Item B - Sustainability - Laserfiche WebLink

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Energy and Fuel Use Context: What's happening: Our sources of energy impose substantial costs on our health · The City's wastewater treatment plant captures the and the economythrough direct pollution such as smog, methane gas it produces and turns it into electricity, particulate pollution and acid rain. Energy use is also the major providing over half of the main plant's needs. This not only driver of climate change: rising concentrations of carbon reduces the climate impacts of the methane by about 95%, dioxide from fossil fuels are bringing uneven and unpredictable but it also reduces the need for further production of changes in temperatures, weather, winds and ocean currents, energy. In 2003, the captured methane provided a savings of These changes have potentially massive impacts on biodiversity, $234,324. rainfall, agriculture and forestry, sea level, and the geographical · The wastewater plant is also installing a sulfur oxide (SOx) range of infectious diseases, filter to further reduce climate changing emissions. · The City's passenger vehicles are I~eing replaced with hybrid-powered vehicles as they come due for replace- ment. Also, all diesel equipment now runs on 20% bio- diesel and will soon switch to a mix with 80% ultra-low sulfur diesel. · EWEB's Energy Edge Award went to the new Library for its efficient design. Through a collaborative design process with EWEB, the new Library improved its energy efficiency by 30% over Oregon building codes. Savings on gas and electricity are expected to be about $25,000 per year. What's next: · Create a centralized collection point for all energy use data and improve reporting of that information in order to ensure ongoing improvements. · Create an energy strategy for City pools, which account for 25% of all energy used in general fund City buildings. Water use Context: What's next: By using water efficiently and by adapting our needs to our Water use data, like energy use data, needs to be centralized in water supply and its fluctuations, we can enjoy a regional order to be managed consistently. resource that supports residences, businesses and agriculture for many years to come. Because of state health codes, nearly all the water we use is treated. Treated water has concerns that go beyond the draw from our rivers and water tables. Large amounts of energy and chemicals are used to pump and purify the water, resulting in hidden air and water pollution concerns as well as climate change impacts. What's happening: ,,' ~ince 1992, the City has been upgrading its irrigation systems ~'~ ~vith a weather-controlled device. Typically, this type of system reduces water consumption by 35-40% over a conventional timed system. Currently 97.3% of all park acreage is under this type of control. ~ ......................................... Maintenance