Local governments in the 10-county Atlanta region have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to sustainability, an issue of significant importance to our current and future success. So important is sustainability that in 2009, the Atlanta Regional Commission launched a program to recognize municipalities that reduce their environmental footprint.
Five years later, ARC’s Green Communities program boasts 18 certified “green” cities and counties that represent more than 25 percent of metro Atlanta’s jurisdictions and 60 percent of the region’s residents.
The Green Communities program is among the first of its kind in the nation and one of the most ambitious. That many metro Atlanta governments voluntarily participate is a testament to their commitment to protect our natural environment and operate more efficiently.
Local governments are leading the way to a more sustainable region by example, modeling green practices and increasing awareness of how “being green” can contribute to the bottom line. Many practices can be adopted by businesses and residents as well.
Local governments report Green Communities practices have resulted in financial savings, enhanced quality of life for residents and increased community pride in being a place known to care about its environment.
Each year, cities and counties earn Green Communities certification (or re-certification every four years) from ARC by implementing practices and policies in 10 categories. They range from energy efficiency and green building to transportation and water efficiency.
In 2014, Decatur became the first local government to reach Platinum certification, the highest level possible; Gwinnett was the first county to reach Gold certification, and Sandy Springs became certified for the first time. Following is a sampling of the 2014 Green Communities’ accomplishments:
• Alpharetta encourages commercial and residential developers to go green through its Community Green Building Incentives program.
• Cherokee County requires outdoor lighting that is energy efficient and reduces sky glow.
• Decatur has committed to building LEED-certified facilities. Fire Station No. 1, the latest, is designed to achieve a 33-percent reduction in energy consumption and water usage.
• DeKalb County became the nation’s first local government to capture methane landfill gas to produce electricity, natural gas and compressed natural gas at a single site.
• Fulton County upgraded traffic signals on Fulton Industrial Boulevard that reduced travel time by 16 percent and volatile organic compound emissions by 28 percent.
• Gwinnett County will conduct water audits on 113 government buildings by the end of 2018, anticipating the ensuing conservation measures will save approximately 1.3 million gallons of water per year. That’s enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• Sandy Springs developed a citywide bicycle, pedestrian and trail plan and invested more than $8 million to build new sidewalks.
Over the past five years, the seven local governments recertified as Green Communities this year have cumulatively produced 155 million kilowatt hours of green power; protected 2,475 additional acres of green space; cultivated 32 community gardens; collected 910 tons of household hazardous waste; generated $1.32 million in energy savings, and saved or reused 49 million gallons of water
The Atlanta region continues to distinguish itself as a green region in other ways as well. Just this month, the U.S. Green Building Council ranked Georgia eighth in square feet of LEED space per state resident. Metro Atlanta leads the nation in sales of Nissan Leaf electric vehicles, while Georgia ranks No. 2 in overall electric vehicle ownership.
The Atlanta region is well on its way to being one of the greenest in the country.
Jane Hayse is director of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Center for Livable Communities.
