City of Portland
Sustainable Government Efforts
Michele Crim
Office of Sustainable Development
Sustainable City Principles
Adopted in 1994
Support a stable, diverse and equitable
economy.
Protect the quality of the air, water, land and
other natural resources.
Conserve native vegetation, fish, wildlife
habitat and other ecosystems.
Minimize human impacts on local and
worldwide ecosystems.
Sustainable Development
Commission
1995 = Sustainable Portland Commission
Later, Multnomah County joined
Food Policy, Toxics Reduction, etc.
11 members (6 City, 5 County)
Current Focus Areas
Sustainable Government
Sustainable Economic Development
Outreach and Education
City Energy Challenge
Created in 1991
Increase energy efficiency by 10% by
2010
1991 to 2006
More than 15% reduction in energy use
Saved over $18 million in bills
Saved $2.5 million in 05/06 alone
100% Renewable by 2010
Green Building Policy
Adopted in 2001, updated in 2005
LEED Requirements
Gold for “New Construction”
Silver for “Existing Buildings”
Silver for “Tenant Improvements”
PDC Green Building Policy
Global Warming Action Plan
1993 = 1st local govt. in US
2001, Multnomah County joined
100 short- and long-term actions
Goal: 10% below 1990 levels by 2010
Per capita = down 13%
Rest of county is up 13%
Total Emissions = just above
1990 levels (but, more people!)
Waste Reduction & Recycling
All Businesses (including City):
Must recycle 50% of waste stream
Future goal ~75% recycling rate
RFP for garbage/recycling service
Data to track recycling rate
2006 waste sorts - 6 City facilities
60% - 75% of the “garbage” was recyclable or
compostable.
Food waste and office paper.
Purchasing
Sustainable Paper Use Policy (2003)
15% reduction in paper use by 2008
• Results: Increased by 1%
All paper is at least 30% recycled content
• Results: 88% of all paper meets minimum
10% paper exceeds minimum standards
• Results: 35% is 100% recycled content
PDC Paper Use
• 3,040,483 sheets (05/06), ~17% decrease
• None exceeds recycled content minimum
Purchasing
Sustainable Procurement Strategy
Adopted 2002, joint with County
Review 3 to 5 major commodities per year
paint, paper, auto fuel, laundry services,
pesticides, industrial paints, etc.
Deliver training (e.g. “ecolabels”)
Education (e.g. dry cleaning)
Renewable Fuels
July 2007 “Renewable Fuel Standard”
Diesel = Minimum 5% Biodiesel (B5)
Gasoline = Minimum 10% Ethanol (E10)
City Vehicles - Binding Policy
Minimum 20% Biodiesel (since 2004)
• Water Bureau = 99% Biodiesel
Minimum 10% Ethanol
All “Flex Fuel” cars = 85% Ethanol (E85)
Peak Oil Report = 50% Reduction
Toxics Reduction Strategy
2004: City Council “go make a plan”
Early 2006: Adopted formal strategy
Goal: Replace toxic substances of concern
with least-toxic alternatives by 2020.
Use Precautionary Principle as framework
Steering Committee to oversee
40 short-, mid- and long-term actions
• electronics, light tubes, paints, pool cleaners,
pesticides, office supplies, electricity, etc.
Sustainable Govt. Partnership
BIP #18 (Bureau Innovation Project)
Staff from across City, including PDC
What are we already doing?
What have others done?
“Plan - Do - Check - Act”
Recommendations to Council Dec. 2006
Sustainable Govt. Partnership
Citywide Bureau
Sustainability Sustainability
Goals and Plan
Priorities
Bureau
Citywide Annual Sustainability
Sustainability Performance
Report Update
Sustainable Govt. Partnership
Bureau Sustainability Liaisons
Kick-off Event = Early May
First Round of Plans = Fall 2007
Michele Crim
mcrim@ci.portland.or.us
823-5638