The Atlanta Regional Commission announced this afternoon that Decatur and Alpharetta are the first two cities in the Atlanta metro region to achieve “Gold Certification” for their “sustainability initiatives”.

Here’s the Decatur-specific portion of the press release…

The City of Decatur achieved Gold certification in 2010 after becoming Bronze Green Community in July 2009. City policies include purchasing of green products, a green fleet policy, green building standards and more. Employees recycle, and new hires must sign the Lights Out/Power Down policy and the No-Idling pledge. Fire Station #2 is LEED silver certified and uses 25 percent less water and 35 percent less energy than a standard building of the same size. Solar panels on the roof provide energy to heat water for the building. The city’s Safe Routes to School Program encourages elementary and middle school children to walk or bicycle to school and makes trips to school safer. Other sustainable measures in Decatur are a Pay-As-You-Throw program for trash disposal, a comprehensive residential recycling program and a Health Impact Assessment incorporated into the transportation plan.

After achieving Bronze status last year, City Manager Peggy Merriss has stated publicly a few times this year that Gold was the city’s next goal.  In a statement to DM, she writes…

“We’re very excited that the City of Decatur has been recognized with a Gold level certification for sustainability efforts from the Atlanta Regional Commission. This award recognizes the efforts of our community residents to support recycling and walking and cycling as well as the City Commission’s leadership in supporting construction of LEED certified facilities and City employees’ dedication to turning off lights, using less fuel and taking innovative approaches to sustaining the environment. Resource Conservation Coordinator Lena Stevens was instrumental in getting all of the information together and spearheading the application effort.

Also, I’ve posted the blurbs for all the other Gold, Silver and Bronze winners after the jump.  Anyone see any “sustainable” initiatives that Decatur should copy?

Thanks to Creative Loafing’s Thomas Wheatley for forwarding the release!

City of Alpharetta

The City of Alpharetta earned Gold certification after being recognized as a Bronze Green Community in July 2009. The city’s sustainability initiatives are implemented through the Alpharetta Green City Program, established by the city council. LEED or EnergyStar certification for all new local government buildings, a green fleet policy, “green” purchasing are among the policies Alpharetta has adopted. The city has completed water and energy audits on more than half of the city’s buildings, with the remaining audits to be completed by 2014. Rock Mill Park demonstrates stormwater best management practices. The city has a number of demonstration projects throughout the city including a green roof at Rock Mill Park, a solar panel array at Wills Park, a cool roof at City Hall and rainwater capture and reuse at Webb Bridge Park and other buildings. Other measures include community incentives for green building and WaterSense homes, a commercial recycling requirement, installation of LED bulbs in all traffic signals and a no-idling policy for government vehicles.

Cherokee County

Cherokee County’s new procurement ordinance incorporates many sustainable policies, including LEED certification for county-owned buildings, the purchase of Energy Star-rated appliances and equipment, the use of LED bulbs in traffic signals and the installation of WaterSense-certified plumbing fixtures. Cherokee has committed to preserve 20 percent of county land as permanent greenspace through the Greenspace Protection Program and has allocated $10 million for greenspace acquisition. Residents can recycle electronics and cell phones at semi-annual drop-off events. More than 70 percent of county facilities have received energy and water audits, resulting in HVAC and lighting upgrades, installation of cool roofs, discontinuation of irrigation and replacement of inefficient plumbing fixtures. Expedited permitting reviews and reduced fees encourage builders to use solar energy in new projects or achieve LEED, Energy Star or EarthCraft certification. Synchronized traffic corridors ease congestion and reduce idling times.

City of Dunwoody

The City of Dunwoody encourages green building by offering expedited permitting reviews for projects that achieve LEED, EnergyStar, EarthCraft or WaterSense for New Homes certification or include the installation of solar projects or pervious paving materials. Purchasing policies give preference to environmentally friendly goods and services. The green fleet policy gives preference to the purchase of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. The Dunwoody Sustainability Commission, established in 2008, has developed a public awareness and education campaign on Dunwoody’s sustainability efforts through the use of brochures, business cards, stickers, T-shirts and social networking. The Safe Routes to Schools Program improves the walking and biking environment around Dunwoody’s five elementary schools and has increased the number of students who bike and walk to school.

Fulton County

Fulton County’s East Atlanta Library, completed in November 2003, achieved silver LEED certification as the county’s first LEED building. The library was constructed on a remediated brownfield, and its green features include the use of pervious pavement in the parking lot, low VOC paints, finishes and materials; high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and a highly efficient floor ventilation system. Energy and water audits have been completed on more than 40 percent of county facilities, with the remaining facilities to be completed in four years. More than 300 exit signs have been replaced with LED fixtures, saving an estimated 92,000 kWh per year. The Johns Creek Environmental Campus uses the most advanced wastewater treatment technologies and is a world-class example for wastewater treatment. It emits no odor or noise and blends seamlessly with the surrounding greenspace and neighborhoods. Other sustainable polices adopted by the county include a requirement for new plumbing fixtures to be WaterSense-certified, a lights out/power down policy and an anti-idling policy.

Gwinnett County

Following audits on all of its more than 100 facilities, Gwinnett County implemented energy efficiency improvements, including lighting upgrades and controls, new HVAC equipment, temperature optimization and energy management policies. The county’s Intelligent Transportation System and Traffic Control Center Master Plan are estimated to improve annual fuel consumption by 7 percent and reduce CO emissions by 17 percent and VOC emissions by 12 percent. Methane gas produced by anaerobic digesters at the F. Wayne Hill Water Treatment Plant is used to meet the heating needs of the digestion process. The project is being expanded to capture and convert the remaining excess digester gas into fuel for the natural gas generator. The LEED-certified Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center features a pervious pavement parking lot, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, the largest sloped green roof in the Southeast and the use of clean, non-potable reuse water for irrigation, flushing toilets and in the HVAC system.

City of Norcross

The City of Norcross, with significant commitment and support from the Sustainable Norcross Commission, designed and implemented policies to make the city more sustainable, including a requirement for city-owned buildings to achieve LEED certification, anti-idling and lights out/power down policies and a green fleet policy with a preference for alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. Unique to Norcross is its closed loop processing of residential yard debris. Yard trimmings are collected and turned into compost, mulch and soil products, which are sold to the city, local businesses and residents.  The Whistle Stop Farmers market offers local produce and products Tuesday evenings during summer and fall. The Norcross Welcome and History Museum captures rainwater and HVAC condensate in rain barrels for irrigation. Norcross expects to reduce printing costs by 40 percent through its policy of eliminating paper copies at city meetings and consolidating printers, copiers and other electronic devices. Norcross provides recycling at all the city’s special events and encourages shared and reduced parking.

City of Woodstock

The City of Woodstock’s Greenprints Project Master Plan is a comprehensive park, trail and open space initiative that establishes a foundation and framework for the creation of a citywide green infrastructure system. It calls for more than 60 miles of trails, connecting greenspace, neighborhoods and activity centers throughout the city. The city is testing the use of LED light bulbs in its elevators and estimates the replacement of only 12 traditional incandescent light bulbs will save $1,000 a year in energy and maintenance costs. All new city buildings will achieve LEED certification. Residential and commercial green building is encouraged by offering reduced development review time and fees for projects that achieve LEED, EarthCraft, Energy Star or WaterSense for New Homes certification or include the installation of a renewable energy project that produces a minimum of 1 kWh. The Downtown Woodstock LCI Plan encourages smart growth through pedestrian-oriented and mixed-use development and redevelopment of the downtown area. The city uses rainwater for irrigation at the Woodstock Community Center and has adopted an anti-idling policy.