Sustainability Sustainability

Goals:Goals:

• Educate and inform• Build support for sustainability initiatives • Increase involvement throughout the

organization• Identify the impact of these efforts on

departments

Sustainability:Sustainability:

“Choices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs”- UN Definition

SustainabilitySustainability

In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”

- From Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy

SustainabilitySustainability

“Then I say the earth belongs to each…generation during its course, fully and in its own right, no generation can contract debts greater

than may be paid during the course of its own existence.”- Thomas Jefferson, Sept. 6th 1789

What isnWhat isn’’t Sustainability?t Sustainability?

- It isn’t about saving the Earth, it is about saving us and our children

- It isn’t about costing more, it is about life cycle costing and financial stewardship

SocialSocial

EconomicEconomic EnvironmentEnvironment

Triple Bottom Line

We are in good company…

At last count, 691 mayors from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, representing a total population of over 74,468,597 citizens have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Agreement.

Kansas City, Missouri

Prairie Village

This makes good business sense

We are in good companyWe are in good company……

We are in good companyWe are in good company……

The ICMA Executive Board adopted Sustainability that the ICMA Executive Board has adopted it as “the issues of our age.” In February 2007, the Board decided to make Sustainability a priority issue and directed staff to launch efforts to position ICMA as a leader on sustainability

On July 16, 2007 at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia, 12 pioneering counties representing 17 million people launched “Cool Counties”

Johnson County: Why are we doing this?Johnson County: Why are we doing this?

• Our citizens want it– Tied for third, along with the Parks and Recreation District, with 24% of

citizens stating in the 2007 Citizen Survey that the County should emphasis protection of the environment in the next two years

• Imperative– In the best interest of the community– To compete for the workforce of the future, sustainability is key

• Lead by example

• We have a responsibility as stewards of the community’s resources– We want to be part of the solution

Sustainability CommitteeSustainability Committee• Dean Allman, JCL• Alice Amrein, Transit• Neal Angrisano, Facilities• Beth Brandel, JCW• Julie Coon, Environmental• Jack Clegg, ITS• Connie Cogswell, HSA• Chuck Ferguson, Transit• Tom Franzen, OFM• Georgia Gavito, Facilities• Paul Greely, Planning • Jill Jolicoeur, BFP• Lee Kellenberger, Stormwater• Cindy Kemper, Environmental• Lindsey Kenkel, Facilities• Kent Lage, Storwmater/Public Works• Megan Laha, CMO• Jennifer Logan, Environmental• Bill Maasen, Park and Recreation

District.

• John Mahin, OFM• Jerry Mallory, Planning/Codes• Mike Meadors, Park and Recreation

District• John Metzler, JCW• Rick Miller, Extension Council• David Morando, Med-Act• John O’Neil, JCW• David Peel, Planning• Ed Peterson, BOCC• Sarah Plinsky, CMO• Fred Trease, Environmental• Robert Tucker, CMO• Leon Vinci, Public Health• Paul Welcome, Appraiser• Chelsey Wasem, Extension Council• Joe Waters, Facilities• Carolyn Weeks, JCL• Kurt Winters, JCW• Brett Wood, OFM

Johnson County Efforts UnderwayJohnson County Efforts Underway

• Lighting Retrofit• Hybrids• Sunset Building• Wastewater

– Grease Traps – covert digester gas to electricity

– Land Application of Bio-solids

InventoryInventory

• Document what we already do• Measure and quantify our success• Develop performance measures and

empower managers and leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions

Sustainability Initiatives:Sustainability Initiatives:

• Facilities Design, Operation and Maintenance

• Waste Reduction• Green Procurement• Integration of Sustainability in County

planning and processes

Facilities Design, Operation & Facilities Design, Operation & MaintenanceMaintenance

• Goal – Long Term:– Achieve carbon neutrality in all new and renovated

buildings by 2030• Goals – Short Term:

– Update the Sustainability Guidelines for Facilities Design• Expand to include all County construction activities• Present for BOCC consideration

– Establish Sustainability Guidelines for Operation and Maintenance

• Include all County properties – Investigate potential for Sustainability Audits

Waste ReductionWaste Reduction• Goal – Eliminate waste for disposal from county

government operations by 2020• Zero Waste Organizations

– Certain US Army installations– Interface Carpets, Goodyear Tire, Wal-Mart, Toyota,

Nike– San Jose, CA

• Jo Co Solid Waste Plan – lead by example• First steps

– expand recycling in county buildings– departmental waste audits

Green ProcurementGreen Procurement• Total Cost of Ownership: Best Value

• Johnson County has the ability to impact the vendor community because of the investments we make.– We can make an impact by harnessing our buying

power.

• Procurement is a vehicle for promoting green initiatives throughout the County.

Integration of Sustainability in Integration of Sustainability in County planning and processesCounty planning and processes

• BOCC Strategic Goals• State of County Services Reports• Budget Process

– Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)• Strategic Facilities Master Plan• Other initiatives that support sustainability

in the organization– Possible revolving sustainability fund

Culture ChangeCulture Change

• Success occurs one action and one person at a time

• We need to create an environment that empowers individual innovation

• This will change how we deliver services.• This is not a new program; it is integrated

into everything we do and every decision we make.

Next Steps: Next Steps:

• Inventory of Current Efforts• Initiative working groups will develop plans

and initiatives– Some requiring policy or procedural changes

• Report back to BOCC and E-team on regular basis

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow

it from our children"- Chief Seattle