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Energy & Emissions
Alternative Energy
Alternative energy sources are critical to overcoming some of the issues associated with conventional fossil fuel use, including air pollution, greenhouse gases, and the reliability and security of our energy system
DPW is also developing recommendations that set out how the City can focus on alternative energy/fuels.
Energy Efficiency
The State of Indiana, The City of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL) have plugged in to a partnership to bring more energy-efficient street lights and traffic signals to city streets. In the largest partnership of its kind ever for this group, the City is expected to significantly reduce energy costs associated with street lighting.
IPL's involvement brings a $2.25 million investment over three years and includes replacing more than 14,000 mercury vapor street lights with more energy-efficient high-pressure sodium lights. When completed, this project is expected to reduce the City's energy bill by more than $100,000 a year.
Traffic signals at more than 1,150 city intersections could eventually be retrofitted with more energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LED) technology, replacing about 24,000 light bulbs. The state grant will be used to begin this effort, which could eventually save the City between $100,000 and $400,000 in energy costs. The amount of savings will be determined by whether the lights are metered or non-metered.
By utilizing these new technologies, the project will produce savings that reduce both energy and maintenance costs. In fact, the energy savings would approximate the energy needed to light and heat more than 680 homes.
The City is also developing recommendations regarding energy efficiency and conservation at City facilities.
Air Quality
"Knozone Air Quality Action Days (KAQAD)" are called when the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast indicates that the region's air quality may become unhealthy for sensitive groups, represented by the color orange on the AQI. These days are more common in the summer months, when the impact of smog and fine particles can be compounded by hot weather.
But poor air quality isn't just a summer phenomenon. In the fall and winter, weather conditions and man-made activities such as idling vehicles and burning wood produce several major air pollutants that negatively impact health.
For current data on ground-level ozone levels, visit http://www6.indygov.org/ermd/ozone.htm. Or, for more information on local air quality initiatives and efforts, visit www. Knozone.com.
IndyParks' active stewardship of the City's Green Infrastructure supports citywide efforts to improve our air quality. Strategically managed greenspaces such as city parks, natural resource areas, and greenways reduce high urban temperatures that magnify the negative effects of air pollution. Trees and other vegetation actively remove greenhouse gases and other pollutants from our air, improving the health of our children, our neighborhoods, and our world.
Further, IndyParks is committed to significantly reducing emissions produced from mowing turf grass. Since 1993, IndyParks Land Stewardship has converted nearly 150 acres of turf to low-maintenance natural areas. In the next 4 years it will convert an additional 150 acres of turf to prairie, forest, open woods, and wetlands, eliminating the need to mow grass, and contributing to cleaner air in Indianapolis.
Green Buildings
Sustainable, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient, or "green," buildings are structures that are designed, constructed, renovated, operated, and demolished with minimal environmental impacts. They also exhibit high levels of economic and engineering performance, and save financial resources over the buildings' lifetime. Green building characteristics include:
- Energy-and water efficiency
- Healthy indoor air quality
- Materials recycling and reuse
- Occupant health and productivity
- Minimized use of toxic materials and minimized production of hazardous waste
- Reduced impact on ecosystems
- State-of-the-art environmental technology
As part of its efforts to make the City of Indianapolis' existing and future buildings environmentally friendly, DMD and DPW are developing recommendations for actions to expand the use of green building practices in our community.
Many cities have used model facilities, award programs and permit/zoning incentives to foster sustainable, energy-efficient development, and the City of Indianapolis is also considering these tactics to encourage and sustain green building in central Indiana.
For more information on Green Building, explore the links below:
Nonprofit Groups
General Info
Green Roof Case Studies
Other Municipal Green Building Programs
Green Home Resources
Green Rooftops
Green roofs involve growing plants and vegetation on roof tops to assist with stormwater management and energy conservation as well as provide a more pleasing environment in which to work and live. To support this environmentally friendly venture, the City of Indianapolis and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities hosted the first-ever Indianapolis Green Roof Market Development Symposium in March 2007. Area architects, urban planners, building developers, policy makers, environmental representatives and interested citizens convened to discuss solutions, and to help set the stage for the City to work with interested parties citywide to develop next steps in advancing green roofs in the Indianapolis area.
For More Information about Green Roofs, visit:
www.greenroofs.org
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