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Project Categories
As a Sustainable Skylines partner, an area will select projects in at least five of the seven major categories of sustainable actions. It is expected that measurable reductions can be achieved within a 3 year period.
- Central City Livability
- Stationary and Area Sources
- Energy and Climate Change
- Land Use Transportation Strategies
- Diesel Engines Emission Reduction
- Green Building and Green Building Development
- Off-road/ Non-road Sources (emission reductions)
Central City Livability
The city is designed to support and enhance the activities of daily living, i.e., it is relatively easy (and even enjoyable) to move around the city for work, errands and pleasure. In addition, livability also means that the city is aesthetically pleasing, that it is clean and that the built environment is in harmony (as much as possible) with the natural environment. Beyond these physical aspects, livability also suggests to me that there is an overarching goal, shared by all stakeholders (residents, government, the private sector, etc.) of making the city as livable as possible.
- Examples: decrease amount of heated surfaces, increase permeability of surfaces
Stationary and Area Sources
Stationary Source - any building structure, facility, or installation which emits or may emit any air pollutant
Area Source - any source of air pollution that is released over a relatively small area. Maybe properly defines as: everything else.” Includes consumer products, farm fields, and burning leaves in the fall. They are the least regulated source of all.
- Examples: conduct pollution prevention audits for small business to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts
Energy and Climate Change
Energy Efficiency - an important strategy for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is improving energy efficiency (that is, getting more use out of the electricity we already generate). Energy efficiency measures such as advanced industrial processes and high-efficiency motors, lighting, and appliances have the potential to provide significant reductions in electricity use while saving consumers money in the long run.
- Examples: powering homes, offices and industries
Climate Change - a regional change in temperature and weather patterns. In some cases, 'climate change' has been used synonymously with the term, 'global warming'; scientists however, tend to use the term in the wider sense to also include natural changes in climate.
- Examples: reduction of landscape equipment emissions through sustainable lawn irrigation and turf management
Land Use Transportation Strategies
Steps taken by a locality to reduce vehicular emission and improve air quality by reducing or changing the flow of traffic; e.g. bus and HOV lanes, carpooling and other forms of ride-sharing, public transit, bicycle lanes
- Examples: increased public transportation, reduction in vehicle miles traveled, converting parking lots to parks
Diesel Engines Emission Reduction
Emissions reduction and engine performance can be obtained by using known measures in conjunction with the invention
- Three operating strategies to reduce diesel emissions: (1) equipment idle control and reduction, (2) engine preventive maintenance, and (3) equipment operator training. Each offers contractors a way reduce diesel emissions while also achieving significant reductions in operating costs that will improve their bottom line.
- Examples: reduction in idling, retrofits
Green Building and Green Building Development
- Green building or sustainable building - the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.
- Elements of green building include:
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Water Stewardship
- Environmentally Preferable Building Materials and Specifications
- Waste Reduction
- Toxics
- Indoor Environment
- Smart Growth and Sustainable Development
- Green building development - covers built environment and related infrastructure to include planning, design, construction, demolition, materials use and acquisition, and landscaping. Government, industrial, commercial and residential sectors all apply.
- Examples: link green building techniques with affordable housing initiatives
Off-road/ Non-road Sources (emission reductions)
Non-road sources are those diesels that do not typically travel on roads or highways.
- Examples: aircraft and its support equipment, locomotives, commercial marine and pleasure craft, and equipment used for construction, logging, mining, agriculture, and lawn and garden care