Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Recovery Foundation
Presents:
GreeNOLA: A Strategy
for a Sustainable New
Orleans
Danielle Purifoy
Environmental Projects Coordinator, City of New Orleans
© 2008 City of New Orleans
John Moore
Environmental Policy Analyst, City of New Orleans
1
Executive Summary
The City of New Orleans effective uses for within City Hall, the sustainability goals to
is establishing a materials that are green council, and a be achieved within the
comprehensive currently being green building following timelines:
approach to its recovery discarded as waste; and ordinance.
by incorporating leading protecting and restoring Short-term = 1 year
ideas about sustainable the urban and natural STEP 2. Reorganize Medium-term = 3 years
and smart urban environments. city government so that Long-term = 10 years
development into the it can more effectively
recovery process. We The City has taken the implement new What follows is a
are, in fact, rebuilding initial steps by initiatives related to roadmap for identifying
both the city’s physical becoming a national energy, development, and achieving
infrastructure and its Solar America City, by and environment. sustainability goals in
administrative adopting Energy Smart Establish an Energy six broad program
infrastructure. Our New Orleans principals, Office, a Disaster areas:
objective is not merely and by developing this Mitigation Office, and
to recover, but to Greening of New expand the existing 1. Green Buildings
recover smarter, Orleans sustainability Environmental Affairs & Energy
greener, and better action plan Office. Create a Efficiency
than we were before. (GreeNOLA), which is Consortium of Gulf
2. Alternative
the City’s roadmap for Coast Mayors to
In New Orleans,
Energy
making New Orleans collectively address
sustainable sustainable as it regional issues along 3. Waste
development means rebuilds. The GreeNOLA America’s Gulf Coast. Reduction,
establishing resilient action plan consists of Establish a Green Team Reuse, &
settlement patterns three major steps: to recommend Recycling
based on a thorough sustainable green 4. Transportation &
understanding of flood STEP 1. Revive building practices for Clean Fuels
risk; adopting better environmental ongoing recovery 5. Environmental
building standards that programs and policies projects as they are Outreach &
include energy that were lost as a being implemented. Justice
efficiency, design for result of Hurricane
6. Flood Risk
climate change, and Katrina, including STEP 3. Establish
alternative energy environmental
Reduction
specific, measurable,
sources; finding more conservation practices and attainable
5
Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency
thresholds. BEST PRACTICES Cities grant from the
Portland Department of
Zoning and Master Plan Low income Energy
to include Density weatherization
Bonuses and TDRs program (750 Global Green
New Orleans zoning homes) In the Holy Cross
should be updated to Sliding scale fees neighborhood,
include density bonuses and rebates for Global Green is
and transferable permitting building a green
development rights for Houston residential
those developers Weatherization of development, and
including green and inner-city homes by Holy Cross has
energy-efficiency utility (CenterPoint committed to being
considerations in their Energy) carbon-neutral by
projects. Seattle 2020.
BuiltGreen
certification Build it Back Green
Figure 2
Chicago The Factor-10 House,
Program is currently
The Chicago designed by EHDD, was offered to low
Standard (construc- constructed through income home
tion standard) Chicago’s Green Homes for owners and Road
Green Permit Chicago competition, funded Home money
Program (DCAP) through a settlement with recipients.
Austin Chicago’s energy utility. The
All new homes zero- house has an ecological Low Income
footprint 1/10 of the average
net-energy by 2015 Weatherization Assis-
US house. [Source:
Figure 1 Architect and Atlanta tance Program
michellemarie from Flickr.com]
planner Steven Bingler’s Earth Craft House Total Community
home in Carrollton is the first program is offered in EXISTING NEW Action is
private LEED-certified the city of Atlanta. ORLEANS PROJECTS weatherizing 70
residence in the country. Coupled with grants Solar Cities Homes
[Source: katrinaevacuee200 to green program. The City of New
from Flickr.com] Build Smart
Orleans is one of 25
recipients for a Solar Weatherization Program
7
Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency
accelerate the adoption Cost/Benefit of less than four years. Implement energy
and cost- According to a SHORT-TERM saving measures:
competitiveness of December 2006 Meet new building code ! CFL light bulbs
commercial and other Department of standards and take ! Occupancy sensors
green building. Energy/Pacific advantage of immediate ! Power
Chicago’s fast-track Northwest National opportunities. consumption
Green Permit Program Laboratory study, sensors
pays for energy commercial office Commercial Green ! Education of office
ratings/consultant buildings will enjoy an Building in Target Areas workers
reviews on qualifying 8-13% reduction in The Office of Recovery ! External solar
commercial buildings energy use per square Management Target shading
and approves foot as a result of the Areas should encourage ! Building envelope
permitting within 30 newly-adopted 90.1- commercial and mixed ! Efficient and
business days or less. 2004 code. use green buildings. appropriately sized
air-conditioning
LESSONS LEARNED Additionally, the Green Commercial systems
Commercial green analysis expects that Building Council MEDIUM-TERM
building programs can encouraging the Part of a larger green Firmly establish green
be difficult to adoption of a LEED business initiative with commercial programs
incentivize by city standard for large developers and and incentives,
government. Instead, commercial buildings institutions. expanding off
the city should focus on will reduce energy costs opportunities and
a limited incentive by up to 19% per Create a Green successes created in
program while square foot. Lastly, the Commercial Properties the short-term.
encouraging the study shows that office Program
creation of an energy building efficiency is Work with large Commercial Building
trust and other non- easiest to improve, and commercial building Standards
budgetary means of that even some of the owners and institutions The city shall develop
incentivizing most expensive such as local voluntary, New
commercial green measures to increase universities and Orleans-specific green
building. energy efficiency of hospitals to increase standards and goals for
lighting and windows in energy savings of sustainable commercial
commercial buildings commercial and construction. Establish
have a simple payback institutional buildings. a commercial green
9
Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency
Municipal
! Computer is an effective means at all have some municipal
modeling incentivizing buildings which a low
Facilities
! Eco-design commercial green environmental impact.
charrettes building.
! Tax credit
assistance Chicago and The green roof on
Chicago’s City Hall is a
!
!
Commissioning
Lifecycle costing
Chicago incentivizes
green building through Operations practical benefit to the
city’s bottom line as
Green Permitting well as a symbol of the
Arizona Program, with approval INTRODUCTION Chicago’s commitment
The Community Bank of in less than 30 business The facilities and to a greener future. The
Arizona has a green days. The Chicago properties owned and $2.5M roof was funded
building commercial Center for Green operated by City of New by a settlement with
loan available for those Technology is a LEED- Orleans are one of the ComEdison, the local
commercial structures Platinum building meant largest users of utility.
that attain an Energy to be both a model electricity in New
Star rating of 75 or municipal building as Orleans. The City has LESSONS LEARNED
better. well as an exemplar of the ability to New Orleans Local
green commercial dramatically impact Government has the
Portland building. how its facilities in the opportunity and the
The Oregon Energy city use energy and obligation to become
Trust was created in should lead by example. greener in its
1999 by a mandate According to the 1998 operations.
from the Oregon Public Green House Gas
ASHRAE standards
Utilities Commission (GHG) analysis of According to the City’s
that the investor-owned can improve municipal departments, 1998 Greenhouse Gas
utilities in the state commercial municipal buildings in (GHG) study, the
collect a 3% public buildings and small NO produced 32% of Sewerage and Water
purpose charge. The the total municipal Board (S&W B)
charge finances
offices by 30% to emissions. contributes to
incentives for energy 40% with off-the- approximately 60% of
efficiency, green shelf technologies. US cities that are widely the city’s GHG
building, and renewable known for their emissions. Working
energy measures, and environmental policies cooperatively with the
11
Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency
after Chicago’s Center rain water and gray carbon reduction. EXISTING LOCAL
for Green Technology. water cistern usage. PROJECTS
Current laws restrict its Carbon-Offsetting ! Recycling of asphalt,
Sewerage & Water use and continue to The City should look to concrete and gravel
Board increase unnecessary offset its carbon from streets.
The S&WB should plan water loads on footprint by planting ! LED lights in 100%
for cogeneration municipal water supply. trees, building green of City-owned
facilities and other roofs on applicable city Buildings
upgrades which will GHG Reduction facilities.
improve S&WB The City of New Orleans BEST PRACTICES
efficiency. should commit to Cost-Benefit Portland
LONG-TERM reducing its energy Within 10 years, Invest in all energy-
The City of New Orleans footprint by meeting undertake all activities efficiency measures
should increase its use several ambitious goals. with 10-year payback with 10-year or less
of renewable energy Such goals can include: on municipal facilities. paybacks.
sources in municipal ! Reduce greenhouse Adopt energy
buildings, and all gas emissions by efficient standards
municipal buildings and 30% by 2020 from a for all new city
operations should 2005 baseline. buildings and major
operate at a high level ! Commit to reducing renovation projects.
of energy efficiency. consumption of
The City should also electricity and Chicago
look into ways to natural gas by Global Building
improve its storm 1%/year. Management System
drainage sedimentation ! Renewable energy (GBMS) was
policies. Reduction in purchase implemented in
Figure 6
sedimentation will agreements for order to monitor and
decrease pollutant run municipal Chicago City Hall’s renowned control municipal
off and increase potable operations-energy. green roof. The roof reduces energy efficiency
heating and cooling costs and
water The City of New systems.
retains stormwater. It is also
Orleans’ partnership a symbol of the city’s
The City should with ICLEI should be commitment to being one of Seattle
incorporate laws that used to create more the greenest in the world. Washington was the
are more amenable to feasible plans for first state in the
Zoning, and
government 2003 building code, ORDA to assist with the
buildings meet LEED New Orleans’ zoning analysis of current
Silver.
Codes was last updated in the
1970s. Other cities such
zoning, code and
regulation. Once the
1998 New Orleans as Portland, New York, analysis is complete;
Greenhouse Gas Boston, and Seattle ORDA will supply CPC
Emissions: have dramatically with recommendations
! Total of 283,000 revamped their for incorporating
tons of CO2 released planning, zoning, and environmental and
from municipal code to encourage energy considerations
buildings. denser and greener in the comprehensive
! The Sewerage & development, but New zoning ordinance and
Water Board Orleans has lagged far master plan
contributed over behind.
60% of the city’s
carbon footprint. The 1999 Master Plan Boston’s
! The operation of and the 2001 Com- Redevelopment
municipal buildings INTRODUCTION prehensive Zoning Authority (BRA) is a
in NO was 32% of Energy and Ordinance have been dynamic organization
the total municipal environmental consider- shelved, and the City that does both planning
emissions. ations are paramount at Planning Commission and development for
several scales of has put revising the the City of Boston,
building. Land use, Comprehensive Zoning implementing planning
zoning, planning, and Ordinance out for bid. and development
development policy Energy efficient building policy, including recent
have to interface with standards and energy and
smaller-scale green sustainable, mixed-use environmental
building considerations urban design should considerations.
in order to make New both be considerations
Orleans a model in the city’s regulations, Portland has developed
sustainable city. zoning, and building one of the most
code. aggressive land use
13
Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency
policies in the US, one Standard should meet are currently subject to
that encourages dense, Analyze Regulations, local requirements by revision and veto by the
center city and infill Code, and Zoning including City Council. Work with
development while Analyze current zoning, gray/stormwater the City Council and the
discouraging code, regulation, and retention, green roofs, City Planning
“greenfield” or new, planning. Prepare to transit, architectural, Commission to ensure
suburban development. pass the Master Plan and other locally- that the CPC’s decisions
and the Comprehensive oriented features. are given the force of
LESSONS LEARNED Zoning Ordinance. law. Pass the Master
Cities with the most Requirements should Plan and
effective environmental Create a New Orleans increase over time. Comprehensive Zoning
and energy programs Standard Portions of the standard Ordinance.
also have the most Review best practices should be made
coherent planning, and create a standard mandatory and Create Incentives for
zoning, and regulation. equivalent to that of integrated into the Green Building,
Seattle, Chicago, building code. Planning, and Design
Additionally, the Toronto, and LEED but MEDIUM-TERM Bonuses and incentives
importance of up-to- designed for warm, Pass comprehensive should be codified into
date zoning, planning, humid, coastal places. Zoning Ordinance and zoning and regulation.
and regulation cannot Master Plan with ! Floor Area Ratio
be overemphasized. The standard should environmental and bonuses for green
While New Orleans is include a certification, energy considerations. building.
now one of the best- such as Seattle’s Doing so will lay the ! Transferable
planned cities in the BuiltGreen or Chicago’s groundwork for development rights
world, zoning, planning, Chicago Standard, that sustainably rebuilding (TDRs) for green
and regulation are creates a brand for the City of New development.
required to buildings that meet Orleans. ! Additional
institutionalize post- certain qualifications. requirements could
Katrina plans. Review Restore City Planning be mandated for all
existing regulations, The standard should Commission Authority development above
code, and zoning, and differ for building types, over Planning, Zoning, a certain threshold
begin to implement such as the Florida and Land Use Decisions and for all national
recommended changes. Green Building Code. The City Planning chains.
The New Orleans Commission’s activities LONG-TERM
15
Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency
adoption of green Toronto Green
building practices in
Portland.
Development Standard
Toronto, like
Conclusion
New Orleans is poised
Chicago, has devel- to become one of the
Seattle BuiltGreen oped its own greenest-built cities in
A certification that standard which has the world.
the newly con- been adapted from
structed home LEED and other
contains selected sources.
Built Green features
and meets the Florida Green Building
criteria on the Built Coalition
Green checklist. The coalition has
developed standards
The Chicago Standard for five building
The Chicago types, which are
Standard was designed for hot and
developed to guide humid climates such
the design, as New Orleans.
construction and
renovation of
municipal facilities in
a manner that
provides healthier
indoor
environments,
reduces operating
costs and conserves
energy and
resources.
17
Alternative Energy
is a grant designed to
Alternative
recent SB-90 bill for solar
make solar energy cost- tax credits, the creation
competitive by 2015. of two solar-powered
Energy According to a recent
schools by 2009, an
exploration of viable wind
“We are like tenant farmers report from the U.S. energy farms, and
chopping down the fence
around our house for fuel when
News & World Report, the continuous localized
we should be using Natures most widely used monitoring and
inexhaustible sources of energy renewable energies— improvement of the city’s
— sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put
my money on the sun and solar wind, solar, and energy footprint, New
energy. What a source of ethanol—only currently Orleans can in the next
power! I hope we don't have to
wait until oil and coal run out
provide 3.6 percent of two years build the
before we tackle that.”
As a city in the midst of the nation’s energy, and momentum necessary to
unprecedented rebuilding government predictions surpass the government’s
- Thomas Edison (1931) and revitalization, New are that the renewables predictions within the
Orleans is uniquely will only increase to 4.6 city, and to join California
INTRODUCTION positioned to assume a percent of the nation’s and other “greening”
Perhaps the most leading role in the energy by 2030. Kholsa states in the movement
significant roadblock to “ground-up” Ventures, a venture to effectively mitigate
mitigating climate change institutionalization of capital firm in Silicon climate change.
is the current policy for sound environmental Valley that has a goal of
the generation and practices and “green” far-surpassing the federal
distribution of energy. development, particularly government’s predictions One of the major tasks of
Reducing the city’s with regards to in California, estimates lowering emissions from
dependency on fossil diversifying its energy that a 50 percent the city’s vehicles is a
fuels by diversifying its resources. Major replacement of fossil fuel fundamental change in
energy sources (i.e. opportunities for this energies with renewables consumer habit and
solar, hydrokinetics, development are already is the minimum needed demand. A proposal
biofuels) will be a major underway in the city, to make a real impact on currently in Congress
step on the path to including the designation climate change. Through would force American
sustainable recovery and of New Orleans as one of an extensive marketing cars to increase their
diminishing the twenty-five “Solar Cities” and incentives program efficiency to an average
detrimental effects of by the U.S. Department spearheaded by the Solar of 35 miles per gallon by
greenhouse gas of Energy. The Solar Cities Initiative and the 2020. At a recent Tulane
emissions. America Cities Initiative
Alternative Energy 18
Alternative Energy
University-sponsored ! Greater New Orleans Lessons Learned
conference on the future WINDING RIVER Clean Cities Coalition is New Orleans needs to
of the petroleum New technology a part of a voluntary US begin laying the
industry, however, a could harness the Department of Energy technical, regulatory, and
representative of Shell Oil program to encourage financial groundwork for
power of Mississippi, the use of alternative
and the Society of the adoption of
turning it into a fuels.
Petroleum Engineers renewable energy
stated that increasing power plant ! New Orleans just passed
generation and
SB 90, which provides
fuel efficiency to 25 miles Source Times Picayune. for the most progressive
distribution.
per gallon would Sunday, November 04, 2007
solar energy and
drastically decrease the thermal tax credits in Emissions Inventory and
nation’s dependency on Existing Local the entire country for Forecast. The most
foreign oil, and Programs residential units. recent greenhouse gas
significantly reduce ! The Southeast ! Green Earth Fuels just audit in New Orleans took
carbon emissions, which Louisiana Clean Fuels built a new biodiesel place in 1998. The city is
reached 311.9 million Partnership, an plant in Jefferson Parish, in the process of
metric tons from motor initiative of the U.S. and South Coast recalculating its energy
gasoline alone in 2003. Department of Biodiesel sells biodiesel footprint audited again to
Energy’s Clean Cities processors from Belle establish the necessary
Chasse.
Setting a higher standard Program, is working to benchmarks for increased
! The New Orleans
for fuel efficient vehicles develop a market for efficiency.
metropolitan region
and carbon reduction in alternative fuels in the
has attracted two
New Orleans would not region and to increase Distributed Generation
major biofuel
only reduce the city’s public awareness Study. Study the
facilities, one built by
carbon footprint, but also about the benefits of potential for generating
the Renewable Energy
establish a greater utilizing such electricity from several
Group in St. Charles
consciousness and resources. smaller sources
Parish, which will
capacity within the ! Green Light New Orleans
produce 60 million
community for is a local non-profit that Capacity-Building.
has the goal to install 3 gallons of biodiesel
maintaining a healthy Through the Solar Cities
million CFL Energy Star fuel a year, and
balance between Initiative, and with the
Rated light bulbs in New another built by Green
consumption and aid of the city’s 44
Orleans’ residences in Earth Fuels in
environmental waste. energy initiatives
the next four years. Jefferson Parish.
affiliates, the city should
19
Alternative Energy
launch a major marketing Renewable Energy. The local startups to create
campaign to inform the City of New Orleans Renewables the first hydrokinetic
public about the should begin adopting Manufacturing. With the project in the Mississippi
environmental and renewable energy and demand-stimulation of River.
economic benefits of fostering renewable SB-90, the City of New
alternative energy, and energy and economic Orleans should attract at S&WB Anaerobic
hold neighborhood based development. least one major Cogeneration. New
workshops on these manufacturer of solar Orleans should encourage
resources to ensure that panels. the installation of
the message reaches all Localized Energy cogeneration on as many
members of the New Efficiency Initiatives. Renewable Energy S&WB facilities as
Orleans’ community. New Orleans should Incentives. As with the possible.
create a Memorandum of solar tax credits provided
Green Business Council. Understanding between by SB-90, create Renewable Portfolio
Create a council of green the City and community- incentives for ethanol, Standard. New Orleans
and renewable energy based organizations to wind, and biodiesel. should require that
business leaders. The jointly pursue funding Entergy New Orleans
partners should include resources for simple Renewable Power meet certain standards
representatives in these projects such as installing Procurement. In the for its energy portfolio.
technology areas: Solar, CFL Energy Star rated medium-term, 10 percent By 2010, 10 percent of
Wind, Biodiesel, Ethanol, light bulbs in New of New Orleans’ energy the city’s energy should
Geothermal and Orleans residences. should be purchased be renewable, and the
hydrokinetic energy from renewable sources figure should increase to
by 2010. 20 percent by 2015.
Ethanol. New Orleans
should coordinate with Explore Hydrokinetic Maintaining Localized
The Louisiana Power. Louisiana has Incentives. The city
Department of prime locations for should require all
Agriculture to develop hydrokinetic energy community-based
relationships with local farms, and it has the partners to establish
energy users and the water resource long-term goals to
sugarcane ethanol plants management expertise complete their missions
in the state. to maintain competitive in the neighborhoods
Figure 1. CFL Light bulb advantage. Work with which they serve, and
Alternative Energy 20
Alternative Energy
assist in when necessary to finance energy
to ensure that all goals incentives and is an
effective means at
are being met. incentivizing commercial
green building.
Greenhouse Gas Boston
Reductions/Carbon Caps. ! Boston’s green/renewable
power procurement policy
The City of New Orleans currently provides 8.6% of
should commit to Boston’s total energy use
reducing its greenhouse through renewable
gas emissions sources.
dramatically: 30 percent Austin
! 30% of city energy from
reduction by 2020. renewable sources by
2020.
Best Practices
Seattle
! Seattle City Light is the
first utility in the country to
achieve zero net emissions
of greenhouse gases
through the purchase of
Renewable Energy Credits
(RECs).
Salt Lake City
! Blue Sky program enables
residents to purchase
monthly blocks of wind
power for a flat rate
(100kWh for $1.95).
Portland
! Oregon Energy Trust was
created in 1999 by a
mandate from the Oregon
Public Utilities Commission
that the investor-owned
utilities in the state collect
a 3% public purpose
charge. The charge is used
21
SHORT-TERM MEDIUM-TERM LONG-TERM
Emissions Inventory Renewables Renewable Portfolio
and Forecast Manufacturing Standard
Recalculate the City’s Develop incentives to By 2010, 10 percent of
energy footprint to attract companies that the city’s energy should
establish the necessary provide products and be renewable, and the
benchmarks for increased services that support SB- figure should increase to
efficiency. 90. 20 percent by 2015.
Small-Scale Wind New Orleans should
Distributed Generation Power require that Entergy New
Study Work with local startups Orleans meet these
Study the potential for to create the first standards for its energy
generating electricity offshore U.S. wind-to- portfolio.
from several smaller energy farms. Louisiana
sources. has prime locations for Greenhouse Gas
wind energy farms and Reductions/Carbon
Capacity-Building the offshore expertise to Caps
Train and Certify Builders maintain a competitive New Orleans should
and Energy Raters. advantage. commit to reducing its
Hydrokinetic Power greenhouse gas
Ethanol Work with local startups emissions dramatically: a
Research the feasibility of to create the first Run-of- 30 percent reduction by
using sugarcane ethanol the-River Hydrokinetic in 2020.
in the city’s fleet. Louisiana. New Orleans
has prime locations for
hydrokinetic power
energy farms on the
Mississippi River.
Currently there are 3
private companies with
preliminary permits to
develop renewable
energy projects along the
City’s waterfront.
Alternative Energy 22
Waste Reduction, Reuse, & Recycling
_ ! The recycling facility recycle, such as paying facilities it contracts
Recycling that New Orleans used
before Katrina was
them for their material
or instituting a pay as
with share revenues
from reselling
Introduction disabled during the you throw program. materials. They city
Recycling has become storm. It has been also has performance
an integral part of repaired and is now ! Education is a crucial requirements for the
waste management in operational. component to program facilities and haulers.
America and is a success.
prerequisite for a city to Lessons Learned ! A number of cities
be considered green. ! Allowing residents to have banned putting
Hurricane Katrina place all recyclables in a recyclables into trash.
disrupted curbside single bin is a good way Tickets are issued to
recycling and it has not to increase participation repeat offenders, but
been reestablished. rates and lower this is rarely needed.
New Orleans should payments to haulers.
reestablish curbside The biggest obstacle for ! British Columbia has
recycling by using the this method is keeping banned putting
model of other cities contamination rates computers, televisions
that have created low. and computer towers in
efficient and cost the trash. These
effective recycling ! Recycling programs materials are collected
programs. work best if recyclables Best Practices at curbside and the
are picked up on the ! In the early 90’s, manufactures of these
Existing Local same day as trash. California passed items are taxed to pay
Programs legislation requiring for the program.
! Phoenix of New ! Large bins increase each community to
Orleans is currently participation rates and reduce their landfill ! Bergen County New
collecting curbside allow for automated usage by 50% by 2000. Jersey and St. Paul
recycling. Residents pickup, which reduces This has spurred rapid Minnesota requires
pay $15 dollars a injury to workers. progress in recycling businesses to recycle.
month and the rates.
materials are taken to a ! Participation rates are ! Leverett,
facility in Baton Rouge. highest when citizens ! The city of Phoenix Massachusetts and a
are given incentives to and the recycling number of other
24
Waste Reduction, Reuse, & Recycling
compost is picked up on
the same day as trash.
The city has a lower
participation rate than
education. This reduces
their waste stream by
Deconstruction
cities with curbside 10-14%.
-High quality compost collection, but they do Introduction
compare favorably with not have the costs of -The State of North Deconstruction is an
peat and other high running a program. Carolina gives grants alternative to
quality fertilizers. and technical advice to demolition that involves
-A number of emerging composting reusing building
Best Practices communities encourage facilities. materials instead of
-San Francisco is one of residents to let grass placing them in a
many cities with clippings remain on Costs and Benefits landfill. Recycling
curbside collection of lawns, which reduces -New Orleans can housing materials used
yard waste and kitchen hauling and keeps reduce its waste to be a common
scraps. Materials are nutrients in the lawn. management costs with practice in America but
taken to privately- an efficient composting fell out of favor in the
owned composting -The Massachusetts program. 1950’s as the nation’s
facilities outside of the Department of wealth increased.
city and the facilities Environmental Indicators Deconstruction is
maintain ownership of Protection is working to -Waste diversion rates becoming more
the material. establish community -Number of private widespread in America
Christmas tree recycling composting facilities as costs have become
-Massachusetts has programs in every -Waste management competitive with
contracted a non profit region of the state. costs demolition in many
to run a program where circumstances. The
haulers collect compost -Over 20 states ban large number of houses
from restaurants, hotels putting yard waste in that need to be taken
and supermarkets. The landfills. down in New Orleans
materials are brought would allow the city to
to local farms. -A number of become a leader in the
communities have industry.
-Provo UT has drop off composting in
sites where residents elementary schools as
and businesses can part of earth and
bring their compost. environmental science
26
Waste Reduction, Reuse, & Recycling
renewable source of programs in the State Lessons Learned waste-to-energy
energy (as of 6/30/07): of Louisiana. According facility, an increase in
to the U.S. EPA, nearly carbon dioxide
! Energy Policy Act of The Jefferson Parish one ton of CO2 emissions that would
2005 Landfill provides energy equivalent emissions have been generated by
! Federal Power Act to Cytec Industries Inc are avoided for every a fossil-fuel fired power
! Public Utility via a 4.2-mile pipeline. ton of municipal solid plant is avoided.
Regulatory Policy Act Previously flared landfill waste handled by a
(PURPA) of 1978 gas used as alternative waste-to-energy plant Avoided CO2 emissions
! Biomass Research fuel reduces due to the following: from metals production:
and Development dependence on fossil Waste-to-energy plants
Act of 2000 fuels and provides long- Avoided methane recover more than
! Pacific Northwest term economic benefit emissions from landfills: 700,000 tons of ferrous
Power Planning and to both parties. When a ton of solid metals for recycling
Conservation Act waste is delivered to a annually. Recycling
! Internal Revenue In Shreveport, LA, the waste-to-energy metals saves energy
Code (Section 45) GM Shreveport facility, the methane and avoids CO2
! Executive Orders Assembly Plant. has a that would have been emissions that would
13123 and 13423 seven mile pipeline that generated if it were have been emitted if
! Federal Energy goes from the landfill to sent to a landfill is virgin materials were
Regulatory the GM Plant. This avoided. While some of mined and new metals
Commissions process uses LFG to fuel this methane could be were manufactured,
Regulations steam boilers at the collected and used to such as steel.
! (18 CFR.Ch. I, 4/96 plant for both heating generate electricity,
Edition, Sec. and cooling purposes. some would not be
292.204) captured and would be
Current Projects emitted to the
Existing Local Proposed in New atmosphere.
Programs Orleans
Currently, Orleans Avoided CO2 emissions
Parish does not have an ! Transload Facility from fossil fuel
operational waste-to- ! Sun Energy Plant combustion: When a
energy program, but megawatt of electricity 10/29/2007 Waste News
there are existing is generated by a
28
Waste Reduction, Reuse, & Recycling
SHORT-TERM MEDIUM-TERM LONG-TERM
Issue an RFP to re- Support the Create an integrated
establish curbside establishment of a system of facilities that
recycling in the City of waste-to-energy project combines recycling,
New Orleans that serves New composting, reuse,
Orleans. converting waste to
Require that waste-to- energy, household
energy developers Monitor compliance with hazardous waste
submit emissions their permitted centers, municipal
estimates, waste operating requirements. waste collection, and
diversion rates, energy landfilling to effectively
production estimates, manage the city’s waste
and identification of stream.
waste input sources and
types. Create a waste
diversion goal for the
Monitor compliance and city to encourage more
progress with the City’s sustainable practices.
Environmental Meet or exceed the goal
Conservation Policy by a set date.
(CAO Policy
Memorandum R103).
31
Transportation & Clean Fuels
Indicators vehicles whenever
! Establish a baseline possible.
inventory of current ! Support the
city fleet and establish establishment of city
yearly status reports. wide bike paths and
! Establish measurable alternative
goals to increase fleet transportation
corporate average fuel
economy, reduce
vehicle size where
necessary, and
minimize vehicle miles
traveled.
! Track commuter
telecommute choice
through employee
commuting surveys
! Number of car sharing
vehicles available in
the city.
! Miles of bicycle paths
and lanes, especially
contiguous miles.
! Survey usage of
bicycle parking
facilities to track
popularity.
! Collect employee
method of commuting
surveys annually by
employers
! Replace current city
owned vehicles with
biodiesel and hybrid
33
Environmental Outreach and Justice
Introduction the future. In the Lessons Learned disorders (ADHD),
As we rebuild our city in interim, the City will According to a recent behavioral problems,
the wake of Hurricane focus on reviving pre- survey conducted by stunted growth,
Katrina, the City of New Katrina environmental the City of New impaired hearing, and
Orleans is committed to programs, funding for Orleans, two of the top kidney damage.
recovering and existing and new three concerns noted by
preserving a healthy environmental citizens of New Orleans Higher levels of blood
environment, and to programs, capacity- include crime and Lead (Pb)
moving forward with building, public education – especially contamination may
just and ethical outreach, and the high failure rate and result in mental
environmental developing 10-year and dropout rate of New retardation, coma,
legislation and 20-year environmental Orleans students. seizures, and even
programs for all citizens plans. death. In addition,
and communities. The US Environmental recent scientific
Achieving the goal of Protection Agency (EPA) research indicates that
Traditionally, the Environmental Health states that the chemical childhood Lead (Pb)
movement for and Justice for all element Lead (chemical poisoning may be
Environmental Justice citizens of New Orleans symbol = Pb), “is a associated with juvenile
has been spearheaded will require the long- highly toxic metal that delinquency and
by activists, non-profit term coordination of was used for many criminal behavior.
groups, and non- diverse governmental years in products found
governmental agencies as well as in and around our In adults, blood Lead
organizations (NGOs). cooperation and homes.” Childhood (Pb) can increase blood
Because Environmental assistance from the exposure to Lead (Pb) pressure and cause
Justice has not many non-profit in our environment, fertility problems, nerve
historically been a organizations, non- even at very low levels disorders, muscle and
movement within governmental (low concentrations) joint pain, irritability,
Government itself, the organizations (NGOs), can result in a range of and memory or
City recognizes that it local businesses and health effects, ranging concentration problems.
will take time and business leaders, and from reduced IQ,
considered planning to the citizens of New learning disabilities, Children under 6 years
develop and achieve an Orleans. poor performance in of age are most at risk
Environmental Health school, attention deficit of blood Lead (Pb)
and Justice platform for / hyperactivity poisoning due to the
34
Environmental Outreach and Justice
presence of Lead (Pb) consumer use. Based highest concentrations Local “Lead Watch
in their environment. on the age of most of vehicular traffic have Community” Program
According to the EPA, homes and multi-family existed for decades. Utilizing grant money
research suggests that residences in New from the US
the primary sources of Orleans (some In the city of New Department of Housing
Lead (Pb) exposure for estimates are that up to Orleans, despite the and Urban Development
most children are 90 percent of the ban on these leaded (HUD), the City of New
deteriorating lead- housing in the City was products, studies led by Orleans is engaged in
based paint, lead- constructed prior to Dr. Howard Mielke, developing a “Lead
contaminated dust, and 1978), a very high Research Professor at Watch Community”
lead-contaminated percentage of the the Tulane / Xavier program. This
residential soil. The housing stock has the Center for community-focused
primary sources of potential to contain Bioenvironmental program aims to create
lead-contaminated dust lead-based paint. Research, indicated that model communities
and lead-contaminated Deterioration of both prior to Hurricane where the residents
soil are lead-based interior and exterior Katrina, over 20% of have been informed
paint, and the historic paint leads to lead- inner-city children ages about Lead (Pb)
use of leaded gasoline. contaminated dust and 6 years and under had hazards in their
Eating and breathing lead-contaminated soil. elevated blood Lead environment; the Lead
lead-based paint, lead- (Pb) levels at (Pb) hazards have been
contaminated dust, and In 1996, after a phase- concentrations above identified and
lead-contaminated soil out period, the EPA the Centers for Disease remediated or
puts children and even banned the sale of Control (CDC) mitigated; children ages
family pets at risk of leaded gasoline. recommended target 6 years and under have
blood Lead (Pb) Laboratory analysis of for elimination of 10 had blood Lead (Pb)
poisoning. soil samples collected micrograms per testing; and an ongoing
across Orleans Parish deciliter (10 ug/dL). community participation
In 1978, the US have shown that Some census tracts had exists in protecting
Consumer Product residual Lead (Pb) up to 50% of children residents and the
Safety Commission contamination of soil is with elevated blood environment from Lead
(CPSC) banned the sale generally higher in Lead (Pb) levels above (Pb) hazards in that
of paint containing inner city locations and 10 ug/dL. community. The title of
more than 0.06% Lead along major traffic the program, “Lead
(Pb) intended for corridors, where the Watch Community” is
36
Environmental Outreach and Justice
remediate lead- Existing Local This program currently epidemiological support
contaminated soil in Programs has limited-duration to LACLPPP for
New Orleans is $300 ! New Orleans’ Office of funding. surveillance and
million. Mitigation or Environmental Health – analysis of data, Health
remediation of New Orleans Childhood ! Louisiana Department Education,
residential housing that Lead Poisoning of Environmental physician/health care
contains lead-based Prevention Program Quality (LDEQ): provider education, and
paint can range from a (NOCLPPP): Monitors Provides regulatory community-based
few hundred dollars to blood testing of children oversight of site research and education.
tens of thousands of throughout the city by evaluation and
dollars per residential private medical facilities remediation; assists the ! Louisiana Office of
unit or property. and City health clinics. public in understanding Environmental Health –
Elevated childhood and participating in the Department of Health
Every dollar spent blood levels trigger regulatory process and Hospitals (DHH) –
towards the cleanup of education, remediation, through outreach and Section of
environmental Lead medical intervention, education. Environmental
(Pb) contamination and/or medical Epidemiology and
reduces the yearly cost monitoring. ! Louisiana CLPPP: Toxicology (SEET):
to society – to the City Statewide monitoring of Environmental health
and her citizens – and ! New Orleans blood lead levels in research, public health
improves the quality of Department of Housing young children, care education, occupational
life. Benefits to and Neighborhood coordination for children health surveillance, and
individuals, families, Development (DHND) – with elevated blood other programs.
and society are likely to Neighborhood 1 – NO lead concentrations,
include improved LEAD Program: environmental ! Louisiana Office of
performance in school Qualifying low to inspections, and Environmental Health–
for children, and moderate income community and DHH–SEET–Adult Blood
reduced criminal families with a child professional education Lead Poisoning: Health
behavior by young under age 6 who tests on childhood lead education materials for
adults, as the positive for lead poisoning. adults, and information
prevalence of childhood poisoning can have lead for health care
blood Lead (Pb) hazards removed at no ! Tulane Center for providers on the
poisoning diminishes. cost to the Applied Environmental treatment of adult lead
resident/homeowner. Public Health: Provides poisoning.
38
Environmental Outreach and Justice
appropriate. The citizen responsibility, Reform Now
primary objectives of maintaining solid -Volunteer participation (ACORN)
these partnerships are: connections between fosters a culture of - Groundwork New
city government and citizen service and Orleans
! To engage the New Orleans social responsibility, - People’s
organizations in community, and both of which are Environmental
important service institutionalizing critical for the future of Center
projects that will environmental green growth and - Common Ground
contribute to the long awareness and action community re-
term environmental as an essential development in New PUBLIC OUTREACH
sustainability of New component of New Orleans. Among the biggest
Orleans; Orleans living. challenges to
Environmental Non- environmental
! To provide continuous Lessons Learned Profit Organizations sustainability in New
green skills training -Utilizing the New in New Orleans Orleans is adequate
opportunities for the Orleans volunteer base - Louisiana Green pubic outreach and
City’s future green both bolsters the profile Corps education regarding
workforce; and capacity of the - Global Green new or existing
participating - Parkway Partners programs and
! To build city-wide organizations and - New Orleans Food completed recovery
capacity to execute improves the financial and Farm Network projects. It is critical
green projects; and and time efficiency with - Deep South Center for the success of any
which projects can be for Environmental program, new or
! To spread completed across the Justice existing, that the
environmental City. - Replant New Orleans general public be
awareness and - LA Bucket Brigade sufficiently informed of
concern throughout -Engaging youth in - Holy Cross program benefits and
the community. green projects creates Neighborhood processes. Public
interest in and training Association awareness can be
Secondary objectives for the green workforce, - HEAL enhanced through
for these partnerships which is already a - Association of targeted media
include creating a more significant and growing Community campaigns, public
permanent culture of sector of our nation’s Organizations for workshops, and
volunteerism and economy. educational outreach in
40
Environmental Outreach and Justice
youth. Accordingly, a Over the next 3-5
vital aspect of the City’s years, the City of New
public outreach strategy Orleans seeks to
will be to encourage a develop a 10-year and
broad green curriculum 20-year Environmental
in schools across New Health and Justice Plan.
Orleans. The City will Long-term goals include
work towards the drafting and
encouraging schools promulgation of sound
throughout the parish environmental
to institute green legislation that will
practices in school promote and enable a
yards, in cafeterias, and sustainable, healthy
in classrooms. environment for all
residents of New
Lessons Learned Orleans.
-Successful campaigns
must include targeted To achieve this goal and
media that is highly to develop the plan,
visible, practical, and environmental
appealing to the programs and
audience. legislation throughout
the Gulf Coast region
-Educational outreach and in select “green”
for adults (community cities throughout the
programs) and youth country will be reviewed
(through schools) is and considered for City
critical for adoption.
institutionalizing eco-
friendly practices across
the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING
42
Flood Risk Reduction
The primary mission of impact that wetland This created open water
Coastal the program is to
ensure that coastal
loss will have on the
commercial fishing
areas in places that
once contained
44
Flood Risk Reduction
has agreed to partner state, and federal 2. Promote a
with the city and will stakeholders and with sustainable coastal
provide technical assistance from the ecosystem by
expertise (Engineering following state harnessing the
and Design) and $27.2 agencies: processes of the
million in financial natural system;
contributions. ! Department of
Natural Resources 3. Provide habitats
While there are many ! Department of suitable to support
direct benefits to Transportation and an array of
restoring wetlands and Development commercial and
stabilizing the coastline, ! Department of recreational
to include reduction in Wildlife and Fisheries activities coast-
storm surge, habitat ! Department of wide;
creation and job Environmental
creation; the indirect Quality 4. Sustain, to the
impacts are important ! Department of The plan was developed extent practicable,
too. Those impacts Economic around four objectives: the unique heritage
include eco-tourism Development of coastal Louisiana
industry, commercial ! Department of 1. Reduce economic by protecting
fishing and the potential Agriculture and losses from storm historic properties
development of a new Forestry based flooding to and traditional living
business sector. ! Louisiana Division of residential, public, cultures and their
Administration industrial, and ties and
State Master Plan ! Governor’s Office for commercial relationships to the
The State of Louisiana Homeland Security infrastructure, natural environment.
developed a Master and Emergency assuring that assets
Plan for Coastal Preparedness are protected, at a The City of New Orleans
Restoration and ! Department of minimum, from a is part of Planning Unit
Hurricane Protection at Insurance) storm surge that has 1 in the Plan. The plan
the request of Governor a 1% chance of had bi-partisan support
Blanco (through Act 8). occurring in any and was approved by
The plan was developed given year; the State legislature on
with input from local, May 30, 2007.
46
Flood Risk Reduction
wetlands, and preserve EXISTING LOCAL LOCAL PARTNERS
Education the coast PROJECTS
A wetlands research ! U.S. Army Corps of
and education center is The parish will work ! Christmas Tree Engineers
being established. The with other stakeholders Recycling ! L.S.U. Agricultural
facility is located in to encourage CWPPRA ! UNO/PIES Center
Orleans Parish at Chef stakeholders to include ! Coastal Roots ! Natural Resources
Pass, and is being points for projects that ! Wetlands in the Conservation Service
remodeled and assist more than one Classroom ! University of New
upgraded for use by parish. ! Wetland Orleans (PIES)
students, faculty and Nurseries at local ! Coalition to Restore
local schools. The schools Coastal Louisiana
facility will have three INDICATORS ! Mississippi River
components: wetlands Indicators of progress Basin Alliance
and estuarine research, in coastal restoration ! Lake Catherine Civic
K-12 educational include: Association
programs and ! Sewerage and Water
vocational technology ! New miles of Board of New
components to support shoreline added Orleans
the commercial fishing ! New acres of ! Department of
industries. wetlands created Natural Resources
! Increase in wetland ! Lake Pontchartrain
Stewardship habitat Basin Foundation
Establish a coastal ! Reduction in rates of ! Coastal Environment
stewardship program erosion Incorporated
that consists of a
network of volunteers
and businesses who
work together to
improve the quality of
the coast through
service projects that
protect habitat, restore
48
Flood Risk Reduction
system of levees, Orleans. One of the program. This means
Hazard floodwalls, pumps, and
gates that allowed New
positive outcomes of
the catastrophic levee
an ongoing search for
mitigation resources,
50
Flood Risk Reduction
risk of flooding to redeveloped critical public facilities equipment above a
maximize the benefit of appropriately. or commercial structures flood zone;
investing in mitigation, facilities. moving operations
and projects that ! Elevation of above the first floor.
facilitate the creation of Structures in Place. ! Dry Flood Proofing
clustered communities Existing homes or of Commercial Indicators
and that keep commercial structures Facilities. In this Examples of indicators
neighborhoods intact. would be elevated on option waterproof are:
Five types of non- their existing site. To walls up to 4 feet in ! Increase in the
structural mitigation will qualify for this option height would be number of properties
be demonstrated: the site can be at installed on the mitigated
more than medium surface of the existing ! Reduction in the
! Voluntary Property risk, where relocation external walls of a number of repetitive
Buyouts and is not required but commercial structure. loss structures in the
Relocation to New mitigation is still To qualify for this City
Elevated Structures. achieved. Higher risk mitigation method the ! Increase in the
This option involves sites will require structure must be number of structures
buying out relocation because located in an area that covered by flood
homeowners located structures cannot be has not received more insurance coverage
in a low-lying, high elevated above the than 2-3 feet of ! Reductions in the
risk areas and offering maximum 12-15 feet. flooding. loss of life and
them new elevated For most structures, property damage
homes elsewhere in elevations of this ! Hardening of following severe
the same or adjacent height would be Critical Facilities. flood events
neighborhood. The undesirable for Critical facilities would ! Higher flood
cost of the buyout and functional reasons. be retrofitted to insurance discounts
the cost of providing increase their associated with the
mitigated housing ! Secondary operability during a City’s participation in
would be covered by Levees/Floodwalls. typical flood event. the Community
the project. For an This option involves Changes would Rating System
existing urban area the construction of include: elevating ! Higher levels of flood
like New Orleans, the small secondary pumps, generators, protection beyond
bought out property levees or floodwalls, electrical wiring, and the minimum 100-
must be able to be up to 6 feet around other critical year level
52
Flood Risk Reduction
SHORT TERM MEDIUM TERM LONG TERM
! Maximize Existing ! Improve ! Achieve Legitimacy
Funding Sources – Government – A permanent
New program Performance – mitigation office with
expansion to include Better government adequate staff and
administration of performance resources, including
FEMA-funded through state-of- both disaster-based
programs (e.g., the-art contracts, and non-disaster
PDM, PPGP, SRL, better procurement based funding to
FMA, etc.). procedures, use of reduce flood risk
! Build Institutional construction permanently.
Capacity – Establish monitoring, ! Demonstrate
a Disaster Mitigation enhanced fiscal Effectiveness –
Unit with adequate monitoring, and Integrated structural
staff and resources formal records and non-structural
within the City’s management. mitigation practices,
Office of Homeland ! Formalize Mitigation coastal restoration,
Security and Policy – Formal floodplain
Emergency written policies and management, and
Preparedness. plans with the force emergency
! Integrate – Establish of law (through preparedness as the
effective working linkage to the City’s Citywide strategy for
relationships and Master Plan and hazard
partnerships with Zoning Ordinance) resilient.urban
the directors of that shift decision- development
emergency making to a risk- ! National Model –
preparedness, based development New Orleans as the
floodplain paradigm. national leader in
management, and ! Expand New Sources risk reduction.
neighborhood of Program Funding
drainage. – Engage the
philanthropic sector
in flood protection