City of Alpharetta
Certified December 2010
The city’s sustainability initiatives are implemented through the Alpharetta Green City Program, established by the city council. LEED or EnergyStar certification for all new local government buildings, a green fleet policy, and “green” purchasing policies are among the policies Alpharetta has adopted. Using its own inspectors, the city has completed water and energy on more than half of the city’s buildings. The remaining audits will be completed by 2014. Rock Mill Park demonstrates stormwater best management practices and displays environmental education materials throughout the park. The park includes enhanced swales, marsh areas, rain gardens and a green roof pavilion. The city has a number of demonstration projects throughout the city including a green roof at Rock Mill Park, a solar panel array at Wills Park, a cool roof at City Hall and rainwater capture and reuse at Webb Bridge Park and other buildings. Other measures include community incentives for green building and WaterSense homes, a commercial recycling requirement, installation of LED bulbs in all traffic signals and a no-idling policy for government vehicles.
City of Decatur
Certified December 2010
The city’s Sustainability Policy, adopted in April of 2009, formalized many of the Green Communities measures already in place throughout the city. Policies include purchasing of green products, a green fleet policy, green building standards and more. Recycling is available at all city facilities and employees must sign the Lights Out/Power Down policy and the No-Idling pledge. Fire Station #2 is LEED silver certified and uses 25 percent less water and 35 percent less energy than a standard building of the same size. Educational materials throughout the building explain the benefits of its many sustainable features, including LED lights, a cool roof and solar panels. The city has a notable Safe Routes to School Program that is a partnership between the schools and the city to encourage elementary and middle school children to walk and bicycle to school and to make the trips to school safer. Other sustainable measures adopted by the City are a Pay-As-You-Throw program for trash disposal, a comprehensive residential recycling program and a Health Impact Assessment incorporated into the transportation plan.
City of Norcross
Certified December 2011
The City of Norcross earned Gold certification after being recognized as a Silver Green Community in 2010. With commitment and support from the Sustainable Norcross Commission, the city is transforming its practices across all departments. Norcross requires new city-owned buildings to achieve LEED certification and has adopted policies addressing anti-idling and green fleets. Unique to Norcross is its closed loop processing of residential yard debris. Yard trimmings are collected and turned into compost, mulch and soil products, which are sold to the city, local businesses and residents. Norcross replaced decorative lighting downtown with LED lights and installed photocells for dusk to dawn operation. This action, along with use of LED lights for the city’s Christmas tree, has saved 57,000 kWh, for a cost savings of $6,400 annually. The parks master plan adopted in 2011 includes natural areas, open spaces and greenways that increase connectivity of greenspace. The city deconstructed three properties and salvaged items instead of taking debris to the landfill. The community was invited to a Salvage, Pickin’ and Porch Party at which salvaged items were auctioned off. Those items that did not sell were donated, recycled or used to create artwork.