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Today's Air Quality...
A Message from the Mayor
GREETINGS:
Although there has been much recent attention to the environment and a large movement to “go green,” the City of Dallas has been hard at work for a long time. In fact, the City of Dallas has positioned itself as a national leader in addressing environmental issues of concern, especially those affecting the DFW region.
The quality of our air is the most pressing environmental issue we are facing. With 70 percent of the DFW region’s harmful NOx emissions coming from mobile sources, like vehicles, the use of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles will have a definite impact on the region’s air quality. That’s why, for nearly two decades, the City has worked diligently to implement several environmental initiatives.
In fact, the City of Dallas purchased its first alternative fueled vehicle 16 years ago. Ten years later, Dallas was the first city in Texas to use biodiesel. Since that time, the green fleet has continued to grow. Today nearly 2,000 cars and trucks, more than 40 percent of the City’s fleet, are either hybrid or running on alternative fuels, making it the largest “clean fleet” in Texas and one of the largest in the country.
But it’s not just air quality that the City of Dallas is focusing on. The City has built an impressive list of accomplishments when it comes to supporting the environment and setting standards for the future.
We’re saving energy, which in itself lowers emissions. The City Council voted to purchase 40 percent of all the energy we purchase in 2008 from renewable sources like wind and solar. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency listed Dallas as the nation’s top municipal purchaser of renewable energy. Factor in the Dallas-based Fortune 500 companies, private businesses and state and federal agencies and Dallas is the nation’s 9th largest purchaser of green power.
We’ve also reduced energy usage at existing facilities by 5 percent per year for the past 5 years, replaced traditional school and warning flashers with solar powered versions, installed energy efficient LED traffic signals at 1,100 intersections, and implemented recycling programs for citizens and within our own City-owned buildings.
We have also implemented an Environmental Management System which demonstrates a commitment to not simply comply with laws and regulations, but also to go beyond what’s minimally necessary and do the best work possible on behalf of the environment, the citizens, and the City’s resources.
Dallas was also selected as the only city in the nation as a pilot city to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Sustainable Skylines Initiative, which focuses on sustainability issues, particularly air quality. Sustainable Skylines involves completing several three-year projects to reduce air emissions. The initiative is also expected to produce benefits to water and land quality. If the Dallas pilot is successful, the initiative could be used as a national model for other cities.
But, we cannot fix our problems alone. It is going to take all of us to make DFW clean and green. The transportation, manufacturing, and energy use required for the building industry make it the single largest contributor to global warming in the country. Advancing Dallas’ green building program can have the single greatest impact on greenhouse gas emissions reductions of any local strategy.
Green buildings savings average 30 percent in energy, 35 percent in carbon, up to 50 percent in water, and 50-90 percent in waste cost. In addition, green buildings provide enhanced productivity, improved risk management and increased value for an improved bottom line.
Currently, the City has a very strong Green Building Initiatives. City facilities over 10,000 square feet are currently designed and built to meet at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standard. Existing buildings also are being retrofitted with high efficiency heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and lighting systems.
The City of Dallas is proud to be leading the environmental charge locally and is committed to continual improvement.
Sincerely,
Tom Leppert
Mayor
Mayor’s Environmental
Excellence Award
Congratulations, Dallas! The first Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Awards were a great success! Your Mayor and City Council are dedicated to making Dallas the greenest city in America and you are helping to make it happen.
