EcoWatch Journal October/November 2010 : Page 4
FIVE YEARS GREEN incentives—bid discounts on competi-tively bid contracts and evaluation credits on professional service contracts—to local companies that compete for city work. Additionally, Cleveland became one of the first cities in the nation to provide these same incentives to companies which buy at least 20 percent of their contract amounts from regional food growers. The Green Plus Program is the approved certification program for businesses which wish to be certified sustainable by the city. Looking to the future, Andrew Watter-son, Cleveland’s sustainability chief, says: “We have to continue what we have been doing for the last five years, which is to improve the way we do business, reduce the cost of government entity, help promote creating a sustainable economy, make this a business-friendly and people-friendly city. But we do need to get more than just the city onboard with figuring out how to ac-complish those goals.” Columbus’s serious sustainability ef-forts date back to January 28, 2005, when Mayor Michael Coleman launched the “Get Green Columbus” program by issuing a “Green Memo.” The document details a series of strategies to meet economic devel-opment goals and ensure a healthier envi-ronment. The memo contains six categories that include strategies for collaborating with city agencies and community leaders, improving recycling efforts and reducing solid waste, protecting air and water qual-ity, and promoting green business and the greening of Columbus. Currently, Columbus is leveraging a $7.4 million Energy Efficiency Conser-vation Block Grant from the U.S. De-partment of Energy to implement seven projects, such as a lighting retrofit for 27 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 fire department stations and exterior build-ing efficiency renovations and replacement of antiquated HVAC systems for its police stations. Other projects include replacing all pedestrian crossing signals with LED (light-emitting diode) lights, installing bike stations downtown, assisting the Center of Science and Industry with energy efficiency improvements to its building, developing a Compressed Natural Gas and electric vehicle fleet and infrastructure for city vehicles, and expanding an already sizable Cincinnati would have found it hard to be-lieve that the “Queen City” would become a leader in green initiatives, reveals Steve Johns, sustainability coordinator for the city. Similar to Cleveland and Columbus, though, the election in 2005 of a sustain-ability-conscious mayor, Mike Mallory, changed everything. In Mallory’s nearly five years as mayor, the city has reestablished the Office of Environmental Quality, instituted a Leader-ship in Energy and Environmental Design During the last five years, Ohio’s major cities have implemented significant green initiatives that have already demonstrated productive and lasting impacts for the Buckeye State. Moreover, many of these initiatives are now serving as models for solution-based sustainability practices throughout the U.S. community gardens program. Echoing Watterson’s comments, Erin Miller, environmental steward for Co-lumbus, says Ohio’s state capital has the green will, thanks to Coleman’s leadership and commitment, but it will need more resources. Columbus recently issued both a report on the effectiveness of its first five years of green projects and “Green Memo 2” as a strategic plan for the next five years with goals for economic development, livability, and educating and engaging the community. The key for Miller is the im-mense impact of such far-reaching munici-pal commitment to sustainability practices. “It’s important for cities to lead by ex-ample, and to show businesses and residents that you can have economic prosperity and save tax dollars and resources and save the environment at the same time,” she says. Five years ago, most residents of (LEED) Tax Incentive program and LEED policy for government buildings, adopted a Climate Protection Plan, launched “green street” pilot projects and led financing efforts for the city’s streetcar project. Cur-rently, the city is implementing two major initiatives of its Climate Action Plan—en-hanced recycling and $14 million of energy efficiency improvements to more than 60 city buildings and facilities. Other organizations are also leading Cincinnati’s green movement including the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, a non-profit organization that provides education, expertise and innovative financing to make Cincinnati more energy efficient, as well as Cincinnati’s educational sector where Cincinnati Public Schools, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati State Techni-cal and Community College are leaders in green building and design. Other notable greening the city partners include the Cin-cinnati Zoo, Cincinnati Parks and the local transit system Metro. According to Johns, while the govern-ment’s implementing of the 80+ initiatives found in the Green Cincinnati Plan contin-ues at a good pace, the greater challenge is finding ways to get the greater community involved. “Over the next couple of years, our energy will be, no pun intended, in figuring out how we can help an individual home owner or business learn about some of the things that we’re using, such as state grants or federal tax credits,” he says. Johns adds that the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, for example, offers some federal grant money to subsidize energy au-dits for individual home owners and non-profit organizations to get people started. During the last five years, cities through-out Ohio have become more green-minded. For instance, the Keep Akron Beautiful program started in 1981 to implement comprehensive litter prevention and beau-tification program for the city, but more recently the nonprofit organization has updated its programs to encompass more green initiatives such as developing effective recycling promotion. Still in their infancy, these programs have fairly quickly brought about a new ap-proach to sustainable living at the citywide, business, and individual resident levels. Johns, however, emphasizes that people shouldn’t try to do everything at once, which can be overwhelming and, at times, immobilizing. “Start by picking those two or three things that make sense to you,” he advises. “Then once you’re comfortable with those, try reaching the next level.” We are all Connected I believe that we have only scratched the surface on the possibilities that Ohio has available to become a national leader in local farming and green energy. Please continue to support EcoWatch and together, we can make Ohio a better place to raise a family. Ken Lanci, Chairman & CEO, Consolidated Graphics Group, Inc. cgginc.com 4 • ECOWATCH JOURNAL WWW.ECOWATCH.ORG
Publication List
