For Being Green it’s Gold for Novi, Bronze for Milford, Pleasant Ridge & Ferndale

For Being Green it’s Gold for Novi, Bronze for Milford, Pleasant Ridge & Ferndale

(Compiled, July 3, 2017)

NOVI, MILFORD, PLEASANT RIDGE, FERNDALE, MI – The City of Novi is one of just five communities in Michigan to receive a Gold certification in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge for its commitment to sustainability projects, from green infrastructure improvements to renewable energy projects.

Milford, Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale took home bronze certifications.

Novi achieved gold for incorporating sustainability into its capital improvements planning process, along with other programs and initiatives including:

~Replacement of all air handling units at both the Civic Center and Police Headquarters with variable frequency drives to optimize power consumption.

~Retro-fit of Civic Center atrium light fixtures to LED’s, saving an average of 240 watts per fixture.

~Building automation upgrades at both the Civic Center and Police Headquarters

~Ongoing effort to increase Novi’s walkability by constructing new pathways and sidewalks.

The Michigan Green Communities Network (MGC) celebrated 26 communities during a June 6 event in Muskegon on clean energy and environmental leadership. The Network aims to connect community leaders through training, education and communications.

The original Challenge, launched in 2009, emphasized energy efficiency projects.

In 2016, MGC network members, with support from the C.S. Mott Foundation, revised and relaunched the MGC Challenge. Program benefits include creating a roadmap for sustainability initiatives; establishing benchmarks for your community’s progress toward sustainability initiatives; and the motivation of comparing and competing with other Michigan communities. The Challenge competition occurs annually, but is available year-round as a tool for communities to benchmark sustainability.

Below is a breakdown of the recipients by level.

Gold Certifications:

City of Ann Arbor: Recently adopted a community-wide anti-idling ordinance.

City of Dearborn: Integrates sustainability as a basic component of the City of Dearborn 2030 Master Plan.

City of Novi: Incorporates sustainability into its capital improvements planning process.

Delhi Charter Township: Completed recent audits of all township buildings and converted township lighting to LED.

Pittsfield Charter Township: 2020 Sustainable Vision prioritizes sustainable initiatives and projects for the township.

Silver Certifications:

City of Battle Creek: Recently implemented a new curbside recycling program that residents love. The increased volume numbers speak for themselves.  With 46 percent more recycling in under a year, we can only hope that this continues.

Charter Township of Meridian:  Currently working to benchmark energy use in municipal buildings.

Clinton Township: Invested in green infrastructure at the Township Civic Center to improve water quality in the Clinton River and benefit the health of residents.

Muskegon County: Internal Muskegon County Sustainability Plan is focused on sustainability within county facilities.

Bronze Certifications:

City of Brighton: Partnered with Waste Management to offer an unlimited recycling program for residents.

City of Caro: Installed bike racks in the business district to encourage non-motorized transportation.

City of Ferndale: Sustainability items are incorporated throughout the city’s Master Plan that was adopted on January 23, 2017.

City of Flint: Recently restored a wetland and installed interpretive signage for the Max Brandon Eco-Park Project, and is implementing similar projects in Flint parks.

City of Grand Blanc: Completed an energy audit of city facilities and is implementing energy-saving measures.

 City of Ithaca:  Helped construct a new 7-mile multi-use path connecting Ithaca and Alma.

City of Petoskey: Working with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council to install a demonstration rain garden as part of the Downtown Greenway Corridor.

City of Pleasant Ridge: Collaborated with EcoWorks to establish energy consumption benchmarks, and actively tracks energy use of all local government buildings with the Energy Star Portfolio Manager program.

City of River Rouge: Established a revolving energy fund to support energy improvements at the public library.

City of Traverse City: Adopted a resolution committing to use of 100 percent renewable energy for municipal electricity use, and established a green team made up of public, nonprofit, and private stakeholder-authorities.

Charter Township of West Bloomfield: Encourages and requires the use of low-impact design and green infrastructure through local ordinances.

Village of Milford: Implementing recommendations from recent tree inventory and assessment of urban forest.

Village of Quincy: Offers a new compost site open to residents.

For more go to www.migreencommunities.com.