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4 Comments
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Re: Seeking Process/Tool for Reviewing Policies for Sustainability
2009-08-31 12:44:42 UTC
Hi,
I am familiar with SEE-IT and am impressed with it as well. However, we don't have the budget for it right now. We're trying to find something fairly simple that we can implement soon and get people reviewing policies for sustainability as part of the regular review schedule. It would not preclude us from implementing something like SEE-IT in the future but would be something we could work into our SEE-IT program.
Sorry about the link to the Sustainable Action Map tool. If you just google "City of Olympia" and "Sustainable Action Map," it should be the first page that comes up.
Thanks for your help,
Linda
Linda Lovett
Sustainability Supervisor
City of Corvallis
United States
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/ -
Seeking Process/Tool for Reviewing Policies for Sustainability
2009-08-28 12:31:46 UTC
My organization is seeking to review our policies through a sustainability lens. That is, when our City Council policies and internal administrative policies come up for review, to look at them for how well they address the triple bottom line in addition to just updating information. Some of the policies are clearly related to specific sustainability issues, so we want to see if they go far enough, if they are balanced, etc. Other policies are not so clearly related, but could be screened to see how they might advance our sustainability goals.
One tool we have used for Capital Improvement Projects is the Sustainable Action Map created by the City of Olympia, Washington: http://www.ci.olympia.wa.us/?sc_itemid={E4972563-C03D-4172-83D4-CB284A32E96F}. I would be interested to know what other tools are being used, how well they are working, and best practices. Our sustainability policy is based on the triple bottom line and I know some cities are using TBL toolkits. How do these work to review policies?
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks,
Linda Lovett
Sustainability Supervisor
City of Corvallis
United States
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/ -
Seeking Information on LEED-Related Policies
2008-10-15 22:04:00 UTC
My organization has set a goal for our new and existing buildings to meet some level of LEED by certain dates (we're still working on the milestones). The LEED for existing buildings checklist indicates that among the required policies are ones for solid waste management, sustainable purchasing, and green cleaning. We were already working on some of these, but now want to do them so they meet the LEED requirements. Could anyone send me or point me to examples of solid waste, purchasing, and green cleaning policies that were written to meet the LEED requirement? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Linda
Linda Lovett
Sustainability Supervisor
City of Corvallis
541-754-1736
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us
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RE: GHG emission for lawn equipment
2007-03-12 16:52:45 UTC
Here are a couple references I used in response to a question about leaf blowers:
From Transport Canada: http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/most/whatyoucando.htm
"Remember that lawn mowers, leaf blowers, snow blowers and other small engines can produce even more harmful emissions than a car! Buy low emissions models or switch to electric versions whenever possible." A gasoline-powered leaf blower generates as many tailpipe emissions in one hour as an automobile does in over 580 kilometres - according to Environment Canada engineers. Approximately 20 per cent of smog-causing emissions originate from off-road engines." From the US Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/ "Native landscaping practices can help improve air quality on a local regional and global level. Locally, smog (ground level ozone) and air toxics can be drastically reduced by the virtual elimination of the need for lawn maintenance equipment (lawn mowers, weed edgers, leaf blowers, etc.) which is fueled by gasoline, electricity or batteries. All of these fuel types are associated with the emissions of the following air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and air toxics such as benzene. Gasoline lawn and garden equipment, on average, produces 5% of ozone-forming VOCs in areas with smog problems. This equipment also emits toxics and particulates. Regionally, the NOx and SO2 released from lawn maintenance equipment react with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Globally, native landscaping practices help to combat global warming in two ways. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas and by reducing the use of lawn maintenance equipment, the associated CO2emissions are also reduced. Native plants help to reduce the amount of CO2in the atmosphere by taking in CO2and storing the carbon in the body of the plants, roots and soil. Native plants work much better than traditional mowed grass as a carbon sink due to their extensive root systems and increased ability to retain and store water."
Linda Lovett
Sustainability Supervisor
City of Corvallis
541-754-1736
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us
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