Mission and Vision Statements

The Greenprint for Akron Mission Statement: The Greenprint for Akron creates an environmental partnership to foster a sustainable, eco-friendly community through education and leadership.

The Greenprint for Akron Vision Statement:The Greenprint for Akron sets a vision for a sustainable community that contributes to climate and environmental protection which will create opportunities for a healthier quality of life and economic growth.

                     Akron Gets Smart with Greenprint for Akron

Akron, Ohio-April, 1, 2008- The City of Akron is taking a leadership role in promoting public awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change, and has joined more than 700 communities worldwide by participating in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign.

Akron has joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, ICLEI, and will utilize resources provided by the organization to measure local greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance urban livability.

“As soon as we get the ICLEI survey results for a baseline year,” says Paula Davis, Executive Director of Keep Akron Beautiful, which is heading-up Akron’s Greenprint effort, “the City can set reduction goals for emissions and energy use into the future.”

Mayor Don Plusquellic announced the creation of a “greenprint” for Akron in August, 2007, and named Keep Akron Beautiful, a nonprofit agency serving the citizens of Akron in the areas of litter and graffiti control, environmental education and public land beautification, to lead the community’s planning effort.

“We know how to use blueprints for constructing buildings," the Mayor said. "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."

Plusquellic, former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was an early-adopter of the USCM’s Climate Protection Agreement, which pledges to work on twelve areas over the long term to reduce government’s carbon footprint.

On March 31, Akron City Council approved a Resolution endorsing ICLEI’sCities for Climate Protection Campaign, which consists of five milestones:

• Conduct a local inventory and forecast greenhouse gas emissions
• Adopt an emissions reduction target
• Draft an Action Plan to achieve the target
• Implement the action plan
• Evaluate, report on progress and update plans

To implement these goals, Mayor Plusquellic appointed a “Green Ribbon” panel of City employees. It has drafted a mission and vision statement for the Greenprint for Akron, and is currently working in seven action areas to develop energy reduction goals and natural resource conservation practices for Akron’s Eco-Smart Campaign.

Greenprint Mission Statement:

Greenprint for Akron creates an environmental partnership to foster a sustainable, eco-friendly community through education and leadership.

Davis has been convening the Greenprint panel on a regular basis to develop momentum around the goals. City engineers are leading the effort to collect data. Akron has already marked some achievements: recycling of asphalt and oil; an award-winning urban forestry project; aggressively pursuing “brownfield” development; and announced plans to convert sludge into energy – the “biogas” project.

“I’m particularly proud of our residents,” said the Mayor. "Forty-eight percent of Akron households are now recycling, an improvement of almost 30% in the first year of our automated sanitation program.”

This summer, the City of Akron will also embark on a campaign to encourage more use of bicycles, and will install more bike racks and identify more bike-friendly streets.

The        Greenprint   for Akron     Mission Statement: The Greenprint for Akron creates an environmental partnership to foster  a sustainable, eco-friendly community through education and leadership.   Vision Statement: The Greenprint for Akron sets a vision for a sustainable community that contributes to climate and environmental protection which will create opportunities for a healthier quality of life and economic growth.   LOCAL ACTION MOVES THE WORLD   As a member of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, we are part of an active network of more than 400 local governments in the United States advancing climate protection and sustainability and turning challenges into opportunities. Together we’re providing inspiring leadership, instructive experience and innovative solutions.   Learn more about how local governments are driving climate action and sustainable development at www.icleiusa.org. Climate Protection Benefits for Local Governments • Save Taxpayer Dollars  Build the Local Economy and Create Jobs • Improve Air Quality and Public Health • Invest in Long-Term Community Livability • Connect Cities with National Leaders and Resources • Inspire Community Engagement and Individual Action • Create a Legacy of Leadership     Action Areas for Akron’s Eco-Smart Campaign   Action Plans to implement the vision by 2012 (5 years) will be written in the following areas:   Smart Energy & Emissions                 Air Quality, Alternative Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green Rooftops, Green Build (LEEDS Certification Program), Energy Star, Advocating for Energy Audits, Employee Incentive Programs for Reducing Energy   Smart Water & Wastewater Management                 Water Quality, Water and Wastewater Systems, Methane Recovery for Energy Production, Waste Sludge to Energy Production, Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Water Conservation   Smart Materials & Solid Waste Management                 Environmental Purchasing, Commercial and School Recycling, Curbside Recycling, Reducing Consumption of Natural Resources, Composting   Smart Transit                 Mass/Rapid Transit, Promotion of Bicycle Lanes/Trails, Green Map, Carpooling, Conversion of Municipal Fleets, Efficient Traffic Control   Smart Development                 Neighborhood Revitalization, Brownfield Recapture, Reduce Urban Sprawl, Creating Walkable Urban Neighborhoods, Land Banking, Adaptive Reuse, and Green Job Growth   Smart Conservation Of Natural Resources                 Urban Forestry, Preserving Streams/Watersheds, Preserving Open Spaces, Park Systems   Smart Community Education and Promotion of Progress                 Educating Youth, City Staff Training, Greenprint Reporting, Clearinghouse for Climate Change and Community Engagement to Reach Goals.

Akron Milestones   q       Recycling asphalt & oil q       Aggressive brownfield development q       Wastewater sludge to energy-biogas project q       Automated curbside recycling increase q       Bikeway plan for more bike-friendly streets q       Canal Park Stadium recycling q       Forest to Furnishings use of logs q       Use of beet juice to melt road ice q       Permeable pavement pilots     Adopt 5 Habits for Climate Change, Start Today!   1. Change 5 incandescent light bulbs to longer lasting compact fluorescent bulbs-use 75% less energy     2.Bring your own re-useable bags with you when shopping-reject plastic bags     3.Avoid buying bottled water and refill your own sports bottle, thermos or mug   4.Unplug all chargers when not in use, power strips and especially appliances that heat & cool.     5.Buy local produce to reduce packaging, transportation costs and use of preservatives.

 

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