Ideas from Other Areas

• Missouri
• Illinois
• New York
• Oregon
  
• Utah
• Australia
• Brazil
  
  

  Missouri
  Kansas City's 10,000 Rain Gardens program is a public/private initiative with the goal of reducing the runoff that pollutes waterways by planting rain gardens using native plants. The program protects water quality and also reduces greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increased citizens' awareness that they could personally help improve water quality.

Illinois
Chicago
planted a rooftop garden on city hall which, on average, is seven degrees cooler than surrounding roofs on a year-round basis and as much as 30 degrees cooler in summer. The city offered ten $5,000 grants to help residents and small businesses finance the planning installation of green roofs. By the end of 2006, there were more than 250 public and private green roofs totaling more than one million square feet under design or construction in Chicago. Other green initiatives include

• A solar thermal grants program;
  
• A giveaway of 500,000 energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs);
  
• A waste-to-profit network that enables waste products from some companies to become raw materials for other industries within the network;
  
• A newly opened household chemical and computer recycling center;
  
• Mayor Daley's GreenWorks Awards recognizing private green building projects.

  New York
  Sustainable South Bronx
  in the heart of New York City is encouraging the development of "Green Roofs" in order to offset the Urban Heat Island effect, the increased city heat caused by modification of the land surface by urban
  development. A green roof is a layer of soil and foliage
  on top of a building.
  

  Oregon
  Portland is considered one of the leading sustainable
  cities in the country. In 1979 it was one of the first to
  adopt an energy policy emphasizing energy efficiency
  and renewables. Portland is also a leader in global warming and peak oil planning.

Utah
Salt Lake City started the e2Business program to recognize and support business owners that reduce resource consumption. Participants get free advertising under the e2business brand, free consultation and media credits.

Australia
Sydney Water, a statutory State-owned corporation, provides drinking water, recycled water, wastewater services and stormwater services to the people in the greater Sydney area. It is perhaps the best example of an integrated sustainable water system in the world.

Brazil
Curitiba, Brazil is looked upon by urban planners
and environmentalists around the world as a role model for city planning. Anchored on enlightened transportation policies,the city has combined substantial growth with sustainability.

7/08

For additional advice and information, contact resourcecenter@anjec.org.