"We know how to use blueprints for constructing buildings," the mayor said. "Going forward, we need to have a new plan on how Akron can compete effectively in a world that is increasingly concerned over environmental issues - a "greenprint, if you will."

"I am asking Keep Akron Beautiful to take the lead in the community conversation on environmental issues," said Plusquellic. "With new funding approved by Akron City Council, and more new funding possibilities on the federal level, we hope to energize this effort."

Plusquellic, who was president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2005, presided over the national mayors' organization when it unanimously endorsed a Climate Protection Agreement, an initiative in which mayors commit to reduce emissions in their cities to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. More than 500 mayors are now committed to this goal, and the number continues to rise

"We have been increasingly attentive to making Akron more eco-friendly," said Plusquellic. "But we have not inventoried our successes until recently."  Plusquellic and other USCM leaders have participated in the formation of a new Mayor's Climate Protection Center sponsored by USCM. Plusquellic has signed the USCM Agreement on Climate Protection. "The new urgency in our formulating a community-wide plan stems in part from action in congress that would allow us to fund new environmental projects in a significant way," said Plusquellic

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives sent to a House-Senate conference committee an Energy and Environment Block Grant program that would supply formula-based grants to cities to reduce energy dependence and promote greater energy efficiency.

"Because it is similar to the popular HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, "said Plusquellic, "this initiative will allow local government to quickly get on board with well-funded environmentally- friendly initiatives."

Mayor Plusquellic announced that he has invited Keep Akron Beautiful to take on the new role of acting as a community clearinghouse for information on how Akron can become more "green" to save energy, to limit waste and to make new buildings "smarter."

"We did not want to form a whole new agency or department as many cities have done," said Plusquellic. "This new role is entirely consistent with Keep Akron Beautiful's mission that it has been performing admirably for 26 years. It will encourage our businesses and citizens to participate in environmentally-friendly activities that will benefit the entire community."

Keep Akron Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that has been funded through private donations, foundations, the city, and up until recently, the State of Ohio. When state funding evaporated two years ago, Akron increased its funding of KAB, and last year,  Akron City Council put in place a reliable stream of funding from a street assessment that can generate up to $200,000 per year to support KAB's efforts.

Plusquellic also announced that since automated trash collection was implemented a year ago in Akron, participation in recycling has increased markedly in one year. "Forty-eight percent of Akron households are now recycling," said the Mayor. "This is an improvement of almost 30% in just 12 months."

Akron offered residents 65 gallon containers specifically for recycled items together with an incentive of $2 per month savings.

Mayor Plusquellic's news conference today was held at the Akron Zoo's new Education Center; Summit County's only LEED-certified building. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.)

"This may be the first 'green' building in Akron," said the mayor, "but it will not be the last." Summit Metro Parks is rehabilitating an old home on Sand Run Parkway for offices that will be LEED-certified, and last week First Energy Corp. announced that its new offices on White Pond Drive will seek the LEED designation.

Plusquellic also noted that Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority will be employing green building standards in its $50 million Edgewood Homes project adjacent to the zoo. "These 176 new apartments will be built using recycled materials wherever possible," said Mayor Plusquellic. "AMHA is also committed to insulating the new homes to conserve energy and will be installing energy-efficient appliances."

On a smaller scale, but important as a symbol of the city's commitment, the mayor noted that bicycle racks have recently been installed downtown - at City Hall, at Lock 3, at Canal Park, and at Cascade Plaza to promote use of bikes over cars for commuting.

Mayor Plusquellic also outlined other Eco-Friendly Practices recently inventoried by city departments:

Recyling of asphalt and oil. Akron has been recycling asphalt and motor oil for many years, minimizing demand on sources of oil, a non-renewable resource.

Conservation of energy in City-owned buildings. Ten years ago, the City embarked on energy conservation in its facilities.  New controls on heating and air conditioning systems and retrofitted lighting have already saved nearly $4 million.

Sludge-to-fuel.  Biogas technology has wide use and acceptance in Europe, but Akron  will be home to the first such operation in the United States. Akron's Wastewater Treatment Plant has for many years taken sludge and turned it into Class A-rated compost that is then applied as a soil nutrient. Now the plant is working with a private company to begin using some of the solid waste to produce energy to help operate the facility.

Securing regional water supply safety: The Joint Economic Development Districts created in four adjacent townships and the city of Fairlawn for 10 years has produced more than economic success.  Since May of 2001, roughly 1,300 businesses and residential properties in the townships have been able to use safe, reliable Akron water and sewer service and eliminate the use of wells and septic systems.   Well water was often of poor quality with high iron content and/or low pressure, and the many private septic systems proved to be outdated and problematic.

Conservation and easements to protect natural resources: On Akron's watershed property in Geauga County, tens of thousands of trees have been planted and conservation easements have been purchased to prevent development of environmentally sensitive areas near the Upper Cuyahoga River. The City has also given hundreds of acres of land to the Trust for Public Land to protect green space in perpetuity. Akron has been recognized for its stewardship of the 207 acre watershed, which is habitat for beaver, mink, deer, raccoons, coyotes, fox, geese, turkeys and American bald eagles.

Brownfield Remediation.  Akron has had its share of abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial property carrying a threat of hazardous substances. The city has been directly involved in 22 projects to clean up these "brownfield" sites with $18 million in cleanup costs shared by city, state and federal government. It has produced $140 million in private investment on these remediated properties.

The Urban Landscape.  Akron maintains municipal parks and is a partner with Metro Parks Serving Summit County to provide green space, hike and bike trails and natural beauty inside the city. Keep Akron Beautiful enhances that effort by creating and maintaining three dozen flowerscapes throughout the city. In 2003, Akron was recognized with the national America in Bloom Award, a tribute to KAB's efforts and those of the city forestry department.

The greening of highway system: America in Bloom called Akron a "leader" in the state for the visual landscape of Akron road and expressway by limiting sound barrier walls and encouraging planting. City Arborist Bill Hahn has been instrumental since the late '90s to beautify Akron's expressway system by planting tens of thousands of plants, trees, shrubs and ground cover. The eco-friendly project has saved taxpayers money on mowing and fuel associated with the hazardous job of mowing expressway medians, berms and ramps.

END