by Leigh Ann Ulrey
· Rated 36 overall on Sustainlane.com
o 11th in housing affordability
o 11th in green (LEED) certification
o 14th in Metro transit ridership
o 41st in air quality
o 44th in natural disaster risk
Houston is the energy capital of the nation; however, in July 2008 Houston was the leader in municipal purchaser of green energy (25% of energy was moved to wind power)
Energy Efficiency Incentive Program (EEIP)
o An incentive program for commercial buildings to make energy efficient upgrades to their buildings
o Part of an efficiency retrofit movement in the city
Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP)
o Gives energy efficiency upgrades to low income homes
Other city efforts
o All light fixtures were switched to energy efficient bulbs in city owned buildings
o LEED certification is required for all construction on city owned buildings
o Plans to continue to increase use of wind power
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Promoting the use of community electric cars
On-road vehicle remote sensing devices: can measure the exhaust emission from a car as they drive by the device and then light the number up on a screen a bit further down the road.
o The city is giving gift funds to be used towards a new car for low income individuals with a car that does not meet code
SustainableHouston.org is a membership-based organizations that helps create networks of local businesses, famers and community organizations
o They track and measure progress in four key areas of sustainability:
· Fiscal Sustainability
· Community Sustainability
· Environmental Sustainability
· Personnel Sustainability
·UrbanHarvest.org
o An organization that works to educate and facilitate harvest and habitat gardens
o Has helped start 130 community gardens
o Created the first farmers market in the area since the depression
o Has programs at 75 schools
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Biggest opposition is the city culture itself
o "it seems that Houston is the most polluted and least eco-minded city in the United States"
o "The majority of Houstonians believe that being concerned about the environment is a hippie, leftist or democratic ideal. It is not. This stigma is holding our city back."
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