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City leaders want to go green while also saving money
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
LARGO – City commission members gleamed at the idea of being a more environmentally friendly community but don’t think the city needs to spend any money for recognition of its efforts.
City staff members told the commissioners during a March 11 workshop of several organizations that recognize governmental efforts to aid the environment. Most of them, however, require applications and payment of fees of several thousand dollars.
Mayor Pat Gerard said she believes the city could easily win a “Silver” award from the Florida Green Building Coalition, a designation already held by Pinellas County government and cities of Dunedin and St. Petersburg.
Pointing to the need to hire someone to manage the city’s “green” efforts at an annual cost of up to $40,000 is too expensive, said Commissioner Woody Brown.
“We don’t need a piece of paper,” he said. “If we do it right we’ll know we did it right.”
Director of Public Works Brian Usher explained the staff person would be needed to seek the “silver” award from another organization, the United States Green Building Council. He said it is a non-profit organization “committed to expanding sustainable building practices.”
But, he warned, “It is like accreditation on steroids.” He said this designation requires a city to adopt specific types of building codes, include recycled products in all city purchases. The city would have to press all builders to use more recycled materials, build to environmentally friendly standards and to use energy-saving measures both in construction procedures and in building designs.
John Hamilton, city facilities manager, noted that the Internal Revenue Service provides incentives for businesses to adopt “green” practices.
The Green Building Council offers designations, depending on points earned by a municipality, of certification: silver, gold and platinum.
A consensus of commissioners pointed the city staff at preparing a resolution for the city to adopt at its March 18 meeting, but not to expect significant funding for whatever course the city takes toward becoming more “Green.”
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Article published on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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