In September of 2007, the Dayton City Commission approved a “Sustainable Practices Policy” as part of its on-going effort to protect the environment and conserve energy.

Adopting the Policy ties into the broader U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, which has been signed by more than 400 communities from across the country.  Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin signed the agreement in 2005 to demonstrate Dayton’s commitment to save energy, save money, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life in and around Dayton.

The City of Dayton’s Sustainable Practices Policy (below) encourages the use of clean and renewable alternative fuels, recycling, energy conservation, and education of City employees and residents.
 
“Our policy focuses on City operations, uses a common sense approach, and is designed to save money,” Mayor McLin said.  “I am proud to note that we are already actively engaged in many of these efforts.  Energy conservation equals saving money for all Dayton citizens.”

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City of Dayton
Sustainable Practices Policy

This City of Dayton's Sustainable Practices Policy shall establish strategies, benchmarks, and milestones: to save energy, money, and other resources; to protect the environment; and improve the quality of life in and around Dayton. 

This Policy shall be reviewed and updated every two (2) years.

The Sustainable Practices Team is established to serve as an advisory group to the City Commission and the City Manager and make recommendations.  The City Manager shall appoint members to the Sustainable Practices Team.  The Sustainable Practices Team shall annually document and present the City’s progress to the Mayor, City Commission, and City Manager.

Dayton’s City Manager is authorized to implement viable and prudent energy conservation practices recommended by the Sustainable Practices Team.  All City of Dayton facilities will implement the following minimum sustainable practices:

a. Recycle paper, plastic, and metal (≥25% of the waste stream);

b. Utilize double-sided copying and printing, unless not available or impractical;

c. Turn off lights when not in use for 15 minutes or more, except those needed for security; and

d. At the end of each workday, turn off all office equipment not utilized while office is closed (e.g. computers, copiers, printers) and place into energy saving mode (if available) all office equipment that must remain available during overnight and weekend hours (e.g. fax machines).

The City of Dayton will adopt and implement an Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy that will include guidelines for the acquisition of energy-efficient equipment and appliances, such as Energy Star products; fuel-efficient vehicles; and recycled-content products. When practicable, the City shall consider the purchase of vehicles fueled by alternative energy sources including without limitation petroleum/electric (hybrid), ethanol, biodiesel.  The Sustainable Practices Team shall report fuel efficiencies to the Mayor, City Commission, and City Manager for all new vehicle acquisitions.

The City of Dayton will optimize opportunities to reduce energy consumption in the maintenance and operation of City vehicles and equipment.  City-owned vehicles may not be left idling, unless necessitated by the following, or similar, types of circumstances:

a. For an official traffic control device or signal;

b. For traffic conditions over which the driver has no control, including but not limited to: stopped traffic or a construction zone; 

c. At the direction of a public safety officer;

d. Operation of Public safety vehicles when it is deemed to be safer for the public, or public official that the engine be kept idling;

e. Investigations or other emergency situations;

f. Daily inspections, testing, servicing, repairing or diagnostic purposes;

g. Accomplishment of work for which the vehicle was designed to be running (for example, operating a lift pump, drill, hoist or other auxiliary equipment), but not including vehicle climate control (heating or air conditioning);

h. Vehicle battery recharging; and

i.  For the safety and well being of the employee.

The City of Dayton will optimize opportunities to conserve energy consumption in the design and construction of all new City facilities and City-funded projects through effective strategy development and implementation such as automated building control systems, building orientation considerations, day lighting and other electric or electronic lighting systems and controls, cool roofs and energy efficient mechanical systems.  The City of Dayton will utilize products certified by Energy Star, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and other energy certifying entities, when practicable and prudent.

The City will optimize cost and energy consumption required to operate all existing City facilities through effective strategy development and implementation targeted to retrofit building energy control systems, lighting and lighting controls, mechanical, roofing, and other building systems.

The City of Dayton will continue to research and implement sound strategies that enhance efficient waste stream management and reutilization such as:

· Curbside recycling for residents,

· Waste oil reuse for heating buildings,

· Methane gas generation and utilization, and

· Recycling electronic office equipment, computers, copiers, printers, etc.  

The City of Dayton, through its Sustainable Practices Team, will continue to research and, where cost-effective, recommend the use of clean, renewable, alternative sources of energy such as solar (panels and meters), wind, hydro-electric, and other viable sources.

The City of Dayton will actively educate its employees and residents about effective strategies to increase energy efficiency (reducing the carbon footprint) at work and home, including encouraging City of Dayton employees to bike/walk to work, carpool, or use public transportation.