Thursday, October 23, 2008
News ARC announces 'green' certification for local governments
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 12:23 AM
The Atlanta Regional Commission today launched a program that offers voluntary "green" certification for local governments.
From the ARC, the most badass planning agency in the world (take that, Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Organization!):
The Green Communities Certification is intended to foster greater environmental stewardship by recognizing local governments that invest in programs leading to a more sustainable region. While some statewide programs exist around the U.S. and many individual governments have developed sustainability programs to reduce their environmental footprint, ARC’s Green Communities program is the first regional “green” certification program in the country.
Cities and counties that choose to participate can win points if they implement measures among 10 different categories including green building, green power and water-use reduction and efficiency. Each measure, depending on its difficulty and effectiveness, is worth five to 10 points. The number of points the county or local government racks up determines what level certification it receives.
So what's it going to take to convince a city or county — many of whom are cash strapped in these tough times — to pursue such an initiative? Maybe just hammering into their brains that the "cost" of these programs is really an investment. And that thinking long-term isn't just responsible — it also saves them cash by slashing energy bills and maintenance costs. Sure, they'll have to work with the groups or stakeholders who oppose the changes — i.e. the DeKalb County Toilet Wars© — to reach a compromise. But it's worth it.
The commission begins accepting applications in January 2009. For more information about the program and to view the application, click here.
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