Charleston Green Initiative

Why is Charleston Going Green?

THE IMPETUS IS CLIMATE CHANGE

There is significant scientific evidence for global warming. Human activity has increased the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere from 280 parts per million (pre-industrialization) to the current level of 380 parts per million. The source of this rise in atmospheric CO2 is the burning of oil, coal and natural gas. Scientific data shows that this rise in C02 is directly related to higher global average temperatures due to the greenhouse gas effect. Increased CO2 in the atmosphere acts like the glass envelope of a greenhouse: heat from the sun radiates through, but cannot escape. The consequences of climate change can already be seen via intensified hurricanes, increased frequency and intensity of heat ways, drought and wildfires. In addition, "The Southeast region of the United States is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to the low-slung, storm-whipped coastal areas from the Carolinas to Texas" (National Geographic, 2005). This information and more can be found at http://climateconversation.org/docs/evidence.pdf.

THE IMPLICATIONS ARE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL,
& ENVIRONMENTAL

It is imperative that the City of Charleston take aggressive measures to strengthen the City's and the region's economy. To do this, the City of Charleston must use energy efficienctly and minimize fuel consumption. Fostering a renewable energy market has been shown to strengthen local economies while at the same time providing health and environmental benefits. With the cost of energy increasing (as seen by rising gas prices!) the City and residents must use energy efficiently to keep overhead costs as low as possible. The City has already experienced significant savings through performance review contracting with Johnson Controls and CGC's Energy Subcommittee is looking at other ways for the City to cut costs in the long term. For more information regarding the City's performance review contracting please go to the Energy Subcommittee's page and click on the "City of Charleston and Johnson Controls Presentation" under the related documents section.

While it is important for the city to strengthen the local economy, there is an equally significant duty to maintain the region's standard of living. As more people move to the Charleston area, drawn by the beauty of its wetlands, beaches, and open spaces as well as the area's historic charm, careful planning is necessary to avoid the degradation of our local environment. To minimize the effects of the extra pollution created by an increase in population and the accompanying infrastructure that is required, the Land Use and Planning Subcommittee, Transportation Subcommittee, and Recycling and Waste Management Subcommittee are all working on initiatives that minimize the negative impacts of growth through innovative design and management. For more information on these subcommittees and initiatives please visit their web pages.

Since our Federal Government has not taken the necessary action to address global warming and the world energy crisis, the City of Charleston, along with over 800 other local governments world-wide, have taken on this challenge in the best interest of lowcountry residents. Mayor Riley has pledged that the City of Charleston is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the overall quality of life in the Charleston area by moving our economy to a more sustainable and stable framework.

WHAT CHARLESTON IS DOING

In June of 2005, Mayor Joseph R. Riley, Jr. signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and in doing so, set goals for the City of Charleston to reduce our CO2 emissions by seven percent below the 1990 levels by the year 2012. Since then, the City has already taken several steps towards achieving this goal. We are in the process of streamlining our City fleet vehicles by increasing our hybrid fleet and converting to biodiesel-compatible vehicles. The City is also in the process of switching to Energy Efficient LED Traffic and Exit Signs (40% complete). In addition, in 2006 alone, we lowered our CO2 levels by 19,000 tons by installing more energy efficient lighting, enhancing the efficiency of our heating and air conditioning systems and installing low flow water devices in City buildings. All of these retrofits also benefit the city and its taxpayers in annual energy savings.

Greening the City of Charleston is an ongoing effort with which the Staff Green Team and the Charleston Green Committee (CGC) have been tasked. The Staff Green Team (SGT) in an internal group of 20+ staff members from various City Departments. The CGC is composed of a diverse group of members from the community including business owners, non-profit workers and scientists who are committed to sustainability and making Charleston a better place to live, work and play. Thus far, the Green Committee has been very successful in getting many stakeholders involved and addressing a wide range of sustainablity issues. The CGC's main achievementn happened on April 22, 2008 (Earth Day) when the Committee sent a list of twelve initial steps
to City Council articulating simple actions the City needed to take to move towrd a more sustainable framework. All twelve action items were approved. Below you will find a list of the initiatives. The CGC realizes that these initiatives are only a small first step but "a journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step." * It is a step in the right direction and indicates the City’s political will to act. We will need the help of every resident to address the challenges of global warming and maintain our way of life. We invite you to join us as we look for the best ways for the City of Charleston and its residents to address these issues by planning for growth, fostering sustainable business practices, and working to preserve the places we hold dear for future generations.
*Lao-tzu

Please contact us at Charlestongreen@ci.charleston.sc.us to get involved. More information about the Staff Green Team and the Charleston Green Committee and its activities can be found on the links at the left-hand side of this page.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

RELATED LINKS