CitiesGoGreen - November 2008 - (Page 24)

— INTERVIEW — Local Government in Action ClimateWise, Business Smart Kathy Collier, Environmental Planner and ClimateWise Coordinator, talks to Lia Ayley about Fort Collins’ ClimateWise program Lia Ayley: How did the ClimateWise program get started? Kathy Collier: ClimateWise started as a federal program in 2000, but by 2001 the EPA decided to funnel its money into Energy Star and drop ClimateWise. At that point, the Fort Collins city government decided to step up and fund ClimateWise by itself. I think they had the foresight to see that this really could make a difference for businesses, both economically and environmentally. It’s been an important program in terms of overall carbon reduction for Fort Collins, and we’re also helping the local business community with their operational efficiency, so there is definitely a cost savings aspect for the businesses as well. We call the businesses involved in the ClimateWise program ‘business partners’ because we are all partners in this effort together to create economic vitality and environmental savings. Our business partners also find the program very beneficial for the networking opportunities and the idea-sharing that goes on among similar sectors of businesses. How does ClimateWise work? ClimateWise is a voluntary program. When a business joins, the city conducts a technical assessment for them. We have an internal cooperative of city departmental experts for this, like a water conservation specialist, a recycling waste reduction person and an energy engineer from our utilities department. We assess the business in four major areas: water, energy, transportation and waste. New lighting is a common recommendation when we’re conducting a lighting audit, 24 computers off at night, things like that. We present our report to the business, and it’s up to them to take the recommendations forward. In addition to the assessment and recommendations, we have a tiered level system that “I think if you open up the relationship with we developed in 2005, with Bronze through Platinum levyour business community right from the getels. The more the partner and go and ask them, ‘What are your needs?’ and their employees participate in ClimateWise, the higher ‘What are you looking for?’ it will definitely the level they achieve and the more recognition they receive grow into a successful program.” as well. We award people a recycled plaque when they that people should necessarily dump a join, and at the Bronze level, for example, new vehicle to buy a hybrid, but if they they have to put their plaque up in their are making a decision about a purchase, lobby so their customers and employees we offer recommendations. We may also know they’re part of ClimateWise. make recommendations about other apTo attain the Gold level they have to pliances, like air handling units—heating, determine their greenhouse gas baseline ventilation, air conditioning and so forth. and set a reduction goal, and we have all We also look at how they can optimize the tools online to help them do this. For their trash services. At one business we noticed their “We call the businesses involved in the dumpster was only a quarter full, yet their trash company ClimateWise program ‘business partners,’ was coming three times a because we are all partners in this effort week to empty it, and their recycling was overflowing. together to create economic vitality and They were able to save about $1,200 a month just by adding environmental savings.” one more recycling container and having their trash emptied once every other week. the Platinum level, they have to impleWe go into a business with our team ment one project per year. This could be and then write a customized recommena no-cost project, or it could be somedations report. Some recommendations thing like a lighting retrofit, where you are very simple, like educating employhave the initial capital costs and then a ees, making sure employees turn their payback period. Generally we see a payNovember 2008 especially when businesses have the old, larger fluorescent tubes. Then we look at transportation reduction. For instance, how are employees commuting? Is the business in the market for a hybrid? Not http://www.energystar.gov http://www.energystar.gov http://citiesgogreen.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CitiesGoGreen - November 2008

CitiesGoGreen - November 2008 Contents In Motion Disaster Housing for $200: The Hexayurt Coming Soon: A Code-Ready Green Building Standard from ASHRAE ICMA Embraces Sustainability Fort Collins, Colorado Interview: ClimateWise, Business Smart 12-for-1 Parking: Bike Corrals Fresno County More Biking and Walking for Better Communities

CitiesGoGreen - November 2008

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