Fresh Loaf

For months, eco-minded advocates and Atlanta’s real estate and development industries have locked horns over the city’s proposed green building ordinance.

But last Tuesday, city councilmembers gave both sides a Sept. 29 deadline to strike a compromise over the ordinance that supporters say could help Atlanta meet carbon reduction footprint goals, reduce wasteful consumption of energy and water, and become one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the nation.

The ordinance, which would cover all new construction except low-rise residential, has been in the works since June 2008. Put simply, it’s a helluva bill that encourages less water and energy use and encourages buildings designed to save energy. Sustainable Atlanta, the nonprofit group that’s been tasked with drafting the complicated legislation, tweaked and modified the provisions after Atlanta’s real estate and development community raised concerns.

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When we first reported on the city’s proposed sustainable building ordinance, a monster piece of legislation that would require most new construction in Atlanta to be more eco-friendly, word was that it was expected to sail through. After all, what better time than one of the worst development markets in recent memory to push for a policy that’s poised to make the city more green and help future residents save cash on their energy bills?

Well, things changed. At yesterday’s Atlanta City Council Community Development and Human Resources committee meeting, councilmembers decided to table the legislation.

The basic line we’re hearing from sources is that there were some provisions in the ordinance that stakeholders wanted to “review.” That’s code for “wait a gosh darn minute, we’ve got some concerns!”

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On Tuesday, July 28, an Atlanta City Council committee will discuss the long-planned “sustainable building ordinance,” a beast of a bill that dictates green-building standards for new construction. Supporters say it could make Atlanta one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the country.

The legislation — which has been in the works since last summer — is a key part of the Sustainable Atlanta Initiative, a multi-pronged approach to meet Mayor Shirley Franklin’s goal to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. (PDF of Sustainable Building Ordinance) Included in the ordinance are water-conservation measures, energy-efficiency guidelines, material requirements and various other green-building standards.

At more than 65 pages, the bill covers everything from sink fixtures in your home to spray wands at the car wash. Buildings must meet one or four green-building certifications, including EarthCraft or LEED certification. Under the current language, only new commercial, residential, institutional and industrial buildings taller than three stories would be required to comply with the ordinance. Single-family homes, structures that don’t require running water or electricity and historic buildings would be exempt. The ordinance would take effect one year after passage. It’s an ambitious initiative and worth a look.

Green building codes have the tendency to become hot-button issues. Some traditional builders and developers have argued that the standards are unfair, expensive and that government has no right to set mandates to reduce the effects of global warming. Architects and urban planners usually applaud them because they enforce methods that are lend to better-built homes that lessen our impact on the environment while also saving homeowners money.

We’ve called the usual suspects to see if there’s any concern in their camps. We haven’t heard back just yet.

After the jump, I’ve pasted one paragraph that caught my eye for its potential impact on people who might enjoy the occasional Pall Mall in their chic, hi-rise apartment.

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The Natural Resources Defense Council, a well-regarded environmental nonprofit based in New York, this week released its list of the country’s most green, or sustainable, cities. Seattle received top honors, followed by San Francisco and Portland, Ore.

Compared to other cities with a population over 250,000, Atlanta ranked 33rd.

The rankings are based on, left to right: air quality, energy production and conservation, environmental standards and participation, green building, green space, recycling programs, transit, standard of living and water quality.

The ranking’s a bit disappointing when you consider how much energy the city’s invested in such initiatives as Sustainable Atlanta, the sewer overhaul and the Beltline. Those programs, however, are still far from completion. The city leads the country in the number of LEED-certified buildings, but that’ll only get you so far when you consider the programs such cities as Seattle and Chicago have launched.

Athens ranked 14th on the list of medium-sized cities. Roswell ranked 23rd among among smaller cities.

(Courtesy of NRDC)

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The U.S. House of Representatives has begun debating one of the most monumental energy and environmental bills it’s ever considered.

The legislation, the so-called Waxman-Markey bill, is a measure to help curb global warming by pushing for more energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and limiting carbon emissions from industries and utilities. Its most controversial provision includes placing a cap-and-trade policy in which carbon emissions could be bought and sold. The Associated Press has a concise rundown of the bill.

Environmentalists have heralded the bill as a necessity at a time when climate experts say action must be taken within years. The Sierra Club has its list of its advantages — as well as what could be improved — on its website. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy applauded lawmakers for its efforts, but said the cap-and-trade policy could essentially create a polluters’ market.

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Poncey-Highland community members and Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall next week will begin a four-month planning effort to determine how the intown neighborhood should grow.

Councilman Kwanza Hall

According to a press release from Hall’s office:

Among the topics to be considered during the four-month process are land use issues; traffic calming; greenspaces and streetscapes; historic preservation; and sustainability.

The second community meeting for the master plan, a public workshop, is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Druid Hills Baptist Church. The workshop will include child-friendly urban design activities led by the Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects. At the end of the morning, children will share their vision for the future of Poncey-Highland with the adult participants in the workshop.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 17, in the Carter Center’s Cyprus Room from 7:00-8:30 p.m. For more information call Hall’s office at (404) 330-6038 or send him an email.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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As we mentioned yesterday, Mayor Shirley Franklin on Tuesday night rubbed elbows with the Young Democrats of Atlanta at its fundraiser and award ceremony.

Roughly 100 people attended the event at Sweetwater Brewery, including politicos from the local (Atlanta City Council President and mayoral candidate Lisa Borders, Councilwoman and Council President candidate Clair Muller, Councilman Kwanza Hall, and City Hall hopefuls Amir Farokhi and Adam Brackman) and state level (Reps. Rashad Taylor, Kathy Ashe and Pat Gardner, all of Atlanta.)

For nearly 30 minutes, the mayor addressed the crowd on issues ranging from the environment to her online jousting habits. Afterward, she spoke with CL about the recent disputes over how the city’s reacted to what is widely considered — perceived! — to be a rise in crime.

After the jump, a bulletpoint summary of the mayor’s remarks to the Young Democrats crowd.

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People living on food stamps have been given an incentive to shop at farmers’ markets.

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Wholesome Wave Foundation, Atlanta-based nonprofit Georgia Organics has kicked off a Double Value Coupon Program which matches food stamp dollars spent at participating farmers’ markets.

“For a limited time, all food stamp dollars will have double the buying power at three Atlanta farmers markets,” Georgia Organics Executive Director Alice Rolls says. “Food stamp recipients still can choose to spend their food stamp dollars any where that accepts them, but at farmers markets, where local, fresh, and healthy food is sold, one dollar is equal to two dollars.”

Georgia Organics communications director — and former CL staff writer — Michael Wall says the effort is modeled after similar programs in San Diego, Baltimore and the Northeast United States. The program ends when the money runs out, he says, but fundraising could keep it operational.

More information about the program, including the participating farmers’ markets, after the jump.

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Did you miss best-selling author Michael Pollan’s keynote speech at Georgia Organics‘ annual conference last month? No worries! The kind folks at the sustainable agriculture nonprofit have uploaded a video of the talk.

In the hourlong video recorded at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, the former Harper’s editor and author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” describes the various challenges posed by “industrial agriculture” and talks about what can be done to encourage fresher and more environmentally friendly farming. Pollan also gives his take on President Barack Obama’s agriculture initiatives. (He thinks the organic farming and sustainable agriculture movements now have a friend in the White House.) The author is introduced by Georgia Organics Board President Will Harris.

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One of President Barack Obama’s campaign promises was to promote a “green economy” — essentially, helping create jobs in such professions as energy-efficiency and clean energy. Not only could these jobs put people to work, but they’d also help the environment. (This week’s cover story will touch more on the topic and what we’re seeing in Georgia, a state that’s traditionally been all-coal, all-the-time. Many men and women are making strides and trying to capitalize on the momentum. But as you probably know, there are challenges.)

On Thursday, April 16, the City of Atlanta, Morehouse College and several national and local community organizations will host a town hall to discuss Atlanta’s potential for green jobs and sustainability.

The event will feature a diverse representation of community leaders in a panel discussion designed to educate the community about impending environmental issues and inform the audience about existing and developing career opportunities within Atlanta’s green economy. Panelists include City of Atlanta’s Director of Sustainability, Mandy Schmitt; Julian McQueen of Green for All; and Nia Robinson of Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiatives.

“The purpose of this event is to get individuals interested in the environmental industry and demonstrate to the rest of the country that Atlanta is a proactive environmental leader in helping to support the nationwide development of environmental jobs,” said Mandy Schmitt, Director of the Office of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta.

Mayor Shirley Franklin and the U.S. Congressman John Lewis have been invited to participate. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel on the Morehouse campus. The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information visit the event site.

(Courtesy National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

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Amount of carbon dioxide, in metric tons, Atlanta’s city government emits every year: 540,000

Amount of carbon dioxide, in metric tons, the city will emit in 2012 if it meets its carbon-reducing goal: 502,200

Percentage of the city’s carbon footprint that comes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: 28

Number of energy-efficient light bulbs that will be distributed to West End homeowners as part of a pilot program: 26,041

Amount, in dollars, the bulbs will save homeowners in energy costs: 2.3 million

Atlanta’s rank, nationwide, among cities with the highest number of energy-efficient buildings: 3

Percentage of Emory University’s transit system powered by recycled cafeteria cooking oil: 50

Atlanta’s rank, out of 50 cities, in terms of air quality: 42

Atlanta’s rank, out of 50 cities, in terms of metro street congestion: 45

Source: Sustainable Atlanta inaugural report, SustainLane

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The answer: 540,000 metric tonnes, equivalent to the household energy use of 150,000 Atlanta residents or 98,000 passenger vehicles. That’s according to Georgia Tech professors and students who helped the city analyze its annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Mayor Shirley Franklin announced the city’s carbon footprint in conjunction with the inaugural report by Sustainable Atlanta, the city’s partner project with a consulting firm. Franklin has set a goal to reduce the city’s carbon emissions seven percent by 2012. The next step involves creating an Atlanta Climate Action Plan.

Some goals — as well as some hopes for Obamabucks — are after the jump.

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The Atlanta Regional Commission held its inaugural Fifty Forward Forum, a gathering of leaders in sustainability and urban planning, two weeks ago at the Blank Foundation. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, right, discussed how his city has taken steps to become one of the vanguards in the sustainable movement. Click here to watch his presentation and to suggest what metro Atlanta needs to do if it wants to follow Seattle’s lead.

(Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Regional Commission)

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