Municipal Progress 2005 - 2011

Dr Rosemarie Russo

Sept 12, 2011

Community Services2005 - .39 metric tons per citizen2010 - .31 metric tons per citizen

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

From 2005 to 2010, GHG emissions dropped by approximately 10% (i.e., 5170 metric tons).

The GHG Emissions reductions are equivalent to:-Annual GHG emissions from 1,014 passenger vehicles;-CO2e emissions from the energy used by 448 homes for one year; or-GHG emissions avoided by recycling 1634 tons of material (equal to the weight of 5447 gorillas).

Municipal Operation Reductions Financial Savings

CO2e Reductions - Metric Tons Social Benefits

       

Asphalt, Concrete, & Toilet Recycling

$266,356 4,250Rebates to community

members and lower cost of City services

Metal Recycling $69,000 425 Lower cost for City services

Waste Water Load Shedding

$54,000 576Lower energy bills for residents

Methane and Heat Recovery

$28,943 -----

N/A

70W High Pressure Sodium Lighting

$26,000 334

Lower cost for City services

Solid Waste Challenge* $24,000 5 Empowerment and education

Game Changing Projects

Economic: The City saved $594,248 through on-going and new innovative projects such as server virtualization, lighting retrofits (LED and high-pressure sodium), and tree plantings.

Equity: Rebates to community members and businesses, better air quality, energy independence, healthy activities for families and community engagement.

Environmental: The City avoided 16,344 metric tons of CO2e. Education and Engagement: Internal training and Mindful Movies series

and several challenges with community members and Climate Wise businesses (e.g. Solid Waste, Sustainability, and Bike to Work)

2010 Awards

• Energy Star Awards – 215 N Mason, 281 N College, and Operation Services

• Community Award – CO Alliance for Environmental Education

• Climate Wise – Platinum • Bicycle Friendly Community – Gold Level• Top 22 “Smarter Cities” for programs and

investment in green energy by the National Defense Council

Top Ten Goals Progress

• Despite increases in the number of employees and square footage, the GHG annual reduction of 2% was achieved for 2010.

• GHG goal is the most important because it reflects electricity use, fuel use, and solid waste management.

• Energy use accounts for 86% of the City’s GHG emissions. The City did not meet its 2% per annum energy reduction goal, but it’s using less carbon intensive fuel so GHG emission reductions associated with energy have decreased by 1%.

Health Connections

• Reductions of 3,231 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) from electricity reductions.

• Air pollution leads to ozone problems and affects asthma and allergy sufferers.

• Air pollution benefits:– 1197 pounds of NOx– 1292 pounds SOx– 1346 pounds of carbon

monoxide– 118 pounds of VOCs

Fuel and Fleets

The City reduced traditional fuel use and met its goal.

As of 2010 over 40% of fuel was from biodiesel or compressed natural gas.

City owns 555 alternative fuel fleet vehicles.

In 2010 – 6 CNG buses replaced traditional buses resulting in a reduction in 126 metric tons of GHG emissions. However, electric use increased so the GHG reductions were 70 metric tons.

Recycling

• In 2010, the City’s office recycling program recycled 150 tons which saved the equivalent of:

2,550 trees

1,050,000 gallons of water (City Pool – 3.5X) • Food Waste Collection increased by >80% = 2 ton CO2e

reduction

Parks & Natural Areas

The City has met the 30% tree canopy goal.

Projects:• Natural Areas planted 169 trees, 420 shrubs, and

constructed 3.5 acres of wetlands. Wetlands constitute the highest natural areas value because of increased biodiversity in those areas.

• Natural Areas botanists discovered five new state–listed rare plants.

• Parks now has more parks certified as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries than any other City in America.

Water

The City did not reached the 10% reduction goal in buildings.

Projects:• Installed solar-powered water pumps at Soapstone.• Drip irrigation is being installed on all new medians.• Ten water audits were conducted at City parks.

Innovation and Imagination

• Scott Foreman and Rick Jesser converted an on-site electric cart to solar.

• The Gardens at Spring Creek donated 5,000 pounds of produce to the Larimer County Food Bank.

• Operation Services retrofitted three existing hybrid vehicles to plug-ins.

Community Capacity Building

• Keeping the pillars of sustainability in mind – the City planted trees donated from local businesses at Fossil Creek Park, low-income housing units, and Bennett Elementary School.

• The City distributed 46 composting “green cones” to Climate Wise businesses, 15 community members, and 13 to City employees.

• Stimulus funds were used to improve bike lanes and paint bike boxes on Plum Street.

Measurable Indicators

Indicator Improving Declining Neutral Insufficient Data

         

Carbon Emissions  X      

Electricity Use  X      

Natural Gas Use    X    

% or Renewable Purchased by the City    X    

# of LEED Employees      X  

% of LED Traffic Lights  X      

% of LEED Buildings  X      

Energy Consumption Related to Water Use      X  

Alternative Fuel Use  X      

Average Vehicle Ridership        X

% of Hybrid Vehicles in Fleet  X      

Volume of Recycled Material  X      

Measurable Indicators

Indicator Improving Declining Neutral Insufficient

Data

         

Volume of Solid Waste X

Solid Waste Diversion X

Sustainability Scholarships Awarded X

Comparison to Peer Cities X

% of Forest Canopy X

% of Native Plantings X

Average Vehicle Ridership X

Adherence to EPP Policies X

Well Day Participation X

Community-Wide Stewardship

• Fort Collin’s greenhouse gas emissions are now 11% lower than they were in 2005, despite a population increase growth of 13%.

• Core community emissions (electricity, natural gas and vehicle travel) dropped by 5%.

• And during 2010, Fort Collins was ranked 4th Best Place for Businesses (Forbes, April, 2010) and 6th Best Place to Live in the Nation (Money, July 2010), confirming that carbon reductions and high quality of life can, and do, go hand in hand.

Opportunities

• Wind Program• Home Audits• Appliance Rebates• Sustainability Scholarships• Mindful Movies• In-house Training• Sprinkler Audits

• Fleet Vehicles

THANKS ------------