Progress 09/01/04 to 11/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Reports produced for municipalities include: 1. Municipal Asset Inventory for Barnstable County, Massachusetts: Findings and Recommendations. December 26, 2006 2.Green Community Technologies for Franklin, New York: Findings and Recommendations. December 14, 2006. 3.Green Building Options for Franklin, New York: Findings and Recommendations. December 14, 2006. 4.General Accounting Standards Board 34 (GASB 34) Municipal Asset Inventory for Hancock, NH. April 27, 2007. 5.Alternative Approaches to Wastewater System Expansion in Hinesburg, VT. October 12, 2005. 6.Municipal Asset Inventory for Litchfield, Maine: Findings and Recommendations. September 8, 2006. 7. Municipal Asset Inventory for Thetford, Vermont: Findings and Recommendations. November 16, 2006. In addition, we have produced a professionally designed brochure and a 10 minute narrated CD for viewing by municipal officials. We have obtained a registered trademark for Green Community Technologies.
PARTICIPANTS: Key individuals who worked on this project include: Shanna Ratner, Principal Investigator, Yellow Wood Associates; Melissa Levy, Associate, Yellow Wood Associates, John Hoover, Associate, Yellow Wood Associates, Lee Wood, Junior Associate, Yellow Wood Associates, and subcontractors Ann R. Holland and Jeff Forward. Other participants include: Stone Environmental, Gotham City Graphics, and Downs, Rachlin, Martin. Partnerships have been formed with EPA Region 1 Community Energy Challenge and the municipal governments of Franklin, NY, Litchfield, ME, Hancock, NH, Hinesburg, Thetford, and Richmond, VT, Richmond and Barnstable County, MA and with the Adirondack North Country Association, Sustainable Hudson Valley, and the Washington Electric Cooperative.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences were the municipal officials and citizenry of the seven partner communities who participated in shaping the Green Community Technologies service.
Impacts
Through this project, we have learned that communities recognize the value of a service that educates them regarding a wide range of infrastructure alternatives delivered by a contractor that has no vested interest in what they choose to implement. It is essential to get the discussion of alternatives on the table as early as possible in the design process. A holistic, systems-based approach to infrastructure planning allows communities to identify cost savings measures that have positive environmental and social impacts. Some communities require grant support to pay for these services, while others are able to find money in their municipal budgets. Communities proceed through the process more rapidly when they have a dedicated local coordinator. Initial community engagement with a local enthusiast and supporter is essential to success. By and large, communities embrace and benefit from a participatory approach to infrastructure assessment. The inventory and assessment
phase can be very valuable in helping communities understand the entire system of infrastructure and areas where problems and opportunities intersect. Meeting GASB 34 requirements as part of the Green Community Technologies process saves communities money and reduces the amount of work needed from internal and external auditors. Research into alternatives provides effective guidance to communities in choosing and shaping their infrastructure investments, and puts communities in the driver's seat when dealing with contractors hired to implement. We have also learned how important it is to be able to provide communities with assistance in building a bid list of contractors with bona fide experience in alternative approaches to infrastructure implementation. Without this, communities turn to the contractors with whom they are familiar who then tell them why they can't do anything differently. This is a major stumbling block to effective implementation of alternative infrastructure
approaches in rural communities, and one that we are learning to address. Specific communities are implementing various improvements in municipal infrastructure related to energy efficiency, green building, water conservation, and stormwater reduction and related services based on recommendations received through Green Community Technologies.
Publications
- Hecht, Daniel. (2007, July 24). Yellow Wood: Charting a Path to Durable Communities. Barre/Montpelier Times Argus.
- Hecht, Daniel. (2007, July 24). Yellow Wood: Charting a Path to Durable Communities. Rutland Herald.
- Holland, Ann Ruzow. (2007, July/August). Innovation Economy Comes to Eight Towns: The GCT Process and the Triple Bottom Line. Empire State Report, 19-23.
- Holland, Ann Ruzow. (2007, July/August). Innovation Economy Comes to Eight Towns: The GCT Process and the Triple Bottom Line. Talk of the Towns, 25-29.
- Holland, Ann Ruzow. (2007, August). Innovation Economy Comes to Eight Towns: The GCT Process and the Triple Bottom Line. Public Management Magazine, 21-25.
- Ratner, Shanna (2004, Winter). Exploring Alternative Technologies to Meet Small Town Infrastructure Needs. Small Communities Quarterly.
- Efficiency Vermont. Town of Richmond Water Pollution Control Facility, 2006.
|
Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Since June 15, 2004 we have recruited 8 Phase Two Green Community Technology (GCT) partner communities in six states through an extensively advertised RFP. Initial on site meetings were held in all eight communities. Six have signed letters of agreement, one more is in process, and the final is delayed due to an infrastructure crisis. Communities range in size from population 3,000 to 53,000. One contract with Hinesburg, Vermont regarding alternatives to wastewater system expansion has been successfully completed with assistance from Stone Environmental, technologists. The municipal technology checklist has been expanded and revised. Inventory and assessment forms, data entry forms, and databases have been created, pre-tested, revised, and distributed to communities. Combined GASB34 and GCT inventory forms, data entry forms and databases have been created with input from an accountant, revised and distributed to communities. A trademark application for GCT has been
submitted. Marketing efforts have included: additions to the YWA website, numerous presentations at municipal officer training events in MA, NY, and VT, Vermont Environmental Consortium, Environmental Business Association of New York, Sustainable Communities Conference, What Works! Conference, and elsewhere; meetings with EPA Region 1 and staff of NYSERDA, OSC, and Dept. of State Quality Communities in Albany, New York. A variety of slide shows and handouts have been created and used extensively. We have worked with Foresight Science and Technology on developing our business model and market research. We have qualified as a contractor to Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC). We are currently pursuing a contract with MTC and a facilitation/research role in the Energy Smart Initiative in the Adirondacks. Research has begun into potential phase 3 partners including: regional planning organizations, regional environmental organizations/institutions, foundations with an
environmental focus, federal and state government, and private sector firms. Cross marketing opportunities with two private sector firms are under negotiation.
Impacts
By using a systems approach, we are changing the way municipalities think about their infrastructure and related investments. In Hinesburg, Vermont, we identified innovative cost-effective and environmentally beneficial alternatives to expanding a centralized sewage treatment plant through a combination of separation of sources, decentralized treatment, conservation and reuse, and new treatment procedures.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|