Planning for a Sustainable Future
A Guide for Local Governments
NEW!
Green Jobs Chapter
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Sustainability Planning 4
What isSustainability? 4
Climate Change: The Challenge of our Generation 4
Reasons to Plan 5
2. Getting Started 9
Assess the Challenge 9
Climate Impacts: Identify Vulnerabilities and Prepare for Natural Disasters 10
Work Through Existing Resources and Networks 1 2
Build Coalitions 12
Educate Colleagues and the Public 13
Secure Funding, Reduce Costs 14
Use a Planning Framework 16
3. Areas of Opportunity 19
Transportation 19
Land Use Planning 23
Biological Conservation and Open Space Preservation 27
Solid Waste Generation and Recycling 31
Energy, Air Quality and Climate 37
Protecting Water Quality and Ensuring Future Supply 43
Green Jobs 49
Green Building 53
Green Construction 59
Green Procurement 65
4. Conclusion: Moving Beyond Planning to Action 67
Goal-Setting, Targets, and Performance Measurement Strategies 68
Wrapping Up and Moving Forward 68
5. Preparing the Guide 69
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Introduction to Sustainability
Planning
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.
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
present-day 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 answer
these questions and provide a roadmap
for developing effective plans for a
sustainable future.
Climate Change:
The challenge of our
Generation
For over the past 200 years, the
burning of fossil fuels, such as coal
and oil, and deforestation have caused
the concentrations of heat-trapping
"greenhouse gases" (GHGs) to increase
significantly in our atmosphere. Human-
induced climate change poses adverse,
wide-ranging effects on a global scale.
All nations, states and local communities
are potentially vulnerable to the
consequences of climate change. Experts
in the field of climate and earth sciences
have projected that even if C02 emissions
were to be halted immediately, adverse
impacts, such as an increase in extreme
weather, water scarcity and resulting
heightened public health threats, would
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extend to the world's largest city-centers and rural
townships.
Local governments have the power to strengthen
community-wide resilience in the face of changing
climate and reduce the effects of climate change by
lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. Changes
made by local governments, no matter how small,
can make a global difference. Every day, local
governments make decisions that impact energy
use, including those related to vehicle fuel, building
electricity use, air quality, economic development,
public health, and quality of life. Actions that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions can have positive
impacts on all of these factors. Sustainable, climate-
friendly actions can have positive benefits, including
reducing costs for residents and businesses, saving
energy and water, reducing waste, and preparing for
the future and potential impacts of climate change.
Actions that improve sustainability for communities
can also bring green jobs to them.
Reasons to Plan
1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Be resilient in a changing climate.
3. Poise your community for green development.
ฉThis guide has been updated to address cli-
mate change more explicitly in this edition. Climate
change is not only an air quality topic. Energy is used
to pump, treat and heat water; using recycled or re-
used materials reduces the amount of energy need-
ed to extract raw materials and manufacture goods,
and decreasing waste reduces methane emissions
from landfills. Therefore, saving water, recycling and
reducing waste also saves energy and reduces green-
house gas emissions.
Look throughout the Areas of Opportunity for
this globe-logo to learn about actions with a
climate benefit.
Taking Climate Action and Measuring Car-
bon Footprint
This guide provides information that will not only in-
crease your community's sustainability, but also help
to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.
Because every community is different, the resources
in this guide suggest specific actions to combat cli-
mate change that fit your community. The first step
in developing the most useful course of action for a
community is to create a community action group re-
sponsible for climate change issues. The actions this
group can take will also increase the sustainability of
your municipality and are incorporated in more detail
throughout this handbook.
Most greenhouse gas emissions in communities are
from buildings and transportation, and your commu-
nity can begin to address these right away. For this
reason, communities do not have to complete an in-
ventory of greenhouse gas emissions to take action to
prevent climate change. EPA programs can help you
take these initial steps.
Here are some examples of ways that local govern-
ments can make a difference:
make smart land use choices that can reduce vehicle
emissions
provide access to clean transportation, and multi-
modal transportation (i.e., bus rapid transit, shuttles,
bike lanes, and carpools)
target schools and institutions for energy efficiency
strategies
create more parks and green spaces, which absorb
C02
purchase renewable energy
promote building retrofits and changes in local build-
ing standards
expand recycling and waste management system ca-
pacities
change community values and behaviors
While not totally necessary, an inventory may help
your community. A municipal greenhouse gas inven-
tory is a tool that measures the greenhouse gas emis-
sions associated with local government operations.
Once a municipal operations are inventoried, many
communities take the next step of completing a com-
munity-wide inventory. Tracing the "carbon footprint"
of your community can help planners to quantify and
communicate the benefits of different actions, priori-
tize future actions as well as justify costs for projects,
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and make a strong case for grants and other external
funding.
Creating a municipal or community-wide inventory
requires following a protocol for consistent quantifica-
tion and categorization of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Clean Air and Climate Protection Software (CACPS)
can help communities create inventories and analyze
impacts of actions on traditional air pollutants and
greenhouse gas emissions. This software and training
are available to members of ICLEI Local Governments
for Sustainability and the National Association of Clean
Air Agencies (NACAA). However, non-members can
also receive the software by contacting EPA directly.
Recommended Resources:
EPA's Climate Change Program
http://www.epa.goV/climatechange/Q
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability
http://www.iclei.org/ ฎ
Learn "Inventory 101" using EPA's online tutorial
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/index.html ฉ
EPA Local Climate and Energy Webcast Series
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenerqy/energy-programs/
state-and-local/webcast.html ฉ
Northeast Report on Climate Impacts - projected re-
gional impacts of climate change
http://www.northeastclimateimpacts.org ฉ
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency's Regional
Integrated Science and Assessment program (RISA)
http://www.climate.noaa.qov/cpo_pa/risa/ฉ
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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
climate change
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, climate change, popu-
lation 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?
QWhat 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 pre-
serve biological resources and reduce
flood risks? Can improvements to a gov-
ernment'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
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Climate Impacts:
Identify Vulnerabilities
and Prepare for Natural
Disasters
Protecting against natural disasters
should be a key planning priority. Natu-
ral disasters will always pose potential
threats, but careful planning can keep
them from becoming management di-
sasters. Certain communities can expect
to see an increase in natural disasters due
to climate change, making preparedness
even more critical now. By assessing your
community's vulnerabilities and imple-
menting mitigation strategies, the poten-
tial 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
impacts of events
Particular care should be taken in evaluating
how risks associated with natural disasters
can be potentially compounded by the ex-
istence or condition of human-made infra-
structure such as a flood causing an over-
flow of a wastewater treatment plant. Your
emergency preparedness strategy should
also consider possible threats such as the
potential for an accidental or intentional
chemical release, explosion, outbreak of
disease, or even, depending on the area, ra-
diological release. Government agencies in
yourarea,such as police, fire and emergency
management, routinely track and evaluate
these types of threats, so a multi-stakehold-
er approach that involves relevant local and
regional agencies is critical. In addition, it is
worth considering global threats such as cli-
mate change and population growth.
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Recommended
Resources:
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Web site - preparing for disasters,
determining risks and planning for emer-
gencies
www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration (NOAA) - Community Vulner-
ability Assessment Tool
www.csc.noaa.gov/products/nchaz/
startup.htm
FEMA - HAZUS (Hazards US) software for
estimating potential losses from natural
hazards.
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/
index.shtm
The Climate Change Science Program
www.globalchange.gov ฉ
NOAA - Regional Climate Modeling Tool
www.ncar.ucar.edu/research/climate/
regional.php Q
International Council for Local Environ-
mental Initiatives (ICLEI) Planning Locally
for Climate Change, a climate change
guidebook.
www.iclei.org/ฎ
EPA Regional Vulnerability Assessment
www.epa.gov/reva/
Climate Risk Information by the New York
City Panel on Climate Change
http://www.nvc.gov/html/om/pdf/2009/
NPCC CRI.pdfQ
EPA Events of National Significance
www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/
learning/national response.htm
U.S. Forest Service book, Restorative Com-
mons: Creating Health and Well-being
through Urban Landscapes
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/8810
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.org/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/
Portland Office of Emergency Manage-
ment.
www.portlandonline.com/oem
The Sarasota County and City of Santa Bar-
bara Offices of Emergency Services
www.scgov.net/EmergencyServices/
EmergencyManagement/
emergencymanagement.asp
www.santabarbaraca.gov/Resident/OES/
The NJ Natural Capital study
www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/naturalcap/nat-
cap-1.pdf
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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
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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-
ment, a community-based commission, a
prominent local business or a hybrid ap-
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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
needed for program success
when, how and what to communicate
to employees on a regular basis
how your prog rams 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
www.placematters.org
Sustainable Communities Network
www.sustainable.org/living/education.
html ฎ
The Education for Sustainability web site,
created by the Center for a Sustainable
Future.
www.ffof.org/pcsd/toc.html
The Green Chill Partnership
http://www.epa.gov/qreenchill
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.grants.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
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r
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
create 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.
Q TIP: Use ENERGY START'S Cash Flow
opportunity calculator to estimate the
payback period for investments. ENERGY
STAR is a joint EPA, U.S. Department of
Energy program that helps businesses
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and individuals protect the environment
through superior energy efficiency.
www.enerqystar.qov/ia/business/cfo_
calculators
Recommended
Resources:
EPA and other federal grant opportunities
www.qrants.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy database
of incentives for renewable energy and
efficiency
www.dsireusa.org ฎ
U.S. Department of Energy Funding
Energy Efficiency
wwwl .eere.enerqy.gov/financinq/
for
The U.S. Department of Housing and Ur-
ban Development - Home Ownership
Zones.
www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/
affordablehousinq/proqrams/hoz
EPA's Guidebook of Financial Tools: Pay-
ing for Sustainable Environmental Sys-
temswww.epa.gov/efinpaqe/efinfin.htm
Center for American Progress Green
Recovery: A Program to Create Good
Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon
Economy www.americanproqress.org/
issues/2008/09/pdf/g reen_recovery.pdf
EPA-industry partnership to reduce green-
house gas emissions from businesses
http://www.epa.gov/stateply/
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
3 jr.
and iss
PLAN
Survey environmental impact
and issues Assess environmental
activity plans
ACT
Management review
of operations
CHECK
Internal audits
Corrective and
preventionmeasures
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
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
PO
Imptement environ-
mental activities Biiild
implementation ana
operation systems
Educate employees
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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 resourc-
es
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
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
www.peercenter.net/
Clean Air Climate Protection (CACP) soft-
ware by Local Governments for Sustain-
ability(ICLEI)
http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/
tools/cacp-software
Climate and Air Pollution Planning Assis-
tant (CAPPA)
www.iclei-usa.org/action-center/tools/
decision-support-tool
The International Organization for Stan-
dardization (ISO)
www.iso.org/iso/iso_
cata ogue/
management_standards/iso_9000_
iso 14000/iso 14000 essentials.htm
Sustainability Reporting Framework and
Guidelines
www.globalreporting.org/AboutGRI/
The U.S. Green Building Council - new
LEEDฎ (Leadership in Energy and Environ-
mental Design) system for neighborhood
design.
www.usgbc.org/Disp ayPage.
aspx?CMSPagelD=148
17
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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:
ฉcar-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
ฉupgrade and expansion of publictrans-
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
ฉ incentives to use public transportation
by providing park and ride spaces
ฉpromotion of car sharing services such
as providing on-street parking for car
sharing businesses in your community
ฉsupport 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
public transportation services with neigh-
19
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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, HUD and DOT Partnership Agreement
http://www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/dot-hud-e pa-
pa rtnership-agreement.pdf
EPA, HUD and DOT Livability Principles
httD://www.eDa.aov/dced/2009-0616-
epahuddot.htm
EPA State and Local Transportation Resources
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/index.htm
EPA Transportation Conformity Resources
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/
index.htm
The U.S. Department of Transportation - Transpor-
tation Toolbox for Rural Areas and Small Commu-
nities and Urban Partnership Agreements.
http://ntl.bts.gov/ruraltransport/toolbox/
www.upa.dot.gov/
The U.S. Department of Transportation - "Trans-
portation Vision for 2030"
www.websl .uidaho.edu/ce501 -400/resources/
Addressing%20sustainbi itv%20in%20
transportation%20svstems.pdf
The U.S. Department of Transportation - how to
get funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-
broch.htm#fundinq
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Transportation Case Study:
Gadsden, Alabama
Municipal Biodiesel Production
One renewable fuel alternative to conventional
petroleum-based diesel fuel is biodiesel, which
can be made using vegetable oils or animal fats.
Because biodiesel can be produced on a rela-
tively small scale, municipalities have begun to
collect used cooking oil and waste vegetable oil
to convert into biodiesel fuel for use in munici-
pal vehicle fleets. In order for a municipality to
determine whether biodiesel production is an ap-
propriate and feasible option, the following must
be considered:
availability of used cooking oil and waste veg-
etable oil in the community
ways to develop a recycling program and to
process the oil into biodiesel
testing procedures for the finished fuel product,
and
methods for storing and dispensing the fuel
Recycling waste products by converting it to fuel
will reduce the demands on landfills and waste-
water treatment facilities. Following established
procedures to convert waste vegetable oil en-
sures that municipalities are creating a safe, clean
fuel product that complies with federal regula-
tions for fuel quality.
The city of Gadsden, Alabama has successfully
implemented a waste vegetable oil recycling
and biodiesel production program since the fall
of 2007. Soaring fuel costs, along with extremely
high maintenance costs for its wastewater treat-
ment system resulting from grease introduced
by households and restaurants, encouraged the
city to initiate this waste vegetable oil recycling
and biodiesel production program. The city mini-
mized fuel expenditures while reducing wastewa-
ter treatment system maintenance by converting
the used cooking oil from local restaurants and
households into biodiesel that is used to fuel the
vehicles in the municipal fleet.
The city's municipal fleet staff worked in partner-
ship with personnel from Auburn University and
the Alabama Cooperative Excursion System to
develop and establish the system for biodiesel
production. Steel drums and plastic jugs were
used for restaurant and residential waste vegeta-
ble oil collection. The oil was poured or pumped
into chemical storage totes; excess water was re-
moved before pumping the oil into a biodiesel
processor where the transesterification process
occured. After the reaction was completed, the
biodiesel was separated from the byproduct glyc-
erin, which is commonly used to manufacture
soaps, and allowed to cool. The finished biodie-
sel was then blended with conventional diesel
fuel to create B10 (a mix of 10% biodisel and 90%
ultra low sulfur diesel) and B20 (a mix of 20% bio-
disel and 80% ultra low sulfur diesel) blends for a
variety of diesel fleet vehicles and equipment.
To educate the public about the program and to
gain community support, a media event was held
at the city's fleet facility during which political
leaders, representatives from fleet management,
and other key players explained the program
goals and shared basic information on biodiesel
production. The city's fleet management also
reached out to the local restaurants to notify
them about the new program to recycle waste
vegetable oil. Gadsden collects approximately
80% of the waste vegetable oil from restaurants
and 20% from homes.
Overall, this program has provided the city of
Gadsden, Alabama with cost and fuel savings,
improved air quality and reduced sewer main-
tenance costs. Since the program began, there
have not been any reports of fleet vehicle main-
tenance problems and the fleet manager, along
with the mayor and the city council, are pleased
with the results of the program and committed
to continuing and expanding it.
For additional information on the waste vegeta-
ble oil recycling and biodiesel production pro-
gram in Gadsden, Alabama:
http://farmenergy.blogspot.com/
For more information on producing biodiesel for
municipal vehicle fleets:
http://www.nrmdi.auburn.edu/bio/documents/
ALJMuncipalBiodieselGuideFINAL.pdf
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m
HA
IP*
*v
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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, encourage a
healthier environment where individu-
als get more daily activity and breathe
cleaner air and enhance an area's overall
livability, while encouraging the develop-
ment of strong, vibrant communities with
a reduced carbon footprint. Open green
spaces not only contribute to emissions
absorption and cleaner air but also pro-
mote recreational activity
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
Growth is a principle-based ap-
proach to development that values the
residents, environment, and uniqueness
of communities. Some of the general
smart growth principles include: distinc-
tive attractive communities with a strong
sense of place, walkable communities, di-
recting developing towards existing com-
munities, preserving natural beauty and
critical environmental areas, stakeholder
collaboration, and offering a range of
housing opportunities.
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 cor-
ridors
compact building design
appropriate remediation and redevelop-
ment of brownfields
formal parks and plazas in proximity to
residential areas
23
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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
average commute times
frequency of walking or bike trips per
capita
results of surveys of neighborhood
safety and livability
energy use per capita
number of energy efficient buildings in
the municipality
Recommended
Resources:
EPA's Smart Growth techniques
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/
Smart Growth Principles
www.smartgrowth.org/
EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants can
be used for community planning
http://epa.gov/brownfields/assessment_
grants.htm
The City of Portland's Sustainable Devel-
opment Commission guide for identify-
ing indicators and measuring progress
to determine the success of sustainable
planning and development strategies
www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/
imaqe.cfm?id=133058
Seattle Department of Planning and De-
velopment
www.seattle.gov/d pd/
Green Print Denver
www.greenprintdenver.org/
City of Portland Bureau of Planning
www.portlandonline.com/planning/
Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions through Materials and Land
Management Practices
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/ghg_
land_and_materials_management.pdf
Smart Growth for Coastal and Waterfront
Communities
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sg-
coastal.html
Anticipated impacts of sea level rise on
the Eastern Seaboard
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
effects/coastal/sap4-1 .html
Sierra Club Cool Cities program
www.coolcities.us/resources.php
Dept of Commerce's Sustainable Manu-
facturing Initiative
http://www.trade.gov/competitiveness/
sustainablemanufacturinq/index.asp
-------
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 Bureau of Planning
for substantial increases in new jobs, housing units and commercial spaces, without increasing the nurr
occupied by the central city.
Further information is available online:
www.portlandonline.com/planning
las allowed
ber of acres
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Land-use planning should protect
ecosystems and open space as these
areas often provide critical natural
services:
-------
Biological Conserva-
tion and
Open Space Preserva-
tion
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. ฎThese ecosys-
tems provide habitat for an abundance of
wildlife, critical protections such as flood
control, and add to aesthetic appeal, C02
absorption 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
completing an assessment of ecosystem
services in your community
27
-------
Recommended
Resources:
EPA - Community Based Environmental
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
www.defenders.org/programs and
policy/habitat conservation/private
lands/landowner incentives
New Jersey Natural Capital Study
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/
naturalcap/nat-cap-1 .pdf
-------
Open Space Preservation Case Study:
Burlington, Vermont
Engaging Community to Protect Wildlife
As the area around Burlington grows, wildlife and people have been coming into greater contact. As part of the
city's open space preservation efforts, volunteers are gathering data on where animals live and the routes they
travel to help them make informed decisions about ecosystem protection, land use planning and development.
The volunteers are trained by a local non-profit organization, Keeping Track, which encourages community partici-
pation in the long-term stewardship of wildlife habitat. This mission is achieved through monitoring, cooperation,
data management, conservation planning and education.
Volunteers must complete six full-day training workshops in the field plus two classroom sessions. Participants are
taught scientifically-based data collection methods and then help with field work, monitoring and other facets of
the program. Keeping Track has trained nearly 1,300 volunteers, representing almost 100 communities, and has
gathered valuable data to help shape local land use preservation efforts.
Further information is available online:
www.keepingtrack.org/
i
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.
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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 lo-
cal landfills to dispose of solid waste or to
transport the waste to other communities.
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, long-term costs of environmen-
tal degradation, 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
31
-------
implement or expand a compost pro-
gram. Organize short-term seasonal
events specifically for grass clippings, fall-
en leaves or Christmas trees. Later, transi-
tion to a long-term municipal-run food
waste program for residents, farmer's
markets, local restaurants/businesses or
schools and hospitals
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
Municipal Solid Waste, Materials Generated in 2007
(254 Million Tons before Recycling)
Food scraps 12.5%
Yard trimmings 12.8%
Rubber, leather & textiles
7.6%
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 mate-
rials (e.g., metal, plastic, glass, paper, yard
trimmings and E-waste)
reduction in the amount of recycled ma-
terials found during a secondary sort
r and paperboard 32.7%
Source: EPA, 2007
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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:
EPA's Waste web site
www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm
EPA Waste Assessment Web site
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/
onthego/program/assess.htm
Decision Makers' Guide to Solid Waste
Management
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/
municipal/dmg2/
The EPA WasteWise partnership program
www.epa.gov/wastewise/
EPA's Pay As You Throw (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 - full cost accounting
software & report, "The Fundamentals of
FCA"
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/
fca/default.htm
EPA - composting, local legislation, envi-
ronmental benefits, publications and links
www.epa.gov/compost/ &
Maryland annual 40% waste reduction
initiative
http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/
Land/RecyclingandoperationsProgram/
Pages/Programs/LandPrograms/
Recycling/index.aspx
EPA Report "Opportunities to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Ma-
terials and Land Management Practices"
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/ghg_
land_and_materials_management.pdf
EPA's In Your Community Web site
www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/community.
htm
EPA tools to reduce local consumption
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/tools/
localgov/index.htm
Communicating the Benefits of Recycling
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/tools/
localgov/benefits/index.htm
EPA guidelines for procuring recycled-
content products
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/
procure/index.htm ฎ
Recycling Market Exchange
www.epa.gov/itr/comm/exchange.htm
San Francisco EcofindeRRR - allows resi-
dents to look up what can be recycled,
reused or disposed of, how to do it, and
where to bring it
www.sfenvironment.org O
EPA's Recycle on the Go initiative
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/
onthego/index.htm
Earth 911
http://earth911.org/
RecycleBank.org
www.recvclebank.com/
San Francisco's Zero Waste Program
http://sfenvironment.org/our programs/
overview.html?ssi=3
33
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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) on-line program
www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/online/
index.htm
Proper disposal of paints, pesticides,
cleaners, oils and other types of house-
hold hazardous waste
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/
hhw.htm
EPA e-cycling resources and tips
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/
ecycling/index.htm
Goodwill Industries and Dell Computers
partnership to reuse and recycle
www.reconnectpartnership.com/
Waste-to-energy information
www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-
you/affect/municipal-sw.html
EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program
www.epa.gov/lmop/
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,M5i
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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 en-
ergy solutions have never been more important,especially atthe municipal level. Energy
based on fossil fuels, whether for electricity, heating or transportation, results in air pol-
lution. OFossil fuel consumption causes both chemical and particulate air pollution,
better known as smog. Ozone and acid rain can be problems too, depending on local
conditions. 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
buildings to identify the most cost-effec-
tive projects. Utilities and energy service
providers often offer them
joining Portfolio Manager and save
t/i'
us
CO
o
o
o
Industry
Transportation
Commercial
Residential
Agriculture
Source: US EPA 2009
37
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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.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-
4
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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
renewable sources
amount of pollutant emissions reduced
(e.g.,C02,SOx, NOx)
jobs created to meet energy efficiency
and renewable energy demands
Recommended
Resources:
ENERGY STAR, the EPA/U.S. Department
of Energy program that goes beyond la-
beling energy efficient appliances to as-
sist building and utility owners and opera-
tors and local governments in conserving
energy
www.enerqystar.gov/ฎ
www.enerqystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=government.bus_government_
local Q
ENERGY STAR Challenge for Communities
www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=challenge_community.
showlntroduction @
EPA Green Power Partnership program
www.epa.gov/greenpower/index.htm ฎ
EPA's Combined Heat and Power Program
www.epa.gov/chp/partnership/index.
html Q>
The U.S. Department of Energy's Technical
Assistance Program for local governments
http://www1 .eere.energy.gov/wip/
assistance.html
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar
America Cities program Q
www.solaramericacities.energy.gov
The California Distributed Energy Resourc-
es Guide
www.energy.ca.gov/distgen/
Alliance to Save Energy (ASE)
www.ase.org/
American Council for an Energy Efficient
Economy (ACES)
http://aceee.org/
Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE),
www.cee1.org/
PGE online calculator of potential energy
and economic savings for homeowners
www.pge.com/myhome/
saveenergymoney/resources/
appliancecalculator/
NYC energy cost-saving ideas
www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/
at_agencies/govt_case_studies_energy.
shtml
New York State's Energy Smart Communi-
ties Program
www.getenergysmart.org/
CommunityOutreach/
EnergySmartCommunities.aspx
39
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EPA's Clean Energy-Environment State
and Local Program
www.epa.gov/cleanenerqy/enerqy-
proqrams/state-and-local/index.html
www.epa.gov/climatechanqe/wycd/
stateandlocalqov/locaLresources.html
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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.
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fes
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Protecting Water Quality and Ensuring
Future Supply
Community prosperity relies on continu-
ous access to clean water, from reliable
drinking water supplies to clean waters
that support recreation and viable com-
mercial and sport fishing industries. Wa-
ter is becoming more scarce around the
world, as populations increase, 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 resourc-
es 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:
vwAAAefjaxjoy^
Greenscaping encourages conservation
of water resources and decreases reliance
on polluting fertilizers and pesticides.
43
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Landscaping with beautiful, drought-
resistant plants in arid climates enhances
the local aesthetic and helps to retain
much-needed moisture.
TIP: For more information, look to EPA's
Greenscapes Website:
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/qreen/
lrqscl.htm
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. ฉ
www.eere.enerqy.gov/femp/water
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.qreenerbuildings.com/
feat u re/2008/01/3 0/using-wate r-
management-strategies-boost-triple-
bottom-line
www.greenerbuildings.com/
b log/200 8/05/08/s mart-water-
ma nagement-a-low-risk-green-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.gov/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?program_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?program_id=298#case
http://www.epa.gov/owow/
NPS/ id/costs07/docu ments/
reducingstormwatercosts.pdf
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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.e pa .g ov/0 WO W/wet I a n d s/re sto re/
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
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.
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/too box/
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
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
45
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Recommended
Resources:
EPA funding for local water infrastructure
development, as well as watershed pro-
tection and conservation programs
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
National Environmental Service Center's
National Environmental Training Center
for Small Communities
www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/train/products/
regulations chart.pdf
EPA's Consumer Confidence Reports
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/
sdwa/ccr/index.cfm
EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drink-
ing Water
www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.
html
EPA Regulations of total maximum daily
loads (TMDLs)
www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/
Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance
Division - "Successful Water Efficiency
Programs for Non-Residential Water Cus-
tomers" presentation.
www.georgiaplanning.com/watertoolkit/
Documents/WaterConservation Drought
Management/SuccessfulWaterEfficiencvP
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
EPA Information and Resources on Non-point
Source Pollution
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/whatis.html
Water Environment Research Foundation re-
port has information and case study links.
www.werf.org/livablecommunities/pdf/
benefits.pdf
EPA State and Individual Watershed Trading
Program
www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/trading/
tradingmap.html
Conservation Technology Information Center
Water Quality Training Guide
http://www.conservationinformation.org/
CTIC%20HOME/FIND%20INFORMATION/
CTIC%20lnitiatives/
EPA's Water Quality Trading Scenario: Multiple
Facility Point Source Trading Publication
www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/wqtradingtoolkit_
multiple-ps.pdf
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Water Case Study:
^dona, Arizona is "Water Wise'
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Green Jobs
This chapter is an introduction to what is meant by "green jobs" and how actions to promote green jobs
can support your local workforce, the environment, and the economy.
"Green jobs" is often cited as an essential part of
solving environmental and economic troubles.
Yet, to many, it is not clear what a green job
is or what a green economy would look like.
There are several working definitions and a few
are provided below.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson describes
green jobs as a solution to the economic and
environmental challenges our communities
face: "What we have is an energy and jobs
agenda with an environmental benefit - one
solution for two generational challenges. I
have worked in environmental protection
for more than 20 years. In that time, I've seen
countless situations where environmental pri-
orities have been put on hold out of fear for
how they might affect economic growth. But
we know better. We know that the choice be-
tween our economy and our environment is a
false choice."
The Environmental Protection Agency has a
working definition, "jobs that devote a sub-
stantial portion of their work to improving
energy efficiency, increasing the supply of re-
newable energy, and/or preventing, reducing,
or cleaning up pollution."
According to the US Department of Labor, "A
changing job market and the emerging clean
energy economy are creating new jobs and
greening old jobs." Green jobs are both a re-
sponse to a changing global economy and an
opportunity to achieve environmental and so-
cial goals. The hope of green jobs is that the
individuals trained in these areas will reduce
a community's energy consumption, increase
energy independence and a host of other en-
vironmental outcomes while contributing to
our local economy. For individuals, this can
result in bettering their own lives by enhanc-
ing their job skills and earning higher wages
for expertise in specialty areas.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 places a large focus on greening the
American economy and provides funding for
green jobs. In fact, $500 million is dedicated to
job training programs that prepare workers for
careers in energy efficiency and renewable en-
ergy. Resources for grant seekers are listed in
this chapter below.
Examples of Green Jobs
Urban Tree Canopy crews who maintain
urban forests
Next generation of waste water and drinking
water treatment plant operators and engi-
neers
Energy efficiency auditors and retro-fitters
Certifications for plumbers who install purple
pipes, for water recycling
Manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines
and other renewable energy technology
Installation of solar panels, wind turbines and
other renewable energy technology
Establishing and expanding recycling pro-
grams
49
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Best Practices
Across the country, communities are de-
veloping new and different ways to gener-
ate green jobs. Some successful green jobs
programs are partnerships between gov-
ernment agencies and local organizations
already engaged with the target trainees.
These green jobs programs combine tradi-
tional job training programs with specific
modules on the environment and sustain-
ability topics. Organizations already engaged
in job training programs and community
colleges can add an additional green-job
course to their program, such as a building
retrofit certificate program, or teach green
techniques in existing courses.
The success of a green jobs training program
depends on the placement of participants in
employment after completion of the train-
ing. Organizations engaged in green job
training should begin building partnerships
with local organizations in need of employ-
ees with these skills before program imple-
mentation so that curricula can be tailored
to employer hiring needs. Community lead-
ers can convene local organizations to forge
partnerships and raise the profile of a green
jobs agenda. Examples of key organizations
that could be included: job training insti-
tutions, high schools, summer education
programs, community colleges, universities,
research facilities, union education profes-
sionals, professional accreditation organi-
zations, and prominent businesses in your
community.
EPA offers free training curricula on lead
abatement, occupational health & safety,
and water quality. The U.S. Department of
Labor has job training centers through out
the country and offers online training pro-
grams. These can easily be added to an ex-
isting training program.
Actions for Local
Governments
Communities can implement job training
programs through community based organi-
zations, employment organizations, and other
local partners.
Local governments can acknowledge busi-
nesses that are successfully doing pollution
prevention as leaders in the community. TIP:
For larger communities, it can be easier to
look at one sector at a time to compare per-
formance.
Local governments can be an engine for gen-
erating green jobs through the procurement
of renewable energy, cool roofs, and energy-
efficient products and working with green
contractors, and service providers for city-
owned buildings and property.
Community leaders can raise the profile of
their location for new green employers
State level public utility boards can encour-
age home retrofits and use of energy-efficient
products by providing free audits and sub-
sidizing or giving tax credits for using green
products. New Jersey has had a successful
incentive program for residential energy effi-
ciency; information can be found here: http://
www.njcleanenergy.com/main/rebates-and-
promotions/rebates-and-promotions.
Local governments can also prioritize green
job growth in land use development policy
when dealing with developers and grant re-
cipients.
Recommended
Resources:
Brownfields Job Training Grants
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/grant info/
it/itarant0709.Ddf
Green Jobs Training Catalogue
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/gi green-
jobs febQ9.pdf
50
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U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps
http://www.iobcorps.gov/home.aspx
EPA Brownfields: Job Training Grants
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/iob.htm
Advisory for State and Local Government Labor
Commissioners and Grant Seekers
http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr doc.
cfm?docn=2755
GreenPrint: Green Jobs Guide
http://cepa.maxwell.svr.edu/pages/greenprint
List of grant opportunities compiled by Center for
Environmental Policy & Administration
http://cepa.maxwell.svr.edu/pages/184/Grant
List-1.pdf
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Grants
http://www.recovery.gov/Opportunities/Pages/
Grants .aspx
EPA Brownfields Program Activities Under the
Recovery Act
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/eparecoverv/in-
dex.htm
Green Jobs Case Study: Syracuse, NY
Bringing Green Jobs to Communities
Theardis Martino is a green construction consultant training to become a LEED Green Associate in Syracuse, New
York, who felt inspired to share the skills of his field with members of the community. Through his own initiative,
he started Matawon Group, which offers a 30-day training program to inner-city residents, who graduate with
certificates in lead encapsulation and Occupational Safety & Health. This month-long curriculum places a heavy
focus on life skills, with a work-simulated schedule that requires strict promptness and compliance with a dress
code. Training in interview and resume crafting skills is also provided. Trainees learn the carbon impacts of their
individual behavior, as well as methods for reducing waste and pollution on the job.
Matawon has had outstanding success with limited resources. Seventy-four percent of its graduates find work and
63% are still on the job after 90 days. Many of the participants are beneficiaries of other social services, job support
programs, and were previously incarcerated. Local construction is the biggest industry for graduates to work in;
others include manufacturing, retail, and warehouses. This training program gives individuals with a high school
or GED level education the skills to find good work and help their communities.
Theardis has been working with average class sizes of 10 each. The program recently won a Pathways Out of Pov-
erty Grant from the state of New York, which Theardis hopes will allow the program to expand in size and to have
more hands-on-training added to the curriculum. Matawon is an example of how a community's need for envi-
ronmental improvements can be met while also bringing individuals out of poverty and into a meaningful career.
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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
53
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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
http://www.epa.gov/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/
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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.bmra.org
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
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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 cur-
rently ranks with cities such as Chicago and Seattle, which are known for their leadership in green building and distin-
guished 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 reno-
vation projects. This policy also formalized the efforts of Portland's newly formed Office of Sustainable Development,
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 participat-
ing 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
LEED Projects: www.usgbc.org/LEED/Proiect/CertifiedProiectList.aspx?CMSPagelD=247
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Green Construction
Clean construction practices and strategies are essential to creating healthier, more sus-
tainable communities. Construction is integral in the development, improvement, and
restoration of homes and buildings, as well as the maintenance and expansion of the
country's infrastructure.
Air and water are two environmental
resources affected by construction.
Impacts to air from construction are due
mainly to diesel-powered equipment,
which is responsible for large amounts
of diesel emissions and contributes to
unhealthy levels of particulate matter
(PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and other
toxic air pollutants. Additional pollutants
resulting from construction activities,
such as dust and noise, also have the
potential to pose environmental health
risks to residents within the communities
that surround construction sites, and to
contribute to climate change.
Exposure to diesel particulate matter is
associated with increased risk of several
respiratory ailments including asthma,
emphysema and bronchitis, in addition
to other adverse health effects. Long-
term exposure has been linked to heart
problems, lung cancer and premature
death. Children are particularly
susceptible to the harmful effects of diesel
air pollution.
The construction sector utilizes more
diesel engines than any other sector
across the nation, including freight,
transit, municipal, and ports. Construction
equipment is notorious for staying in
commission for very long periods, in some
cases as long as three decades. Of the
two million diesel engines currently being
used for construction equipment in the
United States, 31% were manufactured
prior to the introduction of diesel
emissions regulations. These pieces of
equipment are responsible for 32% of the
NOx and 37% of the particulate matter
emissions from all vehicles and engines
annually. Whether a community owns its
construction equipment or hires outside
vendors for construction projects, it can
mitigate the environmental impact of
those projects.
In addition to air pollution, construction
sites are among the largest contributors
of pollutants to streams, lakes, and
other surface waters. Effects on those
waters arise from two separate but
interrelated processes called "erosion and
sedimentation." Erosion is the process
by which the land surface, including
soils, rocks, and other materials, is worn
away. Erosion from construction sites
can be between seven and 500 times
greater than erosion from undisturbed
natural areas. Along with sediment, as
water flows over a site it can pick up
debris, chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides,
oil, concrete products, sealers, paints, and
other pollutants. Sedimentation occurs
when particles are deposited elsewhere,
whether on the land or in ponds, lakes,
wetlands, and reservoirs. Erosion and
sedimentation can have several negative
impacts, including:
blocking light needed by aquatic plants
and smothering or choking aquatic
animals
contributing to the accumulation of
pollutants
clogging ditches, culverts, and storm
sewers, increasing flooding
dirtying clear waterways, decreasing
recreational value; and
filling in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs
with sediment, which can reduce the
life of dams that provide flood control,
recreation, or municipal drinking water
Best Practices and
Solutions
Air
Communities can use the following
strategies to minimize the harmful
impacts of diesel emissions and other
59
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forms of pollution. Local governments can
apply these strategies in their own fleets
or by including them in specifications
for construction contracts with outside
vendors:
replace older equipment with newer,
cleaner models
repower older engines with newer,
cleaner models
retrofit equipment with emissions
reduction technologies such as
particulate filters and oxidation catalysts
verified by the EPA
implement an idling-reduction policy
keep equipment running efficiently
though preventative maintenance and
repair
use cleaner fuels such as ultra low sulfur
diesel, biodiesel and compressed natural
gas
control dust pollution by spraying down
equipment entering and departing
construction sites
keep stockpiles of materials covered
with plastic tarps to prevent dust
hang noise dampening blankets around
construction sites
when possible, avoid using loud
equipment (pile drivers, jackhammers,
etc.) during noise sensitive hours (10 p.m.
-7a.m.)
A common, easily implemented
strategy used at the local level to
mitigate the effects of construction
activities is to require diesel emission
controls in construction project contract
specifications. Specifications can require:
the highest level of emission controls
available
idling-reduction and engine shut-off
policies
the use of ultra low sulfur or alternative
fuel
Erosion and Sedimentation
The Clean Water Act specifically addresses
the permitting of non-point source
stormwater discharges (see p. 42-43 for a
description of non-point source pollution),
including construction site runoff.
Although construction managers are
required to institute "best management
practices" for any site that disturbs one
acre or more of land, communities can
go beyond requirements and institute
additional safeguards.
For example, local governments can use
ordinances to require green construction
in their communities. Ordinances are
only effective if they are implemented
and enforced, so local governments
should support regular inspections and
clearly specify penalties for violations.
In particular, ordinances can mandate
that developers write control plans
prior to construction that describe how
a developer will address erosion and
sedimentation.
Careful scheduling can be one of the most
effective safeguards against sediment
pollution; it minimizes the amount of
time land is exposed, and can ensure
that land-disturbing activities align
properly with erosion and sedimentation
controls, which range from sediment
traps and barriers to dikes and runoff
diversions. A range of erosion and
sedimentation controls can be found
in EPA's Menu of Stormwater Best
Management Practices (http://cfpub.epa.
gov/npdes/storm water/men uofbmps/
index.cfm?action=min measure&min
measure id=4).
Additionally, communities can:
preserve natural vegetation and install
additional plants, especially around the
perimeter of sites
minimize clearing and grading of soil
build concrete washouts, which are used
to contain and consolidate concrete and
liquid waste when concrete equipment
-------
is rinsed, to avoid disposal down storm
drains
disconnect any drains from any other
processing areas that lead to storm
sewers
minimize the application and generation
of pollutants, including chemicals
properly dispose of building materials
and other construction wastes, while
preventing spills and recycling when
possible
provide education and training
opportunities for construction personnel
Measuring Success
A community's progress can be evaluated
in several ways when examining clean
construction. For air, EPA's Diesel
Emissions Quantifier (http://cfpub.epa.
gov/quantifier/) can be used to quantify
emission reductions from retrofitting,
replacing and repowering older
equipment as well as switching to cleaner
fuels. To track success, a community
might:
quantify the tons of emissions reduced
calculate the cost per ton of emissions
reduced
document community satisfaction with
pollution reduction, including noise
count the number of local projects using
emission control devices/alternative fuels
at active construction sites
document the number of local projects
with clean diesel specifications in
construction contracts.
The "Protecting Water Quality and
Ensuring Future Supply" chapter in this
guide lists several measures of a healthy
watershed (p. 43) - such as chemical and
physical water quality - that also apply to
green construction. In addition to those,
other measures include the amount of:
construction projects that develop a pre-
construction erosion and sedimentation
reduction plan
sediment kept on-site, as opposed to the
amount eroded by poorer construction
practices
chemicals and other hazardous products
eliminated from use at a site
materials recycled during waste disposal
Recommended
Resources:
EPA's "Breathing Clean by Building
Green: Clean Diesel Construction." Free
DVD copies of this video are available
from the National Service Center for
Environmental Publications (NSCEP) or at
1-800-490-9198. Please use item number
EPA902V07001 for ordering. The video
can also be viewed at the following web
location:
http://www.northeastdiesel.org/
construction.htm
Information on the EPA's National Clean
Diesel Campaign
http://www.epa.gov/diesel
EPA information on clean construction
http://www.epa.gov/diesel/construction/
index.htm
EPA's Diesel Emissions Quantifier
http://cfpub.epa.gov/quantifier/
Verified retrofitting construction
equipment list
http://www.epa.gov/oms/retrofit/verif-
list.htm
Sample contract specifications for
inclusion of clean construction strategies
http://www.northeastdiesel.org/pdf/
NEDC-Construction-Contract-Spec.pdf
61
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Retrofitting diesel engines in the
construction sector
http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/diesel/
conretro.pdf
Low-cost ways to clean construction
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/
documents/420f08008.pdf
Low-cost ways to reduce emissions from
construction equipment
http://www.southeastdiesel.org/
constructionsector.html
lEPA's National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System - permit requirements,
as well as example E&S municipal
ordinances and best practices.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/
const.cfm
Examples of Stormwater Pollution
Prevention Plans and view a guide for
creating one
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/
swppp.cfm
The Construction Industry Compliance
Assistance Center
http://www.cicacenter.org/
Extensive guidance on ways to reduce
non-point source pollution, including a
guide for construction
http://www.epa.gov/nps/urbanmm/pdf/
urban_ch08.pdf
EPA's Menu of Stormwater Best
Management Practices
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/
menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=min_
measure&min measure id=4
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WESTCHEST5R COUNTS NEW YORK
Clean Construction Case Study:
Westchester County, New York
Clean Construction Contract Specifications
The county's Department of Public Works' bid solicitation includes several provisions to ensure compliance with the
county law. Contractors must equip all 2003 and older model year pieces of equipment with an EPA verified clean die-
sel technology. Also vehicles performing county work must be powered by ultra-low sulfur diesel, containing 15 parts
per million of sulfur or less. The contractors are required to log and submit reports regarding the quality and vendor of
Other provisions include dust control, stormwater management, and other water quality regulations. A violation of the
contract could result in a fine of $20,000 or more. In taking these steps, Westchester County has greatly reduced the
impact of all county construction activities on both the environment and the surrounding communities.
hurtner mtormation is availaPle online:
www.westchesterqov.com
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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:
EPA's EPP Web site
www.epa.gov/epp/tools/index.htm
EPA's Comprehensive Procurement
Guidelines Supplier Database
http://cpg.epa.tms.icfi.com/user/cpg
search.cfm
EPA's "EPP Assistant"
http://pie.earthster.org/
The GSA's "General Services Administra-
tion's SmartPayฎ Purchase Card Training"
www.fss.gsa.gov/webtraining/
traininqdocs/smartpavtraininq/
65
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The "Federal Green Construction Guide
for Specifiers"
www.wbdg.org/design/greenspec.php
The U.S. Department of Energy - tool to
educate consumers about fuel economy
http://fueleconomy.gov
U.S. Department of Energy Alternative
Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Cen-
ter
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc
The Paper Calculator
www.edf.org/papercalculator/
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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:
ซ 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
Ann 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-
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.
67
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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.
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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
EPA Contributors:
Irene Boland
Patricia Carr
Cecily David
Jennifer May
Check this Web site for updates to this
publication:
www.epa.gov/region2/sustainability/
qreencommunities
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