Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report

Baxter & Woodman advocates for a

sustainable future. We will educate

our sta� and clients, innovate

processes, and integrate solutions

that provide a responsible balance

of economic, environmental,

operational, and social value. Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report

Sustainable Thinking. Let it grow on you.

Baxter & Woodman, thoughtfully planning for tomorrow.

Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report


Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Reportby Lori Schendl

© 2010 Baxter & Woodman, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part

without written permission is prohibited.

http://www.baxterwoodman.com/sustainability.html


Table of Contents

Introduction......................................................1

Executive Summary..........................................2

Survey Results..................................................3

Conclusions.....................................................12

Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 1

Introduction

Baxter & Woodman’s Sustainable Mission Statement:Baxter & Woodman advocates for a sustainable future. We will educate our staff and clients, innovate processes, and integrate solutions that provide a responsible balance of economic, environmental, operational, and social value.

Survey BackgroundIn order to support our mission, a survey was commissioned in August of 2010 to determine sustainable practices and trends within government agencies. The survey, titled Sustainable Practices within Government Agencies, was emailed to approximately 1000 public organizations and Baxter & Woodman contacts. Over 100 recipients participated in the survey. While most of the responses were received from local municipal officials in Illinois and Wisconsin, a few replies came from as far away as Georgia and South Carolina. Organizations responding to the survey included municipalities, sanitary districts, water utilities, townships, conservation districts, transportation authorities and more.

The survey was conducted to: • gauge local interest in sustainable services, • determine which sustainable services are being implemented, • identify which sustainable services agencies want to learn more about, and • establish which sustainability topic learning methods are deemed valuable.

The information gathered from the survey will be used to:• further develop Baxter & Woodman’s sustainable services...tailoring these services

to meet the needs of government agencies,• identify sustainable services to target for educational materials, case studies, etc.,• share valuable data on current sustainability trends in the industry, and• create baseline data for continuing to enhance sustainability efforts for our clients.


Executive Summary

• Government agencies deem sustainability as a practice worth undertaking. Sustainability is somewhat or extremely important to an overwhelming majority of 88% of our respondents. A very small percentage of respondents (9%) cited that sustainability was ONLY important when cost benefits where apparent.

• 15% of survey respondents have a FORMALIZED Sustainability Plan or Ordinances in place. 42% have INFORMAL Sustainability Plans and Ordinances in place, while 43% currently have NO Sustainability Plans or Ordinances in the works.

• 46% of communities cited that they pursue LEED certification, 37% participate in WaterSense and 62% attempt to achieve Energy Star Ratings.

• 65% of respondents HAVE incorporated sustainability into their community and/or projects.

• Not surprisingly, lack of funding was cited by 80% of our respondents as the biggest challenge faced when incorporating sustainability into their community and projects. Along these lines, 40% of our respondents HAVE applied for sustainable funding.

• Energy Audits (47%), Expanding and Maintaining Tree Cover (46%), and Installing LED Street Lighting (41%) all topped the list as sustainable services that communities are VERY LIKELY to pursue. On the other hand, Installing Green Roofs was selected as the sustainable service that communities are LEAST LIKELY to pursue.

• The desire for additional information on sustainable topics is great. Over 93% of our respondents want additional information on sustainable funding opportunities. 81% of respondents deemed Email funding alerts as a valuable tool.


Survey Results

How important is incorporating sustainable practices?

Sustainability continues to gather momentum. The survey finds that incorporating sustainable practices is important to an overwhelming majority of respondents. 88% of respondents stated that incorporating sustainable practices into their communities and projects was either Extremely Important or Somewhat Important.

Saving money is not the sole motivator when it comes to incorporating sustainable practices. A low percentage of respondents, only 10%, deemed incorporating sustainable practice important ONLY when cost benefits are apparent.

40.8%

46.6%

2.9% 9.7%

How important is incorporating sustainable practices into your community and projects?

Extremely Important

Somewhat Important

Not Important

Important only when cost benefits are apparent


Do you have a sustainable plan in place?

41% of our respondents already have an INFORMAL Sustainability plan or ordinances in place. Another 15% of respondents currently have a FORMAL plan in place for incorporating sustainable practices. The remaining 44% have NO sustainable plan or ordinances in place at this time.

Survey says...“We have Ordinances for storm water BMPs and energy codes and water conservation.”

“My community is working on a sustainable master plan. In the meantime, there are many actions taken to promote and to become more sustainable.”

44.0%

41.0%

15.0%

Which of these statements is true?

My community has no Sustainability Plan or ordinances.My community has an informal Sustainability Plan or ordinances.My community has a formalized Sustainability Plan or ordinances.


Does your community pursue any of the following?

LEED Certification, Water Sense and Energy Star were listed as possible choices of sustainable programs/certifications that respondents might be seeking or actively participating in. While less than half of our respondents actively participate in the LEED and WaterSense programs, 63% stated that they pursue Energy Star Ratings.

Survey says...“Recently we became an Energy Star Partner!”

“We have pursued and achieved the Bronze level from Clean Air Counts”

Wat

erSe

nse

Ener

gy S

tar R

atin

gs

44.4%35.2%

63.0%

0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%

LEED

Cer

tific

atio

n

Does your community pursue any of the following?


Have you incorporated sustainability into your community and/or projects?

64% of respondents have incorporated sustainability into their community or project. Recurring themes seem to be energy efficiency/reduction and water conservation efforts. Types of sustainable features/projects that were listed by respondents include:

Survey says...• EnergyEfficiencyandReduction,EnergyAudits• Geothermal• Pervious Pavement• Shade Trees in Landscaping• Green Roofs• Solar Powered Pedestrian Crossing Lights• LEDTrafficControlLighting• Planned Native Plantings, Grass Swales• Changeover to Fluorescent Lighting• Sustainability in Product Purchases

• Capital Project Incorporating Sustainable Features• All New City Buildings - LEED ONLY!• Stormwater BMPs• Trenchless Technology• Rain Gardens • Water Conservation Ordinance• Solar Aerators• Recycled Steel Sign Posts• Solar System at WWTF• Flex, Hybrid, Biodiesel Vehicle Replacement

64.4%

35.6%

Have you incorporated sustainability into your community and/or projects?

Yes

No


What challenges do you face when incorporating sustainability into your community and projects?

Lack of Funding was cited by almost 80% of our survey respondents as a challenge with incorporating sustainability. Not a surprising result in this challenging economic environment.

Survey says...“Limited public knowledge and demand; staff buy-in”

“Sometimes the ordinances in place in the Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance are in contradiction. Education of BMPs seems to be the biggest hurdle in the development community, public and staff.”

79.4%

40.2%

21.6%

44.1%

13.7%

4.9%0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

Lack

of F

undi

ng

Non

e of

the

Abo

ve

What challenges do you face when incorporating sustainability into your community and projects?

Boar

d/Co

unci

l Buy

-in

Lack

of P

ublic

Su

ppor

t

Lim

ited

Sta

ff

Know

ledg

e

Cons

ulta

nts

Not

Off

erin

g Su

stai

nabl

e O

ptio

ns


Have you ever applied for sustainable funding?

61% of our respondents have not applied for any type of sustainable funding. Of those that have ap-plied, Energy Grant Funds are the most popular including; Energy Efficiency and Block Grant funding, ComED, Illinois Clean Energy Foundation WPPI Energy, and Focus on Energy.

Survey says...“To be honest, in order to obtain various funding opportunities, sustainable projects are a priority.” “Energy grants, bicycle racks, water quality projects”

39.4%

60.6%

Have you ever applied for sustainable funding?

Yes

No


How likely is your community to pursue the following sustainable service/technique or process?

Toping the list of the sustainable services or techniques that communities are VERY LIKELY to pursue are Energy Audits at 47%, Expanding and Maintaining Tree Cover at 46% and Installing LED Street Lighting at 41%.

Installing Green Roofs is the technique that is the LEAST LIKELY of the sustainable services that were listed to be pursued at this time.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Not at All

Somewhat

Very

Cond

uct a

n En

ergy

Aud

it

Crea

te a

Sus

tain

able

Co

mm

unit

y Pl

an

Uti

lize

an A

lter

nati

ve E

nerg

y So

urce

- W

ind

or S

olar

Inst

all G

reen

Roo

fs

Wat

er C

onse

rvat

ion

Plan

Alt

erna

tive

Hea

ting

/Coo

ling

Such

as

Geo

ther

mal

or H

eat E

xcha

nger

Inco

rpor

ate

Nat

ural

Lan

dsca

ping

Expa

nd a

nd M

aint

ain

Tree

Cov

er

Inst

all P

erm

eabl

e Pa

vers

Inst

all B

iosw

ales

/Rai

n G

arde

ns

Tren

chle

ss R

ehab

ilita

tion

/Inst

alla

tion

of

Und

ergr

ound

Infr

astr

uctu

re

Inst

all L

ED S

tree

t Lig

htin

g

Wat

er R

euse

Max

imiz

e Effi

cien

cy b

y U

pgra

ding

Eq

uipm

ent a

t Pum

ping

or

Trea

tmen

t Fac

iliti

es


Which of the following sustainable topics would you like to learn more about?

The desire for information on sustainable topics is great. An overwhelming majority of 93% of respondents want to learn more about Sustainable Funding Opportunities! Respondents are also looking for more information on Water Conservation Plans 73%, Utilizing an Alternative Energy Source 72%, Creating a Sustainable Community Plan 71% and Water Reuse 70%.

Once again, the least popular topic is Installing Green Roofs, with 51% of respondents not inter-ested in learning more on this concept.

Cond

uct a

n En

ergy

Aud

it

Crea

te a

Sus

tain

able

Co

mm

unit

y Pl

an

Uti

lize

an A

lter

nati

ve E

nerg

y So

urce

- W

ind

or S

olar

Inst

all G

reen

Roo

fs

Wat

er C

onse

rvat

ion

Plan

Alt

erna

tive

Hea

ting

/Coo

ling

Such

as

Geo

ther

mal

or H

eat E

xcha

nger

Inco

rpor

ate

Nat

ural

Lan

dsca

ping

Expa

nd a

nd M

aint

ain

Tree

Cov

er

Inst

all P

erm

eabl

e Pa

vers

Inst

all B

iosw

ales

/Rai

n G

arde

ns

Tren

chle

ss R

ehab

ilita

tion

/Inst

alla

tion

of

Und

ergr

ound

Infr

astr

uctu

re

Inst

all L

ED S

tree

t Lig

htin

g

Wat

er R

euse

Max

imiz

e Effi

cien

cy b

y U

pgra

ding

Eq

uipm

ent a

t Pum

ping

or

Trea

tmen

t Fac

iliti

es

Fund

ing

Opp

ortu

niti

es

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes - Learn More

No - Not Interested

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes - Learn More

No - Not Interested


Which of the following do you consider to be valuable? (check all that apply)

Email alerts on sustainable funding and white papers on sustainable topics were of high value to survey participants. While free webinars and low-cost energy audits were not as popular, they still had appeal to over half of the survey respondents.

A lo

w-c

ost e

nerg

y au

dit

iden

tify

ing

way

s to

sa

ve m

oney

A fr

ee w

ebin

ar fo

cuse

d on

lif

ecyc

le c

ost a

naly

sis

Whi

te p

aper

s on

mun

icip

al

sust

aina

ble

topi

cs

81.6%

49.5% 53.4%62.1%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

An

emai

l ale

rt id

entif

ying

su

stai

nabl

e fu

ndin

g op

port

uniti

es

Which of the following do you consider to be valuable? (check all that apply)


Conclusions

Municipalities are eager to implement sustainability into their community and projects. In fact, as evidenced by the sustainable projects that they have already completed, many are embracing the sustainability effort.

Funding sustainable efforts is a challenge that most government agencies share.

Energy efficiency and water conservation are two sustainable services that communities have been undertaking and are likely to pursue in the future.

Many communities are interested in creating or formalizing a sustainable community plan.

Overall, government agencies are very interested in obtaining more information on a wide variety of sustainable topics and services.



For additional information:Baxter & Woodman, Inc.Carolyn Grieves, [email protected]

From energy audits to email funding alerts, Baxter & Woodman is committed to

providing sustainable services, programs and information to our clients.

http://www.baxterwoodman.com

http://www.baxterwoodman.com

Documents

Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report