NEW - Cleveland Sustainability Program web page
Also - Akron Greenprint for the Future page
On May 26, 2005, then-Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell introduced Andrew Watterson as the city's first sustainability programs manager. Watterson is a native of Greater Cleveland and has experience constructing green buildings, including the Cleveland Environmental Center.
The City of Cleveland's Sustainability Programs Manager will help the city develop innovative, environmentally friendly ways for the city to save money, lessen its ecological footprint and improve public health. Watterson is housed in the Department of Public Utilities, and will work with all city departments, City Council, and partners in the community to create interdisciplinary programs to make Cleveland a greener, healthier and more prosperous city.
"Through sustainability principles, the city can be more efficient and effective at delivering quality service to residents and helping shape Cleveland's future," Watterson says.
Watterson adds that the goals of the sustainability program also include introducing sustainability principles to city employeess and to instill a sustainability culture through education.
Progress as of August 2006 (information provided by the Sustainability Program)
Fleets
Anti-Idling Policy:
Idling creates pollution and wastes valuable resources. An anti-idling policy (introduced in June 2006) mandates city employees to turn off their vehicles to save money and reduce emissions. With a fleet of 4,900 vehicles and $5.4 million annual gas and diesel bills, the city hopes the new anti-idling policy will save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Hybrid Vehicles:
Muni-owned Cleveland Public Power has purchased eight hybrid vehicles that save on fuel and help to protect the environment. The city will continue to purchase hybrid vehicles when possible.
Energy
Renewable Energy:
The City of Cleveland is seeking renewable and sustainable energy options as part of an economical and robust electrical infrastructure.
Wind Power:
The 2-year wind monitoring project is continuing on the water intake Crib located in Lake Erie. For more information. Wind power is clean, renewable, and free.
Procurement/Purchasing
Develop policies to encourage the purchase of:
- Regional products
- Recycled products
- Products that conserve energy
- Recyclable Products
Health and Environment
Planning and Leadership Roles:
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Storm water management
- Green space
- Transportation options
- Commercial recycling
- 26 recycling drop off centers
- Yard waste pick up
Construction Waste Management:
The Cleveland Division of Water now requires all contractors to divert 50% of C&D waste generated on projects from landfills.
- Saves space in landfills
- Provides materials for manufacturers
- Recycles building materials
Help set the agenda for the city's sustainability manager: What should be the priorities in making Cleveland greener, healthier and more prosperous? Leave a comment.
To contact Andrew Watterson or call 216-664-2444 xt. 5582; to reach his assistant Philena Seldon xt. 5586.
Resources
"Connecting Cleveland: 2020 Citywide Plan" includes sustainability
Green-collar jobs for urban America
Why green urbanism makes sense for Cleveland
stormwater regionalism
Susan Miller Says:I know I could have put this in the CSO section, but I think that after speaking with Andrew Watterston following his recent presentation, it belongs here. Watterson addressed a group of AIA members at Strosacker Auditorium where he spoke about onsite stormwater management along with other sustainability issues he is working on for the city.
Watterson said that despite the city's codes that require downspouts to be connected to storm sewers, his office has printed and distributes materials encouraging homeowners to disconnect their downspouts. Mayor Jackson talks about regionalism, and I see this disconnection agenda as a way for him to move that idea forward with cooperation not only from local municipal officials, but with the citizenry of the region.
I understand from speaking with Genevieve Ray that a pilot disconnection was part of the Doan Brook Watershed Study, and it produced negligible results, but it was apparently only one block of homes in Shaker Heights that experimented with the disconnect.
I believe that we could substantially reduce stormwater runoff and CSOs that run from outfalls along our river, lake and brooks in Northeast Ohio by encouraging downspout disconnects and educating the business sector and homeowners about onsite stormwater management. You can see where the outfalls are here: http://www.neorsd.org/cmweb/detail/51/NEORSD-CSO-Locations.pdf
Codes need to be reviewed and updated. A great example is the code in Cleveland Heights that does not allow a homeowner who purchases a home that has asphalt or cement driveway to return it to gravel or use pavers. This sort of thinking needs to be reconsidered. It seems to me that less water in the sewer system might reduce the volume that NEORSD has to treat. On rainy days, when the storm sewers are full, reducing the volume should reduce the scouring effects on brooks. Ultimately more water being filtered by the soil means less being filtered by the NEORSD. No? It works in most other cities. Why not here? Wasn’t it our very own Burning River that inspired and leveraged the seeming toothless Clean Water Act?
Someone please explain why this widespread practice is still in effect in Northeast Ohio when it is illegal in many other US cities.
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