Toward a More SustainableToward a More SustainableJohnson County Johnson County

AIMS Coordination GroupAIMS Coordination Group

September 10, 2009September 10, 2009

OverviewOverview

Some facts and figuresSome facts and figures What is sustainability and why is it What is sustainability and why is it

a county priority?a county priority? 2009 citizen survey results2009 citizen survey results BOCC greenhouse gas resolutionBOCC greenhouse gas resolution Efforts and achievements to dateEfforts and achievements to date Next stepsNext steps

Our World Today & Our World Today & TomorrowTomorrow

U.S. Population: U.S. Population: Current - 305 millionCurrent - 305 million 2050 - 439 million2050 - 439 million

(44% increase)(44% increase)

World Population: World Population: current - 6.7 billioncurrent - 6.7 billion 2050 - 9 billion2050 - 9 billion

(34% increase)(34% increase)

Data: U.S. Census BureauData: U.S. Census BureauPhoto: National GeographicPhoto: National Geographic

Addicted to Oil?Addicted to Oil?

U.S. oil production peaked in 1970U.S. oil production peaked in 1970 In 2007, the U.S. imported twice as In 2007, the U.S. imported twice as

much oil (10+ M bbl/day) as it much oil (10+ M bbl/day) as it produced produced

U.S. imports 5.98 MU.S. imports 5.98 M

bbl/day from OPECbbl/day from OPEC 2009 U.S. defense2009 U.S. defense

budget = $515.4 Bbudget = $515.4 B

World Ecological Footprint, 1961-2005World Ecological Footprint, 1961-2005

Source: World Wildlife Fund, Source: World Wildlife Fund, Living Planet Report 2008Living Planet Report 2008

Sustainability Sustainability

Balancing economic, environmental and socialBalancing economic, environmental and socialequity considerations in decision makingequity considerations in decision making

Using life-cycleUsing life-cyclecosting approach whencosting approach whenmaking investmentsmaking investments

Considering how ourConsidering how ourchoices will impact choices will impact our kids, grandkids andour kids, grandkids andfuture generationsfuture generations

Society

Econ

omy Environm

ent

Why It’s a PriorityWhy It’s a Priority

Responsibility to our childrenResponsibility to our children Sustainability fundamentally is about Sustainability fundamentally is about

becoming more efficient, reducing wastebecoming more efficient, reducing waste Taking long view provides lower costs & Taking long view provides lower costs &

better value for taxpayersbetter value for taxpayers New technologies = new New technologies = new

opportunities for efficiencyopportunities for efficiency County residents are County residents are

demanding itdemanding it

Johnson County Sunset Drive Office BuildingOpened 2006; Certified LEED Gold

2009 Citizen Survey2009 Citizen Survey

Mailed to random sample of 3,000 Mailed to random sample of 3,000 households in countyhouseholds in county

1,239 responses received (41% response 1,239 responses received (41% response rate) rate)

Measured familiarity with/quality of county Measured familiarity with/quality of county services, expectations regarding budget services, expectations regarding budget priorities, effectiveness of communicationpriorities, effectiveness of communication

95% confidence level, +/-2.8% precision 95% confidence level, +/-2.8% precision at county levelat county level

BOCC Greenhouse Gas BOCC Greenhouse Gas ResolutionResolution

In December 2007, BOCC approved In December 2007, BOCC approved a resolution establishing four goals:a resolution establishing four goals:1.1. Conduct a greenhouse gas (GHG) Conduct a greenhouse gas (GHG)

inventory of county operations and inventory of county operations and reduce emissions 1/3 by 2020reduce emissions 1/3 by 2020

2.2. Make new and substantially renovated Make new and substantially renovated county buildings carbon neutral by county buildings carbon neutral by 20302030

3.3. Conduct a community-wide GHG Conduct a community-wide GHG inventory; develop & implement a plan inventory; develop & implement a plan to reduce GHG emissions 80 percent to reduce GHG emissions 80 percent by 2050by 2050

4.4. Provide leadership to encourage Provide leadership to encourage reduction of GHG emissions in county reduction of GHG emissions in county and regionally through education, and regionally through education, dialogue and partnershipsdialogue and partnerships Kansas City Power & Light

La Cygne Generating Station

County GovernmentCounty GovernmentSustainability EffortsSustainability Efforts

Sustainable County Committee formed in Sustainable County Committee formed in 20042004

Five work groups established around specific Five work groups established around specific issues in 2007issues in 2007

Steering Committee formed in 2007Steering Committee formed in 2007 Board adopts GHG reduction goals Board adopts GHG reduction goals

December 2007December 2007 Sustainability Program Director hired August Sustainability Program Director hired August

20082008 2009 – Review & expansion of sustainability 2009 – Review & expansion of sustainability

effortsefforts

Committees & SubgroupsCommittees & Subgroups Steering CommitteeSteering Committee Sustainability CommitteeSustainability Committee

Multi-departmentalMulti-departmental Entry-level to executive staff; Entry-level to executive staff;

one elected officialone elected official

Subgroups:Subgroups: Waste reductionWaste reduction Green purchasingGreen purchasing FacilitiesFacilities Education & outreachEducation & outreach

Highlights of Sustainable Highlights of Sustainable Actions Completed or Actions Completed or

UnderwayUnderway Lighting Retrofit Project: Phase 1 - $987,000; Lighting Retrofit Project: Phase 1 - $987,000;

estimated 3.7 yr payback estimated 3.7 yr payback Wastewater Wastewater

$15.1 M co-generation plant$15.1 M co-generation plant Land Application of Bio-solidsLand Application of Bio-solids

Employee ozone reductionEmployee ozone reductioncampaign has eliminated 400campaign has eliminated 400tons of air pollution andtons of air pollution and800,000 VMT800,000 VMT

Johnson County Administration BuildingOlathe, Kansas

Sustainability Highlights Sustainability Highlights (cont’d)(cont’d)

Purchased 41 hybrid vehicles; reduced fuel Purchased 41 hybrid vehicles; reduced fuel costs $142,000 & air pollution by 2000 tonscosts $142,000 & air pollution by 2000 tons

Installed vapor recovery equipment at County-Installed vapor recovery equipment at County-owned refueling stations,owned refueling stations,reducing VOC emissions byreducing VOC emissions by2/3 ton per year2/3 ton per year

Sponsored change-a-lightSponsored change-a-lightcampaign for employees,campaign for employees,saving $41,700 in electricitysaving $41,700 in electricitycosts & reducing 278 tons ofcosts & reducing 278 tons ofGHG emissionsGHG emissions

Johnson County hybrid

electric fleet vehicles

Highlights of Sustainable Highlights of Sustainable Actions Completed or Actions Completed or

Underway (cont)Underway (cont) Computer power-down initiative begun Computer power-down initiative begun

October 2008; saves $64,000/yr and October 2008; saves $64,000/yr and reduces GHG emissions by 679 tons/yrreduces GHG emissions by 679 tons/yr

Adopted new county-wide Solid WasteAdopted new county-wide Solid WastePlan that promotes aggressivePlan that promotes aggressivewaste reductionwaste reduction

Recycling at Sunset Drive officeRecycling at Sunset Drive officebuilding has begun to generatebuilding has begun to generaterevenue, offsetting trash disposal revenue, offsetting trash disposal costs; implementing organization-costs; implementing organization-wide recycling programwide recycling program

Next StepsNext Steps

Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (award pending)Grant (award pending)

20 county bldgs will receive energy audits20 county bldgs will receive energy audits Recycling & compostingRecycling & composting LED street/parking lot lightingLED street/parking lot lighting Electric vehicle recharging stationsElectric vehicle recharging stations Home weatherization assistanceHome weatherization assistance Employee energy conservation outreachEmployee energy conservation outreach

Next Steps (cont’d)Next Steps (cont’d) Nelson Treatment Plant cogeneration Nelson Treatment Plant cogeneration

feasibility studyfeasibility study Actively working to expand alt-fuel use in Actively working to expand alt-fuel use in

county fleet; possible partnerships w/ local county fleet; possible partnerships w/ local govts. & private sectorgovts. & private sector

Exploring feasibility ofExploring feasibility of

composting in countycomposting in county

foodservice operationsfoodservice operations Employee mobilityEmployee mobility

Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Treatment PlantOverland Park, Kansas

Next Steps (cont’d)Next Steps (cont’d)

Secure funding for transit 5-year planSecure funding for transit 5-year plan Promote behaviors that reduce Promote behaviors that reduce

vehicle travelvehicle travel Support efforts to expand regional Support efforts to expand regional

green economygreen economy Build partnerships with businesses Build partnerships with businesses

and community groups to work on and community groups to work on county-wide goalscounty-wide goals

"We do not inherit the "We do not inherit the earth from our earth from our

ancestors; we borrow ancestors; we borrow it from our children"it from our children"

- - Chief SeattleChief Seattle

My daughter, Sylvia My daughter, Sylvia Age 9Age 9

James Joerke

Sustainability Program Director

james.joerke@jocogov.org

(913) 715-1120