Sustainable Communities Initiative © Dr. P. Hossay Community Sustainability Patrick Hossay The Richard Stockton College of NJ

Sustainable Communities Initiative

© Dr. P. Hossay

Community Sustainability

Patrick Hossay

The Richard Stockton College of NJ


© Dr. P. Hossay

Why Address Sustainability?


© Dr. P. Hossay

Green is Revenue Smart

• Green options are often revenue enhancing or revenue neutral.

• Energy Savings and Alternative Energy offer high return on investment


© Dr. P. Hossay

A Hedge against Future Energy Cost Increases


© Dr. P. Hossay

Sustainable Development Creates Communities of Choice


© Dr. P. Hossay

Energy Independence


© Dr. P. Hossay

Positioning for Future Regulatory Changes and Incentives

How do we get from here . . .

To Here?

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

01850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2005

Carbon Dioxide Emissions(Million Metric Tons)


© Dr. P. Hossay

And it’s also good for the Planet


© Dr. P. Hossay

The Sustainability Process

• Identify Leadership

• Clarify Long Term Scope, Aims and Responsibility

• Define Stakeholders and Incorporate in the Process

• Catalyze Buy-In from Key Constituents

• Ensure Public Awareness


© Dr. P. Hossay

Incorporate Key Stakeholders

• City Council• Community Associations• Business Leaders (C of Commerce)• Major Employers• Schools• Builders• Sustainability has no enemies - only converts and

those who need to be convinced


© Dr. P. Hossay

Think Broadly

• Development and Planning

• Connectivity

• Transportation

• Alternative Energy and Buildings

• Open Spaces and Trees

• Recycling

• Purchasing


© Dr. P. Hossay

Sustainability Assessment

• Greenhouse Gas Inventory

• Set Clear and Measurable Goals

• Comprehensive Energy Audit


© Dr. P. Hossay

Carbon InventoryCommunity: municipality-wide evaluation of

energy use and waste productionMunicipal: energy use by municipal buildings

and operations


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Purpose

• Measure - Dimensions, quantity, or capacity as defined according to a set standard.

• Index – A useful device or procedure used to identify degree or rate of change and serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference


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Local Governments for Sustainability

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are needed to see this picture.


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Community Inventory

• Energy Use– Residential– Commercial– Industrial

• Transportation • Waste• Diagnostics


© Dr. P. Hossay

Community Data Collection

• Utilities• Surveys• Observation

– Waste– Traffic– Transportation

• DOT / Traffic Counters• Private Sources

– Solar Installers– Propane providers– Waste Collection– School Bus


© Dr. P. Hossay

Utilities

• Electricity Use• Gas Use• Census projections• Other Energy• Contact private suppliers / installers to get

– Solar Energy – Propane– Fuel Oil


© Dr. P. Hossay

Green Power Purchase Program

• NJ Clean Energy Program Clean Power Choice Program

• This energy use should not be included in the community emissions


© Dr. P. Hossay

Survey

• Sampling Method: Cluster Sample

• Identify clusters of housing types and demographic clusters for focused samples


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Sample Survey

• Energy – Square footage of home?– Heating/cooling method?– How often is the lawn mowed?

• Waste – Number of times/wk garbage and recycling is picked up?– Average number of bags of trash, average number of bags of

recycling (define volume of bag) per pickup?

• Transportation– # and type of vehicles?– Average mileage of each vehicle?– Frequency of public transportation use/ carpooling?


© Dr. P. Hossay

Use the Survey for Additional Data

• Ask diagnostic questions– If a town shuttle were available, would you

use it?– If there was a bike path to shopping areas,

would you take your bike to the store?– Would you consider a more fuel efficient

vehicle? Why not?


© Dr. P. Hossay

Waste

• Estimate percentage of – Paper– Food Waste– Plant Debris– Wood/Textiles

• Percentage of recyclable material mixed in with trash (diagnostic)

• For commercial inspections note the trash hauler and estimate volume


© Dr. P. Hossay

Transportation

• Sources of Information – DOT– County and Municipal data– Survey data– Traffic counters


© Dr. P. Hossay

Calculating VMT

• Identify Road Types & Mileage– Collectors/Local Roads– Limited Access Highways– Major Arterial Street

• Use traffic count data from NJ DOT www.nj.gov/transportation and county, municipality

• Count traffic by road type– Vehicle Type– Number of passengers (diagnostic) – AADT


© Dr. P. Hossay

Clean Air and Climate Protection Software

• Community Analysis– Residential– Commercial

• Government Analysis– Municipal


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Low Hanging Fruit


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Energy Efficiency

• Municipality– Conservation– Energy Audit

• in-house and out– Local Government Energy Audit

Program, BPU– State Incentives for Upgrade


© Dr. P. Hossay

Alternative Energy

• Solar• Power Purchase Agreements• Solar Renewable Energy Credits




© Dr. P. Hossay

Wind

• Small wind is cost effective

• Siting is key – anemometer loan program

• State grants

• Consider the small wind ordinance


© Dr. P. Hossay

Fuel

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate• Biodiesel Rebate• Infrastructure




© Dr. P. Hossay

Addressing Community Energy Use

• Resources for small businesses

• Partnerships with energy providers

• Community education/awareness


© Dr. P. Hossay

Regional Cooperation

• Planning / Public Transit / Connectivity / Open Space

• Shared Services and CooperationEnergy / Fuel / Community Education

• Purchasing


© Dr. P. Hossay

Creativity

• Enhancing public transit – Maplewood Concierge

• Community transportation – Car Sharing

• Bicycle connectivity / enhancement


© Dr. P. Hossay

Sustainable by Choice

Documents

Sustainable Communities Initiative © Dr. P. Hossay Community Sustainability Patrick Hossay The Richard Stockton College of NJ