Mecklenburg County Environmental Leadership Team
Environmental Sustainability Plan
Mission = Mecklenburg County Government will operate in a manner that conserves and protects our air, water and land resources; become a
model of environmental stewardship for local governments, businesses, and industry in our region, and; use and apply the County’s existing and
future resources wisely for the benefit of its citizens.
Priority*
Description
1
Practice energy
conservation in all
County facilities.
2011 Goal
2012 Goal
Long-Term Goal (2020)
Emission Reduction
Reduce emissions
contributing to
ozone creation and
air quality issues
Update Energy Plan to include all
County owned facilities
Energy Savings Goal – additional
1% to equal 11% of FY07 baseline
Reduce average FY 10 NOx
emissions (g/mi) by 5% from FY 09
On Road Fleet LEV make-up:
Vehicle Class
Light Duty Gas
Vehicles
Heavy Duty
Gas Vehicles
Heavy Duty
Diesel Vehicles
% Compliant
85%
78%
36%
Develop a Strategic Utility Plan
Energy Savings Goal – additional 1%
to equal 10% of FY07 baseline
Reduce average NOx emissions
(g/mi) by 5% from previous year
On Road Fleet LEV make-up:
Vehicle Class
Light Duty Gas
Vehicles
Heavy Duty
Gas Vehicles
Heavy Duty
Diesel Vehicles
% Compliant
87%
81%
Energy Savings Goal – 50%
savings (kW/ft2) of FY07
baseline
On Road Fleet:100% Low
Emission Vehicle (LEV)
defined as:
Vehicle Class
NOx
Light Duty Gas
Vehicles
Heavy Duty
Gas Vehicles
Heavy Duty
Diesel Vehicles
0.30
grams/mi
1.00
grams/bhp-hr
2.50
grams/bhp-hr
44%
1
Non Road Fleet: Define LEV
Research and propose language and
methodology for inclusion in
contracts with transportation
providers that would consider and
promote reduction in air emissions
from their on-road fleets
Non Road Fleet: 100% low
emission fleet. (LEV to be
defined)
Reduce GHG emissions by
28% from 2006 baseline data.
GHG Inventory Update Report
*Priority :
1 = High Concern / High Influence; 2 = High Concern / Low Influence; 3 = Low Concern / High Influence; (Note: Low Concern / Low Influence not included in this chart)
1
Priority*
Description
Provide and
promote
transportation
alternatives that
reduce emissions
Practice waste
minimization and
recycling in all
County and CMS
facilities.
Include
environmental
considerations in
purchasing
decisions for
goods and
services.
1
2012 Goal
Research and propose a methodology
to HR that will enable County
employees to easily identify and
contact potential carpool partners
Long-Term Goal (2020)
TBD
Subsidize employee transit passes for
FY13
2
1
2011 Goal
Research and propose a travel
hierarchy for inclusion into County
travel policy for County employees to
consider when making local, regional
and national travel decisions that
would consider air emissions
Resource Conservation
17 % recycling of total waste
20 % recycling of total waste stream
stream
Revise long-term 2020 goal
Two additional Regional Parks to
contain recycling dumpsters, trash
cans, and bins.
Implement new County
Update EPPG
procurement policy with regard to
EPPG; providing all department
training
Purchase printer/copy paper
90% compliance
products that contain 100%
recycled material with a minimum
30% post-consumer content; 85%
compliance
Purchase Green office supplies:
35% compliance
Paper (other than printer/copier),
metal or plastic products that
contain a minimum 10% recycled
materials and/or meet the Green
Seal standard; 35% compliance
Purchase Remanufactured Inkjet,
30% compliance
laser and toner cartridges ; 75%
compliance
20% recycling of total waste
stream from all County
facilities (including County
funded agencies)
100% compliance with revised
policy (effective
implementation)
95% compliance
70% compliance
90% compliance
*Priority :
1 = High Concern / High Influence; 2 = High Concern / Low Influence; 3 = Low Concern / High Influence; (Note: Low Concern / Low Influence not included in this chart)
2
Priority*
Description
Acquire, Maintain
and preserve land
to protect the
natural
environment,
ecosystems and
habitat
1
2011 Goal
Purchase Cleaning products that
meet the Green Seal standards; 50%
compliance
Long-Term Goal (2020)
70% compliance
Purchase Paint with low level of
VOCs; 60% compliance
2012 Goal
Ensure maintenance vendors are
using cleaning products that meet the
Green Seal standards; 60%
compliance
Ensure vendors are using paint with
low level of VOCs; 80% compliance
Return 15 acres of floodplain to its
natural condition
Treat 2.5 acres of public impervious
area
5,306 acres for Community /
Regional Parks, Nature
Preserves,
Greenways and watershed
protection acquired
Acquire 350 acres of the highest
priority parcels for Parks, Nature
Preserves, Greenways and watershed
protection
95% compliance
885 acres of impervious area
currently exist on Countyowned property. Between now
and 2020, 20 acres (2.25%) of
existing impervious area will be
treated to improve water
quality.
Incorporate Green Print /
sensitive areas information into
County funded Plan Review
comments
*Priority :
1 = High Concern / High Influence; 2 = High Concern / Low Influence; 3 = Low Concern / High Influence; (Note: Low Concern / Low Influence not included in this chart)
3
Priority*
Description
Require
environmentally
sensitive design in
all new and
existing facilities
2011 Goal
Implement Sustainable Facilities
and Development Policy including:
Minimize water usage in
the building 20% below
State Code and irrigation
use 50% below State Code
requirements
Reduce up to 90% of the
sediment load in a
minimum of 75% of the
County funded projects
starting design after
2010
Provide
employees with
opportunities and
incentives to
practice
environmentally
sound behaviors.
1
2012 Goal
Continue to implement and update
the Sustainable Facilities and
Development Policy including:
Minimize water usage in
new facilities 20% below
State Code and irrigation use
50% below State Code
requirements
Continued Re-use of County
buildings where feasible.
Reduce up to 90% of the
sediment load in a
minimum of 75% of the
County funded projects
starting design after 2010
LEED Silver Certification
LEED Silver Certification
for all County facilities over
for all County facilities
$2million
over $2million
LEED checklist for small
LEED checklist for small
projects and renovations
projects and renovations
Commitment
250 hours of volunteerism with
2,500 hours of volunteer /education
environmental programs
in environmental programs
Maintain WorkGreen Mecklenburg
program with Green Guardian
recognition
Long-Term Goal (2020)
All new or renovated facilities
designed to a LEED Gold
standard.
Explore non-traditional
communication tools to convey
environmental issues for all
employees through unique
partnerships (e.g., County Diversity
Council)
3,000 hours (was 500) of
volunteer / education in
environmental programs
annually
Host a minimum of one healthy
environment / Greenway
walking/biking event per year
Implement Green Guardian
employee action team
*Priority :
1 = High Concern / High Influence; 2 = High Concern / Low Influence; 3 = Low Concern / High Influence; (Note: Low Concern / Low Influence not included in this chart)
4
Priority*
Description
Establish
partnerships to
implement
environmental
sustainability
1
Community
Awareness and
Enrichment
1
2
2
3
2011 Goal
Integration of the Environmental
Leadership Index into Community
and Corporate Scorecard
2012 Goal
County departmental environmental
action plans to attain “Green Light”
achievement.
County departmental environmental
action plans to attain “Green Light”
achievement.
Coordinate local partner (CMS,
CPCC, and PLCMC) action plans
with County measures and targets
to provide a system of BMPs and
joint program opportunities.
Establish partnerships regarding
measuring and reporting
environmental policy efforts and
finalize implementation plan
Increase community awareness of
environmental issues by 2%
Long-Term Goal (2020)
100% participation of County
Departments and County
funded agencies in
Environmental Leadership
Policy
Partner with Mecklenburg
County municipal stakeholders
(City and Towns) in addition to
local partners (CMS, CPCC,
and PLCMC) in development
of Environmental Sustainability
Plans
Increased community
awareness of environmental
issues by 10%
(2010 baseline = 74%
community awareness)
Financing
Environmental
(non-regulatory)
Programs
Sustainable
Economic
Development
Support
environmental
workplace safety
and health as a
part of County
operations
NA
Develop Continuous Funding
Strategy for ELP programs
TBD
NA
Study Sustainable Economic
Development Incentive Program
options
Develop Healthy Vending Policy
Incorporate environmental
sustainability considerations in
County Financing tools
Provide access to healthy foods
in all County facilities
NA
Promote Farmers Markets available
to County employees
Maintain Fit Community
Designation
*Priority :
1 = High Concern / High Influence; 2 = High Concern / Low Influence; 3 = Low Concern / High Influence; (Note: Low Concern / Low Influence not included in this chart)
5
Priority*
1
2
Description
Support a program
of continuous
review to ensure
reduction of
adverse
environmental
impacts of County
operations and
evaluation of new
opportunities to
achieve sound
environmental
practices.
Actively explore
the feasibility of
implementing new
and innovative
products and/or
practices that
provide
environmental
benefits, and
inform elected
officials of new
opportunities.
2011 Goal
2012 Goal
Stewardship Enhancement
Participation and reporting to NC
Internal Environmental Assessment
Environmental Stewardship
Program Pilot Study Completed
Initiative as a pilot program
member in good standing
Continue participation and reporting
to NC Environmental Stewardship
Initiative as a member in good
standing
Continued ISO 14001certification
for additional Solid Waste
Department facilities
Implement Single-Stream recycling
Develop program for environmental
data collection and information
sharing between the County and
educational and/or other local
government entities (with regard to
water quality or emission reduction)
Develop and establish an adult
“Master Naturalist” certification
program.
Long-Term Goal (2020)
Evaluate and implement
certification programs with
continuous review requirements
for application within County
programs
Annual report regarding status
of this Action Plan available to
employees and public
Comply with all applicable
local, state and federal
environmental regulations in all
County facilities.
3 new innovative
products/practices implemented
each year
Evaluation of solar thermal
installations at County facilities
*Priority :
1 = High Concern / High Influence; 2 = High Concern / Low Influence; 3 = Low Concern / High Influence; (Note: Low Concern / Low Influence not included in this chart)
6