An e-Newsletter of ARC's Green Communities Program August 2017 Greener City Streets Aren't Just About Traffic. They're About Rainwater, Too.As cities push to become more environmentally friendly, transportation planners are being asked to consider how both traffic and water flows through their streets. Bust these vast stretches of pavement are also key components of cities' stormwater networks. Streets cover about a third of the land and account for half of the impervious surfaces in cities. Impervious surfaces don't allow water to soak through them, which means they can alter the natural flow of rainwater. City streets collect, channel, pollute, and sometimes even speed along water as it heads to the sewers. Read more about how to incorporate GI into transportation projects Green Communities SpotlightGovernment Green Infrastructure Local governments can earn points for Green Communities Measure #23 by having installed a demonstration green infrastructure project on government property or right-of-way. The city of Alpharetta developed Rock Mill Park using low-impact development and stormwater best management practices, including engineered wetlands, rain gardens, native and drought tolerant plants, and bioswales. Educational materials are displayed throughout the park to inform visitors of these unique features and explain the benefits of proper stormwater management. Make it PersonalTips for Selecting the Best Community Green Infrastructure Sites
Sustainability News ClipsGreen news from near and far: Georgia Power recognizes Agnes Scott College for being energy efficient Buckhead will officially launch its bike share program this week Bike lane pop-up in Macon, Georgia, wins over county engineer, goes permanent "The Ray" in the national spotlight as example of a sustainable highway Instead of water fights, this Ga. water agency shares its supply Ga. cities get $90K in federal historic grants Chattanooga goes green with zero-emission car sharing UK banning diesel and gasoline fueled cars and vans after 2040 Two environmental buzzwords, same meaning? Baltimore battles its bike lanes How a grassroots effort is taking plastic straws off the menu in Boulder, Colo. How much can cities do about walkability? Sustainable design should mimic the outdoors
Get Green for Going Green 2017 Water Reflections Calendar Photo Contest Georgia Urban Forestry Awards Local Food Grant Applications due Sept. 22 Funding for Curbside Recycling Carts Funding for Scrap Tire Cleanup LED Street Lighting Solutions and Training Urban Land Institute 2017 Technical Assistance Panels Kresge Fdn. Healthy Housing & Neighborhoods Initiative Ford Fdn. Sustainable Development Grant SolSmart Community Designation Green by the Numbers 250,000 – gallons of water that can be polluted by 1 quart of oil Sustainability Happenings
Aug. 4 | Atlanta Smarter Cities: Trends Driving Urban Efficiency and Resilience Urban Agriculture Webinar Trees as Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program TreeKeepers 2017 Aug. 12 | Atlanta Sustainability at Work Sustainability Conversations Preparedness and Response Practices to Support Water System Resilience Aug. 17 | Webinar EP Engage: Tiny House Edition Aug. 17 | Atlanta Georgia Environmental Conference Aug. 23-25 | Jekyll Island College Canopy Conference Adapting Landscape Plants, Policies, and Management to a Water-Limited Future Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Climate Change Conference Growing Sustainable Communities Conference 2017 EcoDistricts Summit Energy Efficiency: Current and Future 2017 Southern Solar Summit The Green Matters e-newsletter is designed to give you a glimpse of important sustainability initiatives happening around the metro Atlanta region and beyond. Whether it's the latest research, new educational offerings, environmental stewardship efforts or potential funding opportunities, this e-newsletter will help you stay abreast of what's happening in this important subject area. |