07-20-2009 Stimulus will help South Bend cut energy consumption

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office, to leverage funding and implement wider-range policies and programs,” Gilot said. “Once it is developed, we hope to compete for additional stimulus dollars geared toward green energy. They could include a hydroelectric dam at Century Center, expanded tree planting to increase the City’s urban forest canopy for potential carbon cap-and-trade credits or converting City-owned street lights to energy-saving LEDs.” The City of South Bend now spends nearly $7 million per year on natural gas and electricity for municipal buildings as well as for fuel for its vehicular fleet. Based on experiences from other communities, it is expected the office could cut energy expenses by $2 million, or more than 25 percent. A public-private task force, the Green Ribbon Commission advises South Bend on the Mayor’s 2008 “Cool Cities” commitment, which includes a pledge to reduce the causes of global warming in line with the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The Green Ribbon Commission also will propose policies to reduce energy costs and consumption, and recommend sustainable operating practices for adoption by city government, private businesses and local citizens. Objectives include: ?Creating an inventory of South Bend’s local carbon footprint. ?Recommending emissions-reduction goals and timetables. ?Finding best practices that will improve efficiency and quality of life. The Green Ribbon Commission will help City officials evaluate approaches, prioritize outcomes and choose the most cost-effective solutions. The City of South Bend already has taken steps to reduce global warming and improve the environment through its efforts for greater efficiency in government services, such as: ?Converting traffic signals citywide from incandescent bulbs to energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs), reaping nearly $2 million in energy savings over the next decade. The 85 percent reduction in energy demand is the equivalent of planting 5,600 trees in the impact of reducing nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions. This was the first project on this scale or scope statewide. ?Working with the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing to heat the city’s greenhouses with exhaust from high-performance computers. ?Conserving fuel through the use of Global Positioning Satellite systems and Automatic Vehicle Location software to optimize routes for city crews. ?Collecting yard waste at the Organic Resource Facility, turning them into compost for use by residents and saving $284,000 in landfill costs. ?Re-using biosolids generated in the Wastewater Treatment Plant by applying them on area farmland as fertilizer. ?Saving energy costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant by burning the methane gas (produced as a by-product of the sewage treatment process) for power. ?Incorporating green solutions, such as rain gardens and bioswales, its long-term control plan to reduce combined sewer overflows. In addition to the Cool Cities commitment, South Bend has been a Tree City USA for the past 11 years and was named a recipient in 2008 of the Green City Award from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. The Green Ribbon Commission is chaired by Jim Mazurek, director of sustainability at the University of Notre Dame, and Mike Keen, director of sustainability at Indiana University South Bend. - 30 -