CitiesGoGreen -September 2008 - (Page 15) some of the lowest energy costs in the nation? And what can other local governments learn from the Arlington County experience? A legacy of innovation Jay Fisette is a member of the Arlington County Board and a long-standing advocate of the county’s environmental policies. As he tells it, Arlington County was considering topics like density, mixed-use development, and transit-centered transportation years before terms like ‘Smart Growth’ were coined. As far back as the 1960’s, a forward- It takes intentional institutionalization of effort at all looking group of elected officials and levels of local government to bring about real change. citizen activists took advantage of the county’s planned development of the metro to minimize its carbon footprint. Cities system to undertake a master planning pro- like Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Ann Arcess of the entire county. They considered bor, Michigan had already created enissues such as density, proximity to metro ergy manager positions to assist them in stations and mixed-use development the calculation and management of their around transit centers, among others. energy use, and for Arlington County it Many of the decisions they made would seemed the next logical next step in a later have substantial positive impacts on series of smart decisions based on sound the design and livability of the region. As management. In 2000, the county hired a result, current leaders like Fisette have John Morrill to fill the position (see interinherited a culture and community that view, pg 16). Speaking of the county’s decision to value effective land use planning and the hire an energy manager, Fisette emphaintegration of progressive sustainability measures. Fisette says concepts like densi- sizes that good ideas don’t necessarily ty can still be controversial, but in general have their own intrinsic momentum. In people in Arlington County are receptive because past experience has taught them Arlington County has dense development that if changes are done right, quality of within walking distance of the Metro line, life will only be enhanced. surrounded by traditional homes. The bequest of an inspired and forwardlooking master plan made for a smooth shift of focus to energy-related concerns like consumption patterns, energy efficiency, and climate action planning. In the late 1990’s, Arlington County’s Environment and Energy Conservation Commission (a board-appointed commission of Arlington citizens) recommended that the county hire an energy manager to get a better handle on the county’s energy use and impacts. The commission wanted more clarity around the county’s energy consumption and guidance around how Lessons learned from the Arlington County experience Institutionalize your goals Reaching energy efficiency targets and creating a successful climate action plan requires active support from local government. Lead by example and institutionalize your decisions and goals across departmental lines. Show you are ‘walking the talk.’ Support community involvement In Arlington County everyone is familiar with the term, ‘the Arlington Way.’ According to Jay Fisette, this phrase reminds those in local government to be as inclusive as possible in the decisionmaking process, and to foster an ongoing culture of involvement in the community. It also speaks to the importance of creating obvious points of entry so that citizens, residents, and businesses, are engaged and inspired participants. Arlington County has a very active citizenry, many of them committed proponents of the county’s progressive environmental policies. There is a strong citizen environmental advocacy group, and also a local nonprofit organization called ‘Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment,’ (ACE). This predominantly volunteer-led group recently initiated a ‘Green Living Challenge,’ inviting community members to adopt greener lifestyles by personally conserving energy, reducing auto dependence, consuming responsibly, etc. More than 500 individuals have participated in the increasingly popular challenge. The Virginia Municipal League’s ‘Green Government Challenge’ was largely inspired by this local initiative. Be nice John Morrill has two words of advice for other energy managers: Be nice. When a position like energy manager is first instituted, he says, the manager can ruffle feathers or even cause significant conflict. An energy manager will inevitably be proposing that things be done differently, which can easily be perceived as a threat. Morrill stresses that collaboration and effective delivery of new ideas and concepts are essential in building trust between involved entities. As he puts it, “people skills are as important as science and number skills in this job.” September 2008 .com 15
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