Agenda - 11-19-2009 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 While there was a lull in activity during the completion of the Orange County 2030 Comprehensive Plan (during the latter part of 2007 and much of 2008), additional work toward achieving the ER Goal has occurred. The ESAC created two subcommittees to explore commuting options, and to vet the draft action strategies identified by departments. The Benchmarks & Assessment Subcommittee (BAS) reorganized the draft action strategies to group into like topical areas (with links to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan), offered some initial assessment of "doability" with regard to staffing and budgetary needs to refine the action strategies for future implementation consideration. The BAS also worked on the development of metrics to evaluate progress that has been completed (a sample of this action strategy feasibility chart is attached). The attachment lists the regrouped and refined strategies that were identified by all of the advisory boards and departments, and provides one example of how a "policy objective" (or action strategy) could be evaluated for Board consideration. The Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) subcommittee explored employee commuting data, looked at ways to meet the criteria of the Best Workplaces for Commuters Program, and developed a report (attached) to identify incentives, outreach and components of that program into Orange County's workforce. Based on work of the ESAC and its two subcommittees, and research into other similar documents created by local governments across the nation, staff prepared a draft Environmental Leadership Policy (attached). The draft Policy speaks to a number of areas where Orange County is either active, or could become more environmentally responsible. Three commonly cited areas for improvement (all of which are underway to varying degrees) include: • reducing paper consumption, • purchasing vehicles with lower fuel consumption and/or lower emissions, and • improving energy efficiency in County-owned buildings. In addition to the work accomplished through the ESAC, examples of other studies and initiatives have been undertaken building on the ER Goal. An incomplete summary of these activities is attached; some of the highlights are described below • The Solid Waste Department has completed and maintains a substantial effort to increase local recycling efforts and reduce landfill waste. • Orange County has, with its municipal partners Chapel Hill and Carrboro, sponsored a Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory, and is in the process of identifying new strategies to reduce carbon emissions. • Orange County was invited to speak at the annual National Association of County Commissioners (NC Chapter) conference in August on its environmental policies and activities. • The recent State of the Environment Report 2009 incorporated much of the work of the ER Goal into its assessment of 19 key indicators, and this periodic document will likely be another good measuring stick for evaluation of progress toward the ER Goal. • The 2030 Comprehensive Plan, adopted in November 2008, contains a number of references toward green building standards for construction and site design - implementation efforts are underway. • County construction and renovation projects have likewise brought the concepts of energy efficiency and green building to the forefront.