Greetings from Fort Collins, Colorado. I am trying to determine how we compare to other cities around the country. Fort Collins has the following top ten goals and has achieved a .72% in terms of overall GHG compared to our 2005 baseline:
Goal #1: (GGH Totals): Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (carbon dioxide and methane) from municipal operations at least 2 percent per year starting in 2009, in order to achieve a reduction of 20% below 2005 levels by December 31, 2020; and ultimately to achieve carbon neutrality for the municipal organization. This represents a total reduction of 11,734 tons (based on baseline emissions of 59,000 tons in 2005); yearly reductions will equate to 1,066 tons per year of GHG emissions without any projected growth factored in.
Goal #2: (Electricity and Natural Gas): Reduce city energy consumption by 20% of the 2005 baseline by 2020, and reduce demand peak use by 15% by 2020.
Goal #3: (Fuel): Reduce traditional fuel use by the City's vehicle fleet by 20% by 2020 and reach a 1.5 average vehicle ridership (AVR) by 2020 for city employees.
Goal # 4: (Solid Waste Reduction): Reduce solid waste generated by 50% of overall waste stream by 2012 and 80% by 2020. Interim goals will be set to reduce overall waste volume.
Goal # 5: (Education and Outreach): Information about the municipal sustainability program will be available to all levels of the community, students in grades K-20 and university, the general public - as well as internal customers.
Goal #6: (Funding): In addition to reporting on annual GHG inventory, cost savings that directly result from energy and waste conservation will be tracked, and possibly deposited into a Sustainability account to invest in appropriate projects.
Goal # 7: (Parks/Natural Areas): Achieve a 30% forest canopy density in suitable areas of City Parks by 2020, and maintain a set percentage of native vegetative cover goal in Natural Areas.
Goal # 8: (Water): Reduce municipal operations water irrigation use and increase efficiency per acre. Reduce building water use (normalized to account for weather conditions), by 20% by 2020.
Goal # 9: (General Purchasing) Implement environmentally preferable purchasing practices throughout the City organization and establish means to verify departments' compliance with purchasing policy
Goal # 10: Employee Safety and Health: Incorporate a City Wise program fostering a culture of health and safety. Increase the number of employees that participate in the Wellness Program from 45% to 75% by 2020 and increase the number of employees that earn their first Well Day from 414 to 500 by 2010.
Currently we have a voluntary wind program, rebate program,sprinkler audit and CFL/LED exchange program. If anyone is interested in comparing information I think it would be helpful. Thanks.
Rosemarie
Rosemarie Russo
Sustainability Coordinator
City of Fort Collins
United States
Municipal City's Footprint
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Sharon,
The City has a Sustainability team made up of individuals from various departments. The team identified the goal areas and than I tried to set quantitative goals in line with some of our state goals and policies. Your question about the entities setting goals and having the ability to enforce them is a major weakness for us and we are currently working on addressing the issue through performance assessments and by redefining members of the sustainability team. I use a database to track all the all our energy, water GHG etc use and we set the goals off our baseline year of 2005.
Rosemarie
Rosemarie Russo
Sustainability Coordinator
City of Fort Collins
United States
...
Rosemarie,
I am interested in learning how you defined your goals and how you will monitor and measure your progress. Do the entities that set the goals have the power to see they are reached and if not what then? We have some county-wide goals set by departments (e.g. solid waste and greenhouse gas reduction) but nothing as extensive as you have. The first solid waste goal of 50% reduction from the benchmark 10 years ago has been met and a plan to reduce an additional 25% by 20150 year is in the works. A goal to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent of 2008 emissions levels and some other energy related goals have been set in the county's comprehensive plan. I am looking into what other departments have relevant goals so there is an organized list like you have.
Sharon
Sharon Anderson
Environment Program Leader
Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County
United States