[SustainableTompkins] County government pursues sustainability

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

Just two months ago on  September 21, I met with the county public works 
cabinet about creating an  energy education program based on the principle of 
shared  engagement for optimal social change .... Wow!   Talk  about fertile 
ground --  we've come far and fast!!  It's a pleasure to  work with people so open 
to taking on this work. 
Gay 
FOR IMMEDIATE  RELEASE                                                        
           
County Committee Endorses  Sustainability Program For Tompkins County  
Government 
An employee-based effort to  develop sustainable practices in  Tompkins  
County government has gained key  support from a committee of the county 
legislature. 
The Legislature’s Government  Operations Committee, meeting on Wednesday, 
endorsed the program by unanimous  vote, recommending that the County  
Administrator formally appoint the  Tompkins County Sustainability Team and that the 
team be charged with developing  an action plan to promote sustainable practices 
by  Tompkins  County government. 
Two months ago, employees from  several county departments, assisted by 
Cooperative Extension’s Energy Smart  Program, informally began to investigate how 
to promote sustainable practices in  government operations, benefiting future 
generations through social,  environmental and economic stewardship. 
“This ‘bottom-up’ effort is  something everyone stands to gain from,” 
states committee chair Kathy Luz  Herrera.  “Energy and sustainability  are clearly 
issues that are important to all of us and are values that county  government 
should support.” 
As envisioned by the employee  working group, sustainable practices to be 
developed would include 
    *   Energy  reduction and conservation in county facilities and fleets, 
with utilization  of alternative and renewable energy sources; 
    *   Solid  waste reduction through increased reuse and recycling; 
    *   Environmentally  preferable purchasing programs; 
    *   Efficient  infrastructure design and service delivery; 
    *   Employee  involvement and endorsement; and 
    *   Natural  resources protection and community development in accordance 
with the Tompkins  County Comprehensive Plan.
County  Planning and Public Works  Commissioner Ed Marx, one of those 
involved in the grass-roots effort, told the  committee the initiative builds upon 
programs already undertaken by county  government, such as energy-saving 
improvements in county buildings.  “Everybody who has been involved so far  is 
enthusiastic,” he said.  “The  beauty of this is that it involves all employees and 
the Legislature in a  comprehensive look at how we can address this challenge 
in the most effective  way.”  He added that most changes  should be able to 
be accomplished either at no additional cost or should save  the county money. 
If approved by the Legislature  next month, the resolution would direct the 
team to report on progress in  developing the sustainability program each year 
by Earth Day. 
Contact:  Planning and Public Works Commissioner  Ed Marx, 274-5560; Kathy 
Luz Herrera, Chair, Government Operations Committee,  273-8169. 
- END -
 
----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
agn1 at cornell.edu