and chemicals, batter-
ies, electronics (E-waste) and light bulbs.
Construction debris and materials (C&D)
come from waste that results from the
construction, renovation and demolition
of buildings, roads and bridges. While
C&D is not accounted for in municipal
solid waste, the municipal waste stream
includes building demolition and renova-
tion materials from construction.
Best Practices and
Solutions
A waste audit is a crucial first step in reduc-
ing the flow of garbage. It can identify op-
portunitiesforwaste diversion, prevention
and reduction, and increasing recycling.
Review historic data to determine how
much is being thrown out, how much is
being recycled (if a program exists), and
any other programs that your community
may have in place. It's also important to
document the costs associated with dis-
posal and reduction programs.
Once a basic inventory is complete and
a baseline is defined, you can identify
targets. Your initial target could be as
simple as starting a recycling program (if
one doesn't exist) or expanding an exist-
ing program. Using the baseline inven-
tory, you can monitor and compare future
waste generation to see if your program
is a success.
Reducing Waste:
Implement a "Pay as you Throw" system
that charges residents for what they actu-
ally throw out to encourage them to dis-
card less to save money.
Use full cost accounting, which identifies
and assesses the costs associated with
managing a solid waste facility to account
for the real costs of solid waste manage-
ment. It also assists with short and long-
term planning by local policy makers to
identify opportunities to streamline and
improve operations.
29
-------
Implement or expand a compost program.
Organize short-term seasonal events spe-
cifically for grass clippings, fallen leaves or
Christmas trees. Later, transition to a long-
term municipal-run food waste program
for residents, farmer's markets, local res-
taurants/businesses or schools and hos-
pitals.
Make better purchases. Buying products
that are longer lasting or recyclable, con-
tain less packaging materials, and are less
harmful to the environment is a proac-
tive step to reducing your municipal solid
waste. Refer to the green procurement
section for more information.
Reuse and Recycling:
Improve information on how to recycle
properly and create incentives for recy-
cling programs in your community.
Provide opportunities for second life or
reuse of soft used items, such as a materi-
als and waste exchange.
Safe Disposal of Hazardous Waste:
Both commercial and residential hazard-
ous wastes are harmful to the environ-
mentand to human health if notdisposed
of in the appropriate manner. Whether it's
an annual or year-round program, house-
hold and commercial hazardous waste
should be a part of your municipal solid
waste reduction program to ensure these
materials are disposed of appropriately.
E-Waste:
Electronics waste is an increasing com-
ponent of local waste streams and the
new frontier in solid waste management.
Many municipalities and facilities have in-
stituted programs to address hazardous
materials in the waste stream. E-waste
programs are still relatively young, and
often experimental. As a result, E-waste
is generally handled through special col-
lection events ratherthan as a continuous
collection program.
According to EPA, approximately 1.9
to 2.2 million tons of used or unwanted
electronics was disposed of in 2005. The
majority, 1.5 to 1.9 million tons, was dis-
posed of in landfills, while only 345,000
to 379,000 tons were recycled. It is clear
Total MSW Generation, 2006
(251 Million Ions)
Other
37%
that there is still considerable room for
improvement, and e-waste strategies
should be an integral component of any
local sustainability planning effort.
Construction and Demolition (C&D) dis-
posal:
Keeping this material out of the waste
stream can conserve landfill space. C&D
waste reduction can also be addressed
through green building practices and by
setting up recycling centers for building
materials.
Measuring Success
Some specific indicators for solid waste
generation and recycling are:
reduction of the waste stream reaching
local landfills or being exported
increased percentage of recycled materi-
als (e.g., metal, plastic, glass, paper, yard
trimmings and E-waste)
reduction in the amount of recycled ma-
terials found during a secondary sort
Source: EPA, 2007
-------
creation of a waste stream baseline via an
audit
TIP: EPA has developed a voluntary, stan-
dard methodology for measuring recy-
cling rates. This Web site helps state and
local government officials learn more
about the standard methodology:
www.epa.gov/recycle.measure/
Recommended
Resources:
The waste section of EPA's Web site offers
information on all types of waste oppor-
tunities, educational resources and pro-
grams to dispose of, reduce, reuse and
recycle things found in the waste stream.
www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm
EPA Waste Assessment Web site offers in-
formation on evaluating what is thrown
away and what is recycled in your com-
munity.
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/
onthego/program/assess.htm
Decision Makers' Guide to Solid Waste
Management aims to provide cost-effec-
tive solutions to solid waste management
that protect quality of life and the envi-
ronment.
www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/
dmg2.htm
The EPA WasteWise partnership program
assists organizations in reducing solid
waste as well as improving cost savings
and benefits to the environment. The
Web site offers a variety of information
about the program, including resources
on reducing waste, planning and imple-
menting your programs, and reporting
your results and celebrating success.
www.epa.gov/wastewise/
EPA's Pay As You Throw (PAYT) program
offers several resources for local officials
looking to implement a PAYT program.
www.epa.gov/payt/intro.htm
www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/
payt/states/index.htm
EPA Full Cost Accounting Resource.
www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/
fca/index.htm
The Florida State Department of Environ-
mental Protection has a Web site devoted
to full cost accounting with access to soft-
ware and a report entitled The FUNda-
mentalsof FCA.
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/
fca/default.htm
EPA offers information about composting
as well as resources on local legislation,
environmental benefits, publications and
links.
www.epa.gov/compost/
The state of Maryland has an annual goal
of reducing its waste by 40 percent and
a credit system that became effective in
2000 to assist participating counties and
Baltimore. The Web site offers informa-
tion on the state's initiative to divert waste
through source reduction.
www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/
LandPrograms/Recy cling/source_
reduction/index.asp
EPA's In Your Community Web site.
www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/community.
htm
Consider generating less trash overall.
EPA provides tools for local communities
to encourage the decrease in overall con-
sumption.
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/tools/
localgov/index.htm
Communicate the success of your recy-
cling and reduction programs to constitu-
ents.
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/tools/
localgov/benefits/index.htm
31
-------
This Web site provides the latest infor-
mation on EPA guidelines for procuring
recycled-content products. It contains
the latest comprehensive procurement
guidelines, upcoming events and infor-
mation on designated products.
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/
procure/index.htm
Materials and waste exchange programs
exist all over the globe and serve as op-
portunities to match up buyers and sell-
ers by creating a market for recyclable and
reusable commodities. This Web site pro-
vides links to international, national and
state specific exchanges.
www.epa.gov/itr/comm/exchanqe.htm
San Francisco EcofindeRRR is a govern-
ment Web site that allows residents to
look up what can be recycled, reused or
disposed of, how to do it, and where to
bring it. It's a great resource to help iden-
tify opportunities that may exist in your
community.
www.sfenvironment.org
EPA's Recycle on the Go initiative encour-
ages recycling in public places.
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/
onthego/index.htm
The mission of Earth 911 is "to deliver ac-
tionable local information on recycling
and product stewardship that empowers
consumers to act locally, live responsibly
and contribute to sustainability." The Web
site and its 1-800-CLEANUP number offer
information and resources on recycling
and reuse locations across the nation.
http://earth911.org/
RecycleBank.org is a cost effective and en-
vironmental conscious solution that gives
communities incentives for encouraging
recycling to minimize the rising costs of
waste disposal. In addition it manages
and provides reports to track the success
of the program.
www.recyclebank.com/
San Francisco's Zero Waste Program de-
fines the city's aggressive goal of reaching
zero waste by 2020. Its Web site contains
information on the programs available in
the city and how it plans to reach its goal
through reducing, reusing and recycling.
http://sfenvironment.org/our_programs/
overview.html?ssi=3
EPA developed the Resource Conserva-
tion and Recovery Act (RCRA) on-line pro-
gram to encourage the reuse and recla-
mation of hazardous materials.
www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/online/
index.htm
EPA provides Information on the proper
disposal of paints, pesticides, cleaners, oils
and other types of household hazardous
waste to prevent contaminated ground
water and other pollution.
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/
hhw.htm
EPA e-cycling resources and tips are avail-
able on-line.
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/
ecycling/index.htm
Goodwill Industries and Dell Computers
partner with local communities to create
recovery programs for electronics in an
effort to reuse and recycle this potential
waste stream in an environmentally re-
sponsible way.
www.reconnectpartnership.com/
Waste-to-energy information is available
on EPA's Web site.
www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-
you/affect/municipal-sw.html
EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program
www.epa.gov/lmop/
-------
Solid Waste Case Study:
San Francisco, California
Moves Towards Zero Waste
SAN FRANCISCO
In 2003, San Francisco adopted aggressive waste reduction goals. By 2010, the city aims to divert 75 percent of
waste headed to the landfill; by 2020 the goal is to divert 100 percent of the waste stream. According to the De-
partment of Environment's Strategic Plan, they are currently two thirds (69 percent) of the way to reaching their
zero waste goal. The city has made rapid progress by implementing a 3-cart system for waste collection, providing
grants, forging partnerships and promoting a host of other recycling and waste reduction initiatives.
The 3-cart system is a convenient, user-friendly system that encourages recycling of waste by making the process
as easy as possible. Containers are color coded to help sort waste into the appropriate cart: bottles, cans and paper
in the blue cart, compostable items (food scraps and yard waste) in the green cart and all non-recyclable, non-
compostable garbage in the black cart.
The ecofindeRRR Web site-based program has a quick and advanced search function to find out how to dispose of
almost anything. The extensive database of options can be sorted by material, location, services (e.g., pick up, drop
off, etc.), end use (e.g., recycle, repair, reuse, etc.), and by associated costs (e.g., buy back, free, payment, etc.).
" rnvironment, the Commission on the Environment, the Board of Supervisors and the
Mayor nas oeen extremely successful at creating policy by passing resolutions and ordinances that help reach the
zero waste goal. The intent is to have the government lead by example while encouraging the general public and
private sector to follow along. Recent resolutions are encouraging innovative approaches such as "precautionary"
purchasing to minimize waste, a demolition debris recovery plan and a new program to recycle computers and
electronics.
SF Environment also offers a variety of grant programs that disperse approximately $600,000 a year to initiatives
that increase the diversion of waste in a cost-effective way. Funds are available to nonprofit organizations for proj-
ects ranging from reuse and recycling to market development and education.
The work of SF Environment's Zero Waste team involves a broad spectrum of partners to carry out, promote and
develop effective programs. Partners range from local haulers to city agencies as well as hundreds of other for-
profitand nonprofit organizations.
For more information see: www.sfenvironment.ora/
-------
-------
Energy, Air Quality and Climate
Communities need reliable sources of affordable energy. With rising fuel prices and
growing concerns about the impacts of fossil-fuel power generation, sustainable energy
solutions have never been more important, especially at the municipal level. Energy
based on fossil fuels, whether for electricity, heating or transportation, results in air pol-
lution. Fossil fuel consumption causes both chemical and particulate air pollution, better
known as smog. Ozone and acid rain can be problems too, depending on local condi-
tions. The burning of fossil fuels contributes more than 80 percent of total annual U.S.
greenhouse gases.
Improving energy efficiency and adding
renewable energy sources can help com-
munities reduce air pollution while re-
ducing the output of greenhouse gases.
In turn, reduced air pollution can improve
public health and lower energy costs. By
integrating energy efficiency strategies
into your community planning process,
the cost of improvements can be kept to
a minimum. Renewable energy develop-
ment, biofuel production and retrofits or
upgrades of existing infrastructure often
create new opportunities for green collar
jobs. Combining these approaches with
transportation efficiency improvements
discussed earlier make an even bigger
difference.
Best Practices and
Solutions
Save Energy
Energy efficiency is often the best place
for localities to start when trying to make
more effective use of resources. Although
efficiency upgrades can require initial in-
vestment, by increasing the level of effi-
ciency, these upgrades frequently pay for
themselves in nine months to three years
as shown by the Portland case study.
Strategies to promote energy efficiency
include:
conducting an energy audit of city build-
ings to identify the most cost-effective
projects. Utilities and energy service pro-
viders often offer them.
joining Portfolio Manager and save
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector, 2006
total emissions = 7.074 MMT CCh e
Agriculture (8%)
Residential (17%)
Commercial (17%)
Industry (30%)
Transportation (28%)
Source: US EIA DOE 2006
35
-------
money and energy by tracking building
energy use
bringing the ENERGY STAR challenge to
your community
encouraging and supporting private au-
dits in both businesses and residences
through the provision of information,
technical support or even economic in-
centives or awards
starting a weatherization program in lo-
cal neighborhoods with old housing stock
promoting the ENERGY STAR "Change-A-
Light" program to local businesses. By re-
placing older lighting systems with higher
efficiency lighting, communities can reap
significant gains in both energy use and,
in many cases, operation and mainte-
nance spending as well
supporting energy efficiency upgrades
by local industry to Improve the efficiency
of appliances; heating, ventilation and air
conditioning systems; and industrial pro-
cess equipment
purchasing energy efficient equipment,
appliances. See the Green Procurement
section
Use Renewable Energy
Local governments can buy renewable
energy, and promote consumer option
programs. Building and maintaining re-
newable energy installations can be a
source of new "green collar" jobs for com-
munities. Three great examples are de-
scribed online at:
www.oaklandnet.com/MayorsPress/
RenewableEnergy.pdf
www.njcleanenergy.com/renewable-
energy/prog rams/clean power-choice-
program/new-iersey-cleanpower-choice-
program
www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.
cfm?a=146102&c=28608
Communities can also promote distrib-
uted generation or, the use of small-scale
power generation technologies located
close to where energy is used. Examples
of distributed generation power can be
sourced by fuel cells, microturbines, pho-
tovoltaic panels and small scale wind.This
strategy avoids the loss of energy during
-------
transmission and can boost local econo-
mies through new development and lo-
cally earned profits. More importantly, it
can give facilities energy reliability during
extreme storms. Renewable energy can
potentially offer more stable costs in a
market of rising energy costs. Local strate-
gies to promote clean energy include:
micro-generation
on-site solar
combined heat and power
geothermal
wind
landfill methane capture
TIP: To find out how energy is produced
in your community, type in your zip code
at:
www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-
you/how-clean.html
Measuring Success
Measurements of success for energy can
include:
dollars saved on energy costs
units of energy consumption reduced
(e.g., Btu's)
amount of local energy supply from re-
newable sources
amount of pollutant emissions reduced
(e.g.,C02,SOx, NOx)
jobs created to meet energy efficiency
and renewable energy demands
Recommended
Resources:
Look to ENERGY STAR, the EPA/U.S. De-
partment of Energy program that goes
beyond labeling energy efficient appli-
ances to assist building and utility owners
and operators and local governments in
conserving energy.
www.enerqystar.gov/
www.enerqystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=government.bus_government_
local
ENERGY STAR Challenge for Communities
www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=challenge_community.
showlntroduction
EPA also has a Green Power Partnership
program.
www.epa.gov/greenpower/index.htm
The U.S. Department of Energy's Technical
Assistance Program offers expert consul-
tation to local governments on renew-
able energy and energy efficiency.
www.ee re .e n e rgy.g ov/wi p/ta p .cfm
The U.S. Department of Energy also runs
a Solar America Cities program that pro-
vides implementation guides for cities.
www.solaramericacities.org/Resources.
aspx
The California Distributed Energy Resourc-
es Guide is produced by the California En-
ergy Commission.
www.energy.ca.gov/distgen/
Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) is a non-
profit coalition of business, government,
environmental and consumer leaders.
The ASE supports energy efficiency as a
cost-effective energy resource under ex-
isting market conditions and advocates
energy-efficiency policies that minimize
costs to society and individual consumers,
and lessen greenhouse gas emissions and
their impact on the global climate.
www.ase.org/
American Council for an Energy Efficient
Economy (ACES) is a nonprofit organiza-
tion dedicated to advancing energy ef-
ficiency as a means of promoting both
economic prosperity and environmental
protection.
http://aceee.org/
Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE),
a nonprofit public benefits corporation,
develops national initiatives to promote
the manufacture and purchase of energy-
efficient products and services.
www.cee1.org/
37
-------
This online calculator can help analyze po-
tential energy and economic savings for
homeowners by switching to more effi-
cient appliances, lighting and other forms
of efficiency.
www.pqe.com/myhome/
saveenerqymoney/resources/
appliancecalculator/
Information about energy cost-saving
ideas:
www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/
at_aqencies/qovt_case_studies_enerqy.
shtml
New York State's Energy Smart Communi-
ties Program:
www.qetenerqysmart.org/
CommunityOutreach/
EnerqySmartCommunities.aspx
-------
Energy Case Study No. 1: Portland, Oregon
Energy Challenge Saves City Millions
In 1991, Portland, Oregon established the "City Energy Efficiency Challenge/'This bold initiative started with energy
audits at eight city bureaus that each contributed one percent of their energy bills to help fund the efforts. The city
then obtained a small low interest loan of $777,000 to help fund energy efficiency measures.
The $2.6 million spent on energy efficiency improvements during the first three years generated average internal
rate returns of 25.7 percent, with a pay-off time of 3.8 years. By the late 1990s, the energy savings reached $1 million
per year, with total savings of $9.46 million between 1991 and 2001. Current annual energy savings are $2 million
per year, or 15 percent of the city's energy bills.
In addition to dramatic energy efficiency improvements and considerable savings to local taxpayers, Portland has
also turned its energy sources "green." In 1995, the city entered into an agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric to
receive five percent of its electricity from renewable sources. As of 2007, Portland receives 10 percent of its electric-
ity from renewable sources, and is looking to increase its use of renewable power.
Further information is available online at:
www.portlandonline.com/osd/index.cfm?a=bbbhde&c=ecdii
www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/success/citv enerqv.shtml
Energy Case Study No. 2: Fresno, California
"Cow Power" Powers up the Grid
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has teamed up with BioEnergy Solutions on a biogas-to-pipeline injection
project. It produces renewable gas from animal waste, and is the first project in California to deliver pipeline-quality,
renewable natural gas to a utility. It delivers up to three billion cubic feet of renewable natural gas a year to PG&E.
This system reduces methane emissions by 70 percent at Vintage Diary, a 5,000-cow dairy in the town of Riverdale.
Since methane has a global warming potential 21 times more potent than C02, this approach could be an effec-
tive climate change fighter. Manure from the cows is flushed into an almost 300,000 square-foot covered lagoon,
which traps the methane gas released during manure decomposition. The methane is scrubbed to meet PG&E's
standards for power plants and then delivered to the utility through the pipeline. The utility uses the methane to
create electricity for its central and northern California customers.
BioEnergy Solutions, founded by David Albers, a third-generation dairyman and owner of Vintage Dairy, pays for
and installs the infrastructure needed to process the manure and pump the methane into the PG&E pipeline. Pro-
ceeds from gas sales and emissions credits are used to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of other dairy
owners.
Further information is available online through the U.S. Department of Energy:
http://apps1.eere.enerqv.qov/state_enerqy_proqram/proiect_brief_detail.cfm/pb_id=1
167
39
-------
, 1
-
-------
Protecting Water Quality and Ensuring
Future Supply
Community prosperity relies on continuous access to clean water, from reliable drinking
water supplies to clean waters that support recreation and viable commercial and sport
fishing industries. Water is becoming more scarce around the world, as populations in-
crease, surface waters and our aquifers are drained faster than nature can recharge them.
Many local governments, particularly in the arid West and Southwest, including Salt
Lake City and Las Vegas, have been aware
of the importance of water resources
for some time now. Other communities
with rapid population growth and vari-
able rainfall are just beginning to come to
terms with the harsh reality that water is a
precious and scarce resource, which must
be used wisely and conserved whenever
possible.
The physical scarcity of water is not the
only concern. Local fisheries are very sen-
sitive to watershed health too. Protection
of local watersheds helps to ensure the
long-term health and profitability of rec-
reational and commercial industries for all
communities. The "dead zone" in the Gulf
of Mexico, expected to grow to the size
of New Jersey, threatens to permanently
cripple Gulf fisheries.
Often, municipal water management
strategies must be shared across regional
borders because watersheds overlap mul-
tiple jurisdictions and water treatment
facilities serve multiple communities. Mu-
nicipalities are also influenced by a myriad
of federal, regional and local standards for
water treatment, quality and conservation.
The most common approach is to address
the need for water resource sustainability
through a targeted water strategy. How-
ever, many communities also address wa-
ter resource concerns through land use
planning and other smart growth policies
with a goal of conserving valuable water
resources.
What is common to all localities is the on-
going potential for improvements in local
water use efficiency and water resource
protection. Water resources can be pro-
tected and conserved through a variety
of strategies involving: efficient use of
municipal supplies; on-site collection, wa-
ter recycling and treatment; wastewater
treatment system improvements; and the
reduction of non-point source pollution
of local watersheds and aquifers.
Best Practices and
Solutions
Promote Water Conservation
Using water efficiently is the key to pro-
moting water conservation and saving
money. EPA estimates that the average
household spends as much as $500 per
year on its water and sewer bill. Conserv-
ing water also reduces energy use, which
translates into additional savings.
EPA's WaterSense program helps protect
the future of our nation's water supply by
promoting water efficiency and enhanc-
ing the market for water-efficient prod-
ucts, programs and practices:
www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm
Greenscapingencouragesconservationof
water resources and decreases reliance on
polluting fertilizers and pesticides. Land-
scaping with beautiful, drought-resistant
plants in arid climates enhances the local
aesthetic and helps to retain much-need-
ed moisture.
TIP: For more information, look to EPA's
Greenscapes Website:
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/
lrqscl.htm
41
-------
Landscaping with native plants is a cre-
ative way to conserve water and beautify
communities, especially in communities
with desert-like climates. The Southern
Nevada Water Authority program on
landscapes provides recommendations
for arid areas.
www.snwa.com/html/land_index.html
The U.S. Department of Energy, within its
Department of Energy Efficiency and Re-
newable Energy, has a program that spe-
cifically addresses water efficiency.
wwwl .eere.enerqy.gov/femp/water/
water_resources.html
Green building practices promote water
conservation and wastewater reduction.
Some green buildings and facilities use
water catchment systems and gray water
recycling and treatment to capture rain
water and reuse wastewater. Green roofs
provide stormwater control in addition to
reducing the heat island effect of urban-
ized areas. Green buildings often incor-
porate water efficient technology such
as aerators, low-volume toilets, low-flow
showerheads and water-efficient land-
scaping and/or irrigation systems.
GreenerBuildings.com estimates that
many commercial buildings could reduce
water use by 30 percent or more through
efficiency measures. More information
and practical examples can be found at
www.qreenerbuildinqs.com/
feat u re/2008/01/3 0/usinq-wate r-
manaqement-strateqies-boost-triple-
bottom-lineor
www.qreenerbuildinqs.com/
bloq/2008/05/08/smart-water-
manaqement-a-low-risk-qreen-initiative-
with-a-fast-payback
Protect Local Watersheds from
Point Source Pollution
Point source water pollution is pollution
that can be traced back to a specific dis-
charge source, like a factory or wastewater
treatment plant. Discharges from these
sources are usually controlled through
government permits that set limits on the
amount they are permitted to release into
the environment.
Communities that have centralized waste-
water collection and treatment systems
are already part of the National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES),
the federal regulatory program that sets
limits on pollution.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/
For areas that don't have existing public
wastewater treatment systems, switching
to centralized ones may or may not be re-
alistic, or even the preferred option. This
depends on local characteristics such as
population density, climate, topography,
geology and how close drinking water
sources are to housing. If you are from a
smaller community, see:
www.epa.qov/OW-OWM.html/mab/
smcomm/index.htm
Municipal storm sewer systems are con-
sidered point source pollution under
many circumstances and are regulated
under the federal NPDES program.
http://cfpub1 .epa.gov/npdes/home.
cfm?proqram_id=6
The use of green design principles can
naturally filter stormwater run-off, divert-
ing it from wastewater systems and storm
drains. Green infrastructure reduces de-
mands on local wastewater treatment
plants, lowers costs and energy use, and
protects natural water bodies from pollu-
tion.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.
cfm?proqram_id=298#case
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costsQ7/
documents/reducingstormwatercosts.
Protect Local Watersheds from
Non-point Source Pollution
Non-point source pollution is water pollu-
tion from urban run-off and unregulated
-------
non-industrial or agricultural sources. It
affects local watersheds, coastal habitats
and degrades water quality posing threat
to long-term water security and environ-
mental health.
Some strategies to address non-point
source pollution are:
collection and treatment of runoff prior
to its entry into waterways
http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MCJD/14/
MSC ID/118/C ID/3084
preservation and construction of local
wetlands as buffers for aquatic natural
systems
www.cwp.org/ResourceJ-ibrary/SpeciaL
Resource Jvlanagement/wetlands.htm
www.e p a .g o v/0 WO W/wet lands/restore/
on-site runoff retention and/or treatment
of run-off and provisions for surfaces that
are not impervious
http://egov.cityofchicago.org
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us
partnerships with local industry for efflu-
ent reductions through green industrial
practices and water conservation mea-
sures
www.ci.boulder.co.us/www/pace/
manufacturing/index.html
education of the general public about
the specific non-point sources in their
communities and the options for mini-
mizing impacts
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/toolbox/
www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehhm/
outreach.html
watershed monitoring with local non-
profits, schools and other community
groups to identify problem areas
www.epa.gov/volunteer/
www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/
links.html
www.watershedstewardsproiect.com/
Measuring Success
Indicators of successful water efficiency
strategies might include:
reductions in community water con-
sumption, set benchmarks related to lo-
calities with similar characteristics (e.g.,
population, climate, topography)
participation in both private sector part-
nerships and residential water efficiency
programs
number of new construction (munici-
pal buildings and/or general public) and
renovation projects with water efficiency
techniques
Watershed health can be monitored
through:
annual rates of local compliance with fed-
eral and state water quality regulations
chemical and physical water quality in-
dicators (e.g., pH, temperature, nutrient
levels, water clarity, the presence of toxins
and harmful bacteria)
the level of treatment required to pro-
duce safe drinking water and any changes
to treatment regimes
population levels and health of local
plants and animals (water and land)
surface water flows and aquifer recharge
rates
the relative amount of each local stream
or river that is "day I it," or not diverted
through underground pipes beneath
buildings and roads, and has a natural
buffer around it
the ratio of water-permeable surfaces and
green spaces to paved surfaces or spaces
occupied by buildings with conventional
roofs
the percentage of tree canopy cover for
new construction projects
43
-------
Recommended
Resources:
EPA and other federal agencies provide
substantial funding for local water infra-
structure development, as well as water-
shed protection and conservation pro-
grams. The following links are guides for
water project funding sources.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/
npdes/greeninfrastructure/
fundingopportunities.cfm#fundingtools
www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/pdfs/
guide dwsrf funding infrastructure.pdf
www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/pdfs/fs
dwsrf swp-funding-matrix.pdf
Understanding the regulations is the
key to planning for and acquiring fund-
ing. Funded partly by EPA, the National
Environmental Service Center's National
Environmental Training Center for Small
Communities developed an invaluable
compendium of the regulations, poten-
tial changes and pertinent contacts.
www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/train/products/
regulations chart.pdf
EPA's Consumer Confidence Reports are
important guides for community water
providers serving at least 15 connections
or 25 people year-round.
www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/index.html
EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drink-
ing Water has extensive information on
water quality and local drink water.
www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.
html
EPA also regulates total maximum daily
loads (TMDLs), which is a "calculation of
the maximum amount of a pollutant that
a water body can receive and still meet
water quality standards, and an allocation
of that amount to the pollutant's sources."
Reports are available for each EPA region
and by state as well as an interactive map.
www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/
Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance
Division has an informative "Successful
Water Efficiency Programs for Non-Resi-
dential Water Customers" presentation.
www.georgiaplanning.com/watertoolkit/
Documents/WaterConservationDrought
Management/SuccessfulWaterEfficiencyP
rograms.ppt
"Benchmarking Performance Indicators
for Water and Wastewater Utilities: 2007
Annual Survey Data and Analyses Report,"
produced by the American Water Works
Association and Water Environment Fed-
eration
www.awwa.org/bookstore/productDetail.
cfm?ltemNumber=34298
Ontario, Canada, Ministry of the Environ-
ment's Water Conservation Case Study
www.ene.gov.on.ca/programs/3659e.pdf
EPA Information and Resources on Non-
point Source Pollution
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/whatis.html
Water Environment Research Foundation
report has information and case study
links.
www.werf.org/livablecommunities/pdf/
benefits.pdf
Some states are pursuing water quality
trading schemes to promote watershed
protection and support the development
of sustainable infrastructure. EPA provides
information about eligibility and which
states participate.
www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/trading/
tradingmap.html
Conservation Technology Information
Center Water Quality Training Guide
www.conservationinformation.
org/?action=learningcenter_
publications_waterqualitytrading
EPA's Water Quality Trading Scenario:
Multiple Facility Point Source Trading
Publication
www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
wqtradinqtoolkit_multiple-ps.pdf
-------
Water Case Study:
dona Arizona is "Water Wise'
-------
\
I1/
7s 1
J
y
fv
?ซ:'
\
V
X~ '
\
-
-------
Green Building
Environmentally sound building is central to local sustainability. Each building material
has its own history of energy and water use, raw material extraction and possibly even
environmental pollution. The selection of environmentally sound recycled and raw ma-
terials can substantially reduce both on-site and off-site environmental impacts of con-
struction.
The U.S. Green Building Council estimates
that the construction of buildings cur-
rently accounts for 30 percent of all raw
materials used in the U.S. A 1996 study,
found that disposal of used building ma-
terials comprises 60 percent of non-indus-
trial U.S. waste. It also found that 20 to 30
percent of building debris was already be-
ing recovered for recycling yet more op-
portunities exist to divert C&D waste from
landfills.
A recent boom in green building has
brought with it a wealth of new resources.
Green building products, services and in-
formation are more accessible than ever
before. The cost of green building has be-
come cheaper too. The cost gap between
green and conventional building is clos-
ing. Long-term cost savings far outweigh
any additional upfront costs; relative cost
is actually related to project design and
management, and not necessarily be-
cause of green building practice.
The U.S. Green Building Council lists gov-
ernment initiatives as the primary fac-
tor driving recent green building sector
growth, and anticipates a 62 percent
growth in public sector green building
projects. Larger cities such as Boston ,
Chicago, Dallas, New York, Portland (OR),
San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle, and
Washington, DC have already created
mandatory green building requirements
for all municipal buildings, as have smaller
cities such as Chula Vista (CA), Greensburg
(KS), Pleasanton (CA), Scottsdale (AZ), and
West Hollywood (CA).
Best Practices and
Solutions
EPA and partners such as the U.S. Green
Building Council developed extensive
guidance and resources for green build-
ing and locating green building materi-
als that are accessible through Web sites
and publications. EPA outlined major ele-
ments of green building:
energy efficiency and renewable energy
water stewardship
environmentally preferable building ma-
terials and specifications
waste reduction
toxics
indoor environment
smart growth and sustainable develop-
ment
While there are multiple rating systems,
the U.S. Green Building Council's Leader-
ship in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Green Building Rating System has
become the most commonly used stan-
dard for green building.
Strategies to increase green building in
your community:
consider mandating all city-owned or fi-
nanced buildings meet LEED criteria
offer expedited review for permits and
zoning applications for buildings meeting
green building criteria, such as LEED
offer incentives (FAR or other) for green
building components such as green roofs,
bike racks and electric car recharging ar-
eas
establish a building material reuse facil-
ity for wood, windows, doors and paint
recycling
offer green building training to construc-
tion industry members and building op-
erators
47
-------
develop a local directory of green build-
ing businesses and services
designate a district with tax incentives to
encourage the development of local busi-
nesses that specialize in green building
materials and supplies
TIP: Shop for ideas from other cities for
green building ordinances:
http://aq.ca.qov/qlobalwarminq/pdf/
qreen_buildinq.pdf
Measuring Success
Success is measured in numerous ways in
the field of green building, although the
most typical measures focus on efficiency
savings for energy and water or renew-
able energy generated. Indicators of suc-
cess might include:
usage of green materials in local new
construction and renovations
local availability of green building materi-
als
number of local LEED certified buildings
and accredited professionals
number of people employed and overall
economic growth of local green construc-
tion-related industries
amount of construction waste being di-
verted, or measureable decreases in con-
struction-related waste production
attendance ratings at green buildings like
schools or businesses
employee satisfaction and retention rates
compared to industry standards
amount of renewable energy generated
by green buildings
cost per square foot of public green
building projects and savings in annual
operations costs
Harder to measure, but equally impor-
tant, are more subjective indicators of
success, such as perceived local quality of
life, health and well-being of building oc-
cupants, aesthetic contributions of green
buildings and community pride.
The sustainability of building materials,
and even whole buildings, can also be
quantitatively measured through "life-
cycle assessment." Life-cycle assessment
is an analytical process through which a
product, in this case a building material, is
evaluated throughout its entire life for its
environmental impact. This includes the
natural resources used, pollution gener-
ated and any environmental degradation
involved in its production, shipment, use
and eventual disposal.
Fortunately, simplified models and
computer-based systems have been
developed to assist in this process, and
life-cycle assessments have already been
completed for many construction prod-
ucts. Similar tools exist for calculating
specific impacts, such as greenhouse gas
contributions, and can easily be located
through Web sites such as the U.S. Green
Building Council's "Resources" page.
Recommended
Resources:
EPA information on green building
www.epa.gov/opptintr/qreenbuildinq
U.S. Green Building Council
www.usqbc.org/resources
www.usqbc.org/Disp ayPaqe.
aspx?CMSPagelD=1779
A Green Playbook for Local Governments
www.qreenplaybook.org/
California Sustainable Building Toolkit
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Greenbuilding/
Toolkit.htm
A Sourcebook for Green and Sustainable
Building
www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/
Field Guide for Sustainable Construction
www.p2pays.org/ref/41/40904.pdf
Building Design and Construction Net-
work
www.bdcnetwork.com/
Green Building Forum
www.greenbuildingtalk.com/
-------
-------
Greener Buildings
www.greenerbuildings.com/
Materials and Products
EPA Comprehensive Buildings and Con-
struction Resources Page
www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/products/
construction.htm
GreenSpecฎ-listed green building prod-
ucts
www.buildinggreen.com/menus/index.
cfm
Building Materials Reuse Association Na-
tional Directory
www.buildingreuse.org/directory/
EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guide-
lines material supplier database
http://cpg.epa.tms.icfi.co m/user/cpg_
search.cfm
Green Building Pages, an online resources
and green product locator
www.greenbuildingpages.com/
Forest Stewardship Council sustainable
forest products/green building Web site
www.fscus.org/green_building/
The ENERGY STAR qualified products
directory lists energy efficient building
technologies (e.g., heating, cooling, elec-
trical, insulation and windows).
www.e n e rgysta r.g ov
Greenguard Environmental Institute's
Greenguard Product Guide
www.greenguard.org/Default.
aspx?tabid=12
Green Seal's lists of environmentally certi-
fied products (windows and doors)
www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/index.
cfm
EPA's WaterSense Program Web site has a
directory of water efficient products.
www.epa.gov/watersense/
The South Coast Air Quality Management
District's green solvent database has in-
formation on non-toxic substances (e.g.,
solvents and adhesives).
www.aqmd.gov/rules/cas/prolist.html
EPA offers life-cycle assessment resources,
including the Life-Cycle Assessment 101
tool.
www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/lcaccess/
Ica101.html
www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/lcaccess/
resources.html#EPA%20Documents
-------
Green Building Case Study:
Portland, Oregon
Green Building Campaign Reaps Rewards
Portland has established itself as a national leader in green building. With 36 LEED certified buildings, Portland
currently ranks with cities such as Chicago and Seattle, which are known for their leadership in green building and
distinguished by the large numbers of green buildings they contain.
In 2001, Portland adopted a resolution mandating LEED certification for all city-funded construction and major
renovation projects. This policy also formalized the efforts of Portland's newly formed Office of Sustainable Devel-
opment, prescribing proactive engagement with the public and green building stewardship. Also developed was
the "Green Investment Fund," to provide grants for green building projects.
In 2005, Portland adopted another resolution to strengthen the previous policy, increasing the requirement for
new city construction projects to LEED Gold certification, and also requiring existing city buildings to be brought
up to LEED Silver certification.
Portland has a comprehensive outreach program, and offers free technical assistance to those interested in partici-
pating in its booming green building economy. Through its Office of Sustainable Development and its Web site,
the city offers an abundance of information and organizes regular outreach efforts.
Green building owners have reported lower energy bills and, in many cases, reduced operation and maintenance
costs. Portland is now reaping the fruits of its bustling green construction economy, with the infrastructure firmly
in place for continued success in efforts toward sustainable development.
For further information on Portland's green building program, go to:
www.portlandonline.com/OSD/index.cfm?c=ebeib
GreenBuild Expo: www.greenbuildexpo.org/About/archives.html
LEED Projects: www.usgbc.org/LEED/Project/CertifiedProjectList.aspx?CMSPagelD=247
-------
-------
Green Procurement
The U.S. has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with
a per capita GDP of $46,000. The ability for local governments to influence the economy
through purchasing decisions is enormous.
Green procurement - buying environ-
mentally friendly products whenever
possible - is one of the easiest strate-
gies to implement at the local level. It
can be done incrementally as equip-
ment or supplies are purchased and
contracts are renewed. A key advan-
tage of green procurement is that the
principles are applicable at almost ev-
ery level of commercial activity, from a
single-person household to the largest
organization in the world. In 1993, EPA
introduced the Environmentally Prefer-
able Purchasing (EPP) Program, helping
federal agencies to "use sustainable
practices when buying products and
services." Procurement choices happen
at almost every aspect of an organiza-
tion: transportation, energy supply, wa-
ter use, packaging, office materials and
waste management to name but a few.
Green procurement is a sound strategy
and a good initial step toward sustain-
ability. It is:
easy to initiate and grow over time
relatively inexpensive and can often
lead to net savings
a market stimulus for environmentally
preferable products
a way to improve employee health and
performance
a method to reduce existing and po-
tential liabilities
Measuring Success
Some specific indicators of successful
green procurement are:
amount of post-consumer recycled
products used (e.g., office supplies, bags
supplied by vendors, etc.)
number and volume of cleaning prod-
ucts purchased from an approved green
supplier
use of non-toxic carpets, paints and
sealants
percentage of energy-efficient lighting,
equipment and heating/air condition-
ing systems
percentage of water-efficient fixtures
services rendered for green events and
purchases from green food suppliers
Recommended
Resources:
For full access to all the tools available
please visit EPA's EPP Web site
www.epa.gov/epp/tools/index.htm
EPA's Comprehensive Procurement
Guidelines Supplier Database is a search-
able guide to providers of everything
from bicycle racks to signage.
http://cpg.epa.tms.icfi.com/user/cpg
search.cfm
EPA's "EPP Assistant" allows users to
quantify and prioritize their green pur-
chasing efforts through a life cycle as-
sessment.
http://pie.earthster.org/
53
-------
The "General Services Administration's
SmartPayฎ Purchase Card Training" is a
tool developed by GSA to help federal
purchasers properly design and carry
out a purchasing plan.
www.fss.qsa.gov/webtrain ing/
trainingdocs/smartpaytraining/
The "Federal Green Construction Guide
for Specifiers" is a comprehensive guide
to procuring green building products
and construction services.
www.wbdg.org/design/greenspec.php
The "Green Cleaning Pollution Preven-
tion Calculator" figures the projected
environmental benefits of purchasing
and using green janitorial services and
products.
www.ofee.gov/ianitor/index.asp
The U.S. Department of Energy has a tool
to educate consumers about fuel econ-
omy, including gas mileage, greenhouse
gas emissions, air pollution ratings and
safety information for new and used cars
and trucks.
http://fueleconomy.gov
U.S. Department of Energy Alternative
Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Cen-
ter
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc
The Paper Calculator allows an organiza-
tion to compare the environmental im-
pacts of different paper choices.
www.edf.org/papercalculator/
-------
Regardless of budget, population or de-
mographics, the development of plans for
a sustainable future, or the update of ex-
isting plans, is just the first step in a much
larger process. Your success will rely on
your ability to follow through.
The implementation of the elements in
any sustainability plan will rely on the
education, commitment and action of
not only the government, but residents,
businesses and civic organizations alike.
Strong cross communication will create
feedback loops, best practices and help
to ensure increased buy-in, participation
and, ultimately, the success of your sus-
tainability plan. This is not a surprising
finding, but it emphasizes the importance
of outreach and community education
throughout the process of plan develop-
ment and through implementation.
Change can be difficult to sell, so it's im-
portant to identify the interests and con-
cerns that will drive support for your local
plan. Plans for change may be driven by
the community, the government or start
one way and end up another, but the
most important ingredient for success is
engagement. The following are some ac-
tual examples of actions or activities that
drove support for sustainability plans in
various locations:
Concerns about climate change, air pol-
lution and a host of other environmental
issues spurred community members In
Westchester County, New York to push
for a more comprehensive approach to
planning.
Community interest in greening the
town on a small scale led to a conference
in Chequamegon, Wisconsin that created
much broader local interest. Town Hall
meetings proved to be an effective venue
for raising and discussing issues in Burl-
ington, Vermont and Greensburg, Kansas.
In Cleveland, Ohio, key players working
together in the government water de-
partment started thinking about how
they could make improvements.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania took a top-down
approach to priority setting, demonstrat-
ing that decisions can be made by the
mayor or city council to make sustain-
ability a priority, hire consultants, look at
energy efficiency, conduct cost-benefit
analyses of programming options or to
establish a task force.
Ann Arbor, Michigan started with a pilot
project approach, tackling energy effi-
ciency, which generally pays for itself, and
realized other ways to save money.
ซAnn Arbor was successful in hiring a new
energy policy staff member despite over-
all cuts, when it demonstrated that the
person's activities could save them one
percent of its annual energy costs and
fully cover the salary for that position. The
savings were easily accomplished and ex-
ceeded in the first year.
The interest in sustainability on the part
of one member of the local government
in Ann Arbor ultimately expanded into
a whole new department. The strategic
planning department has members from
all sectors, and although it might not
brand itself as such, it has become the
"policy center" for the government.
Bowling Green, Ohio found an intern
from a local university to look at current
practices and make recommendations.
Brownsville, Texas surveyed its primary
businesses and performed a needs as-
55
-------
sessment. When businesses believe their
needs will be addressed by a sustainabil-
ity plan, they may be more likely to partici-
pate and support the endeavor.
Goal Setting, Targets
and Performance
Measurement
Strategies
The old adage, "If you can't measure it,
you can't manage it" holds true for sus-
tainability planning. Once your plan be-
gins implementation, it is important to
gauge whether or not efficient and ef-
fective progress is being made towards
its goals. This can be achieved through
benchmarking.
Each section of this guide provides met-
rics to emphasize that careful tracking is
essential to the success of any program.
Metrics and goals should not only be es-
tablished for each element of your plan,
but taking a holistic approach is recom-
mended to link all governmental activities
to the goal of sustainability. Once some
overarching goals have been set, a series
of measurement tools can be employed
to establish baselines (e.g., a greenhouse
gas inventory) and future assessments
can ensure that targets are being met.
From the baseline metric, all governmen-
tal and community programs and sectors
can and should be active participants in
the sustainability process.
Targets are more difficult to establish, so
in some cases it is important to begin by
tracking data. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, its
annual "State of Our Environment Report"
highlights the direction in which the city's
indicators are heading. Burlington, Ver-
mont started its planning process in 2000,
setting a 10 percent greenhouse gas re-
duction by 2005, and established goals
based on this over-arching target. It's a
good idea to record targets in a matrix for
easy reference. Ultimately, goals, targets
and indicators are important to creating
accountability and public support.
Wrapping Up and
Moving Forward
The challenges you face at the local lev-
el - from ensuring that daily critical ser-
vices are provided to anticipating future
threats - are substantial. We hope this
guide has shown that ideas, approaches
and resources that foster sustainability
are plentiful. There is no magic bullet or
single solution for how to best plan for a
sustainable future, but there are a grow-
ing array of approaches that have worked
for communities of every size and shape.
Although the approaches are diverse, the
best plans take comprehensive views that
aim to simultaneously improve efficiency,
lower costs, protect the environment and
provide a healthy future for generations
to come.
Every city, town and county faces its own
set of challenges and opportunities. Every
community has a unique mix of resources,
talent and ideas with which to create so-
lutions. By learning from good examples,
you can create and implement a plan
unique to your community that will lead
to a sustainable future.
-------
Preparing the Guide
This planning guide is based on reports
prepared for EPA by the Columbia Univer-
sity School of International and Public Af-
fairs. One report compared and analyzed
information from fourteen sustainability
plans developed by municipalities around
the country, and a second assessed infor-
mation obtained from interviews with
planners and officials from sixteen local
governments that had no prepared sus-
tainability plans. The researchers selected
localities in all 10 EPA regions as well as
places ranging in population from small
towns to large cities.
Special thanks to the Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs
and Faculty Advisor Dr. Steven Cohen.
Contributors:
Kelsey Bennett
Nicholas Cain
Radulph Hart-George
Jeremy Newman
Paige Olmsted
Keith Parsons
Plinio Ribeiro
Celine Ruben-Salama
Kyle Smith
Glenn Sonntag
Sofia Treviho Heres
Jill Weyer
Produced by:
U.S. EPA Region 2
Office of Policy and Management and
Public Affairs Division
Check this Web site for updates to this
publication:
www.epa.gov/region2/sustainabilitv/
qreencommunities
57
-------
/', /,
/ -
s^a
PROl'
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 2
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
212-637-3660
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA-902-K-08-001
www.eDa.aov/reaion2/sustainabilitv/areenc
November 2008
------- |