2012Wellington's GO GREEN TEAM
The Go Green mission is to provide leadership, professional recommendations and education to move the Village closer to becoming a sustainable community. A sustainability community is one that develops in a manner that meets the needs of the present but does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is a concept that can be applied to virtually any activity but is most often associated with economic, environmental and/or community development.
Go Green intends to roll out several initiatives in the upcoming months including an enhanced recycling program, a green procurement policy and a variety of other policy initiatives including the creation of a sustainable development element for the Village's comprehensive plan. Planning and Zoning Manager David Flinchum explains, "A comprehensive plan is simply a state-required blueprint to guide community development and the sustainable development element will provide stability to future generations."
Currently the Village has begun to implement "green" practices in the day-to-day operational activities. For example, we have started a "Go Green – Go Paperless" initiative where employees and residents are encouraged to complete Village business without using paper and better utilizing technology. Employees are utilizing electronic ways to communicate and are scanning documents instead of copying them. Residents are able to conduct business with the Village by utilizing a variety of paperless methods (see the Village website for various opportunities). Other energy saving initiatives are as simple as our enhanced recycling programs, turning off lights, powering down computers or installing timers on air conditioners and other electrical apparatuses. Residents will notice the results of other green initiatives around town including the installation of LED (light emitting diode) lighting used for outdoor parks and median lighting and at the tennis courts, native median planting, additional reuse water used for median and parkland irrigation and LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified new construction of municipal facilities. It is a goal of the Village to continue to develop and use "green" technologies in order to better serve residents and to be as environmentally sound as possible.
We have been able to utilize stimulus grant dollars to initiate many of these "green" practices. For example, the Village is participating in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. This grant is provided to assist qualifying entities in implementing energy and conservation strategies.
Also being prepared is a Go Green Guide, which will provide direction for internal Village practices and protocol. The Go Green Team anticipates a number of announcements in the near future and invites anyone with questions or suggestions to contact Bill Nemser at (561) 753-2581.
