Planning for the Future: Green Initiatives

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What is Sustainability and Greening?- "Sustainable means using methods, systems and

materials that won't deplete resources or harm natural cycles" (Rosenbaum, 1993).

- Sustainability "identifies a concept and attitude in development that looks at a site's natural land, water, and energy resources as integral aspects of the development" (Vieira,1993)

- "Sustainability integrates natural systems with human patterns and celebrates continuity, uniqueness and placemaking" (Early, 1993)

Environmental Management Humans = Environmental Managers

- Conscious Managers – We act in a way where we knowingly manage the environment.

- Unconscious Managers – We act in a way where we are unaware of our environmental impact.

- Sustainability and Greening in Government – is about making choices and decisions with environmental concerns in mind.

Sustainability Current Sustainability Goals

• Ensure compatibility of the transportation system with environmental, social, community planning and energy considerations

• Reduce congestion, improve highway safety, optimize service and operation efficiency, develop intermodal connections and utilize transportation technology advances

Sustainability * Non-Motorized Transportation

- Walking- Biking

* Public Transportation- Urban Public Transportation- Intercity Rail Passenger- Intercity Bus

* Alternative Freight Transportation- Railroads- Commercial Navigation

Bicycles and Pedestrians• IDOT’s policy is to accommodate bicycle and

pedestrian travel, if warranted, as part of all highway improvements

• IDOT Statewide Bicycle Maps

• Funding programs include Transportation Enhancement and CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) Programs

Sustainability Considerations* Social

- Community livability- Equity and cultural values

* Economic- Business viability- Employment- Trade

* Environmental- Pollution concerns- Global climate change- Habitat preservation

Environmental Issues and Challenges

U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Is This Our Future?

How to Solve Our Oil Dependency

• Conserve Energy• Find Alternative Fuel Sources• Alternate Forms of Transportation• New Technology

Example of Alternative Fuel Sources

How to Locate E-85 and Biodiesel Stations

www.GettingAroundIllinois.com

- Blue Board Signage

- Large Display Maps in Rest Areas

- Biofuels Pamphlet

- 2007 – 2008 State Map

Department Vehicles

- Hybrid Ford Escapes

- E-85 capable vehicles

- Implementation of Biodiesel fuel use in the fleet of Heavy Trucks – approximately 1700

How IDOT is Going Green- Major steps to reduce pollution in construction

and reconstruction.

- Offering web and literature on biodiesel and E-85 locations

- Recycling

- Adopt-A-Highway: Love the Land of Lincoln

- Vehicle Purchasing

- Study of Wind Turbines and Solar Energy

Dan Ryan and Kingery Expressways

Unprecedented Action: - Installation of air monitoring equipment at various

locations

- Community groups used to educate residents about asthma and dust

- Diesel powered equipment were fitted with emission control devices and/or used cleaner ultra-low sulfur diesel

- Restrictions on how long diesel equipment could idle

- Heralded as a national model for environmental approach to highway reconstruction projects by the U.S. E.P.A.

Recycling

- Utilized an aluminum sign recycling program that recycles 45,000 to 50,000 highway and freeway signs annually

- Saves over 190,000 gallons of water with this program

- Conserves over 427,000 pounds of aluminum

- Saves tax-payers over $600,000 per year

- IDOT also Recycles:- Barricades- Oil & antifreeze- Paper - Toner cartridges

Adopt-A-Highway: Love the Land of Lincoln- 17,000 Adopt-A-Highway

Volunteers Statewide

- 3,400 Miles of Highway Adopted (along state roadways)

- 32,000 Bags of Litter Removed Annually

- Love the Land of Lincoln – Please Don’t Litter Campaign Bolsters Awareness

Study of Wind Turbine Use

University of Illinois - conducted a feasibility study for the possible use of wind turbines to supply energy to selected rest areas in Illinois

* Study has been completed: There have been 3-5 locations that have been recommended for installation of a Wind Turbine to provide renewable energy and CDB has taken over the management.

University of Illinois Feasibility Studies

• The Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) is an innovative partnership between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

• The ICT builds on the experience of renowned experts in transportation and related fields at the University of Illinois, IDOT, and other universities in Illinois and across the country by providing the appropriate tools and support required for objective research.

• The ICT facilitates the development and timely implementation of cost-effective technologies that improve safety and reliability, reduce congestion and impact on the environment, optimize the utilization of the state transportation infrastructure, and maximize the return from taxpayers’ dollars.

IDOT and the Exploration of Solar Power

• Solar energy, like wind farms in Illinois are continuing to gain interest and we believe the potential exists to off-set our electrical demands at many of our rest area facilities or other Department facilities. The Department has well over 60+ facilities that might potentially benefit from solar energy.

• The potential benefits include a reduction in operating costs for the Department in electrical demand, as well as reductions in pollution from fossil fuel powered electrical plants. Additionally, the educational benefits would be significant as IDOT can educate travelers in Illinois through observation of the solar panels and static informational displays about the benefits of solar power.

IDOT’s Exploration of Solar Energy

•IDOT is looking into the feasibility of similar off-sets from the use of solar energy. IDOT want to expand the study to not only cover our Rest Areas, but also our Department Headquarters facilities or other Department facilities with heavy electrical demands (e.g., pump stations).

IDOT and Solar Energy

• Solar energy, like wind farms in Illinois are continuing to gain interest and we believe the potential exists to off-set our electrical demands at many of our rest area facilities or other Department facilities.

• The Department has well over 60+ facilities that might potentially benefit from solar energy.

Green Government Coordinating Council

- IDOT has won awards for “Innovative Projects” from the Council

- Council promotes the incorporation of pollution prevention and resource conservation practices into government management and operations

- The Council works with state agencies to:-Increase green purchasing -Reduce pollution and waste-Facilitate green building practices -Promote green policieshttp://www.standingupforillinois.org/green/GGCC.php

IDOT: Educating and Serving the Public

• IDOT has created educational brochures for the public – Green Initiatives Brochure – details IDOT’s

Green Initiatives – Fuel Conservation Brochure – Tips for motoring

public on ways to save fuel while driving• Proper maintenance of your vehicle can conserve

fuel• How to conserve gas while driving• Environmentally friendly facts to keep in my

mind when purchasing a vehicle• Exploring other modes of transportation

IDOT: Educating and Serving the Public • IDOT participates in local outreach to

communities with CSS – Contact Sensitive Solutions

• Meets with local civic groups: Kiwanis clubs, Lions Club, Etc.

• Conducts radio & newspaper interviews

• Promotes Sustainability and Fuel Conservation on IDOT internet site

Fuel Conservation

• Link on IDOT’s internet site under “General Info.”

• http://www.dot.il.gov/

• The link gives information on:• Alternative Fuel vehicles• Fuel Conservation• Performance Parts • State and Federal Tax Incentives• Future Hybrid Cars

Promoting PrePass

- PrePass - An automatic vehicle identification system that enables participating transponder-equipped commercial vehicles to be pre-screened at designated weigh facilities, port-of-entry facilities, etc.

- Similar to I-Pass

- Benefits- Time Savings- Fuel Savings - Reduces CO2 emissions- Overall = more environmentally friendly http://www.prepass.com/Pages/Home.aspx

Rain Barrel Pilot Program

IDOT District #2, in coordination with the Green Government Coordinating Council, will be implementing a pilot program for the installation of Rain Barrels at the following rest areas:

 Interstate 80 - Mississippi Rapids - 1 mile East of Iowa line

(Mile Post 1) – Welcome Center Interstate 90 - Turtle Creek – 2 miles South of Wisconsin

line (Mile Post 2) – Welcome Center  Interstate 74 – 2 Krisdala Baka locations – 28 miles

Southeast of Rock Island (Mile Post 28) Interstate 39 – Willow Creek – 16 miles North of LaSalle

(Mile Post 85)

What is a Rain Barrel?

Capture

Store

Release

Collection of Water

• Rain barrel (a.k.a. cistern) is not something new

• Residents of some countries rely on rain water collected from their roofs daily

• Technology and water from the faucet have turned us away from using rain barrels

• The time has come to reconsider rain barrels because…

Rain Barrel Benefits

- Provides clean water for outdoor uses

- Conserves water and other natural resources

- Decreases the chance or magnitude of a flood

- Minimizes the effects of drought

- Decreases water pollution contributions

Uses of Rain Barrels

Watering Garden

Washing Car Washing Windows

ALL FOR FREE!

Watering Lawn

Additional Benefits

In turn, rain barrels conserve the water that comes from the ground (or land surface in some cases) into your faucet

Decrease electric bill

Decrease water bill

Decrease sewer billVS.

Greening Your Municipality

Where are You Now?

What Greening Efforts have you implemented in your communities so far?

What ideas do you have?

Greening Your Organization: Getting Started • How many municipalities participate is some type of

Adopt-A-Highway Program?

• 1st – What is the greatest type of pollution in your local environment now?

• 2nd – What do you have for resources? College professors, engineers, preservation issues• By looking at these aspects, you can get an idea of

where you’re at and where you need to go

Greening Your Organization

3rd Assess Your Recycling Efforts:- Paper, plastic, cans, etc.- Tracking - Can you show progress?

4th Know Your Area:- Development – what are the industrial trends in your area?- Population Growth- Long Term Goals – A Vision

Greening Your Organization

5th Inclusion:- Include: civic leaders, governmental leaders, businesses and environmental groups- Work with other municipalities that have already made inroads- See what works/what doesn’t - Create committees that are best suited to carry out certain issues and create a strategic plan

Last Step Implementation Implement Plan

Thank You

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