The following are some highlights from the Energy & Environment Best Practices Guide produced at the U.S. Mayor's National Summit on Energy & Environment held in Chicago May 11-12, 2006. These ideas and practices initiated by cities across the nation to improve their environment and their economy should inspire those of us working for a more sustainable Northeast Ohio.

1. Albuquerque’s Air Aware-Gas Cap Exchange Project

• 641 leaking, missing, off-spec or faulty gas caps were exchanged for new ones
• Estimated volatile organic compound reduction is 58.8 tons
• Funded with Special Project dollars from the U.S. EPA.
• Contact info: E-mail & Phone number: (505) 768-2625

Why Northeast Ohio should do the same
Our region has some of the most polluted air in the country, and is now facing a strict timetable to develop a plan or face huge fines from EPA. This program could be part of a combination of control measures. Read more.

2.  Portland's TravelSmart Hub Project

• Uses direct mail, individualized marketing, and hands-on clinics and workshops to help those residents who want to walk, bike, take transit or carpool more often
• Total project cost was $500,000 — including $227,000 for materials and services

Why Northeast Ohio should do the same
TravelSmart reduced solo trips by nine percent, the equivalent of 24 million vehicle miles for an annual savings of more than 700,000 gallons of gas and 13,630,000 pounds of CO2.

Who should pay for it?
NOACA — the region's transportation planning body is the conduit for federal transportation dollars. NOACA has yet to follow the lead of many other regions that use the federal pot of funds dedicated to Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) on innovative programs like TravelSmart to reduce air pollution and traffic (historically, NOACA's $10 million annual CMAQ appropriation is used mainly for traffic signal projects).  

3.  Chapel Hill's Carbon Reduction Program

• Pioneered in England, this program challenges participants to substantially reduce existing levels of carbon dioxide emissions.
• The Town Council will determine how the reductions in carbon emissions can be made in the most cost-effective manner.
• University students and faculty developed an inventory of CO2 releases from the city
• Replacing the Chapel Hill Transit fleet with hybrid buses, replacing heating and cooling units with more efficient models, installing vestibule doors in public buildings.

Why Northeast Ohio should do the same?

As mayors continue to sign the U.S. Climate Protection Agreement, city councils can support the development of a local, sustainable economy by encouraging citizens, universities, and businesses to participate in a systematic approach to reducing carbon emissions. Chapel Hill's goal is a 60 percent reduction by 2050.