The city’s website has just been updated with a catalog of ongoing sustainability-related and “green” projects that currently exist.  I share it here to highlight these efforts and underscore the shared commitment of the city and its residents for a more sustainable future.  Many of these efforts – if not all – have been inspired and supported by city residents partnering with the city.  Check it out!

Updated!  See below for a long list of initiatives put together by Thanh Dang.

List of Environmental “Stuff” in Harrisonburg (not comprehensive!)

By Thanh Dang, Public Works Planner, City of Harrisonburg

March 2009

 In October 2008, the City of Harrisonburg became VML Green Certified. The Virginia Municipal League (VML) introduced the Green Government Challenge. Forty-one (41) VML-member local governments participated in the Challenge and twenty-six (26) of them obtained the 100 points needed to receive certification. Details at www.harrisonburgva.gov/environment    

TRASH & RECYCLING

·         City’s “Your Trash” video, 7 minutes. www.harrisonburgva.gov/publicworks  à Trash & Recycling

·         Curbside Recycling & City Recycling Guide. www.harrisonburgva.gov/recycle

·         Household Hazardous Waste Collection –City offers collection site. Dates: April through October, third Saturday of each month. Times: 8am-12noon. Location 2055 Beery Road. City residents only. www.harrisonburgva.gov/recycle  à Household Hazardous Waste

·         Resource Recovery Facility – Waste to energy facility that combusts solid waste to create steam to heat and cool JMU. Permitted to burn 200 tons of waste a day, creating 57,000 lbs of steam per hour. www.harrisonburgva.gov/publicworks  àTrash & Recycling àResource Recovery Facility

·         Electronics Recycling – Hazardous materials including lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium are all present in electronic devices and lead to pollution of not disposed properly. For suggested drop off locations for electronic waste visit www.harrisonburgva.gov/recycle  à Electronics Recycling

·         Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) – suggested drop off at Home Depot

TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE

·         Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee. Meets once quarterly.  Helps City identify and prioritize projects. Completed projects include SRTS, Devon Ln, E Washington St, Dogwood-EMU bicycle route. Plans for additional projects underway. Contact thanhd@harrisonburgva.gov to be added to email list. Meeting minutes and info available at www.harrisonburgva.gov/bikeped

·         City Bicycle & Pedestrian Plans. Last Updated in 2005. Major update to begin Spring 2009 for 2010 adoption.  Work through Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee. Contact thanhd@harrisonburgva.gov for more info

·         Bicycle Racks – Grants have been identified to purchase/supply bicycle racks throughout downtown Harrisonburg and at City schools. Businesses appear to also be installing bicycle racks on their own. More racks needed throughout City and County.

·         Safe Routes to School – VDOT grant awarded to City ($455,000) for sidewalks and improvements around Keister Elementary. Expected completion Fall 2010. Next school: Waterman Elementary. Leading City partners are RMH Community Health, Safe Kids, parents, and schools. Contact thanhd@harrisonburgva.gov

·         Public Transit – Provides transit services in City. Has bike racks on buses. Installing additional bus shelters throughout City.  www.harrisonburgva.gov/transit

·         Harrisonburg-Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) – transportation planning. Partners include City of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Towns of Dayton, Bridgewater, & Mt. Crawford and VDOT. Elected officials & staff representatives. http://www.hrvampo.org/

·         Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) – supports cycling by promoting events, advocating for safe roads and trails, etc. www.svbcoaltion.org

·         Everyday Bikes! Community Bicycle Project – (not City program) promoting sustainable transportation, healthy living and empowering low-income people. Facilitated by New Community Project, Our Community Place, and others. Collects bicycle donations and provides refurbished bicycles for community. Contact tbenevento@newcommunityproject.org

·         Valley Conservation Council

·         Friends of Blacks Run Greenway – Contact: John Reeves, jbr1948@comcast.net

·         JMU No Drive Day

·         Streetfilms.org –great resource! Part of the Livable Streets Network.

ENERGY & AIR QUALITY

·         ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – City is a member. Conducted audit of city municipal operations completed in partnership with JMU SHENAir Institute. Need development of Action Plan. Contact thanhd@harrisonburgva.gov

·         Tree City USA member since 2004.

·         School & Transit Buses use B5 (5% biodiesel)

·         Traffic Signals/Lights are low emitting diodes (LED)

·         Continual improvement of traffic signal synchronization – 2 FTE

·         Street lights are being switched to energy efficient High Pressure Sodium (88% HPS currently)

·         Street lights operate by Dusk to Dawn sensors, not timed

·         Resource Recovery Facility is a waste to energy facility. Has also installed variable drive fans to reduce energy use

·         City’s Public Works & Public Transit utilizes waste oil for heating

·         Police on bicycles program

·         Shenandoah Valley Builders Association – www.valleybuilders.org

·         Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority  (HRHA)– has been partnering with EarthCraft House program and other sustainable programs to create green affordable housing. www.harrisonburghrha.com, http://www.ecvirginia.org/ 

STREAMS & WATER QUALITY

·         Six (6) drainage areas in Harrisonburg. Blacks Run watershed is the largest (9067 acres). All streams in Harrisonburg are impaired (unhealthy) for fecal coliform, phosphorus, and sediment.

·         Purcell Park Streambank Restoration Project – Restore approx. 4,750 linear feet of streambank. Conservation easement. www.cleanstream.org

·         Streambank restoration & planting projects – Led by Stream Health Coordinator, in partnership with volunteers, other local organizations and agencies. Examples: raingardens at Liberty Park, Westover Park, Purcell Park; streambank plantings in various downtown locations, behind Firehouse on Maryland Ave. New project sited behind Public Utilities offices in partnership with Pure Water Forum & Cargill. Contact bradf@harrisonburgva.gov. For details on past projects www.cleanstream.org

·         City’s MS4 Permit Program (Stormwater) – Oversight by Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation. 6 Minimum Control Measures – Public Involvement, Public Education, Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination, Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control, Post-Construction Runoff Control for Development & Redevelopment, Good Housekeeping & Pollution Prevention for Municipal Operations. www.harrisonburgva.gov/stormwater

·         Blacks Run/ Downtown Clean Up Day – Second Saturday in April each year. Organized by City and partners including Shenandoah Valley SWCD, Virginia DEQ, Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, Friends of Blacks Run Greenway, etc.

·         Clean Steam Campaign – City/community campaign includes Doodie-Free Harrisonburg & Tips for Yard Care. www.cleanstream.org

·         Thomas Harrison & Skyline Middle Schools’ Plant-A-Seed/ Watershed Experience for 6^th & 7^th graders

·         City Water Conservation information – www.harrisonburgva.gov/conservation

·         Shenandoah Valley Soil & Water Conservation District – http://shenvalleyswcd.org/

·         Virginia Department of Environmental Quality & Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) – http://www.deq.virginia.gov/tmdl/

·         Pure Water Forum – http://www.purewaterforum.org/index.php

·         Rockingham County Cooperative Extension Services

LOCAL FOODS & LAND MANAGEMENT

·         Harrisonburg’s Farmers Market – http://www.harrisonburgfarmersmarket.com/

·         Harrisonburg Community Garden – 14 20×20 ft plots available for $30/year. Contact Parks & Rec, ericd@harrisonburgva.gov

·         “Local Foods Day” at Harrisonburg City Public Schools

·         Shenandoah Buy Fresh, Buy Local – http://www.buylocalshenvalley.org/,

·         Friendly City Food-Cop – http://www.friendlycityfoodcoop.com/

·         Rockingham County Cooperative Extension Services – http://www.ext.vt.edu/

·         Blue Ridge Permaculture Network – http://www.blueridgepermaculture.net/

·         Valley Conservation Council – http://www.valleyconservation.org/

·         Virginia Department of Forestry

·         Shenandoah Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council, http://www.shenandoahrcd.org/

·         Shenandoah Valley Local Foods Workgroup – Contact: Eric Bendfeldt , ebendfel@vt.edu

·         Muddy Bikes Urban Garden Project by New Community Project – contact:  tbenevento@newcommunityproject.org

OTHER COMMUNITY INTIATIVES & ORGANIZATIONS

·         “Environmental Corner” (section) will be included in each City Newsletter starting April 2009

·         Harrisonburg-Rockingham Healthy Community Council’s Healthy Community Design & Green Infrastructure Team, aka “Green Team” – co-chairs Cindy Reeves, RMH Community Health, & vacant. Identifies community priorities and networking/collaboration opportunity. See 5-year Plan – needs Action Leaders to take the lead on some identified initiatives. Contact CReeves@rhcc.com

·         Virginia Green – statewide program to reduce environmental impacts of Virginia’s Tourism Industry. Certification available for lodging, attractions, restaurants, convention and conference centers, wineries, golf courses, events, etc. Clean Up Day is certified as are some businesses in Harrisonburg. HCC’s Green Team and Harrisonburg Tourism are increasing promotion/awareness. http://www.deq.virginia.gov/p2/virginiagreen/

·         JMU’s Sustainability Report and Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World. Contact brodricj@jmu.edu

·         JMU EARTH, http://orgs.jmu.edu/jmuearth/

·         JMU Green Team, http://jmugreenteam.com/

·         Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) – many green initiatives. Contact: Eldon Kurtz, kurtze@emu.edu

·         Mennonite/Brethren, Creation Care – Contact: Anne Nielsen, treenielsen@yahoo.com

·         Harrisonburg International Festival’s Green Village – September 2008 was first year. Walk Smart, Bike Smart collaborative participated. Gave out 300 bicycle helmets, surveyed, educated. Other participants in Green Village from a variety of community organizations & agencies. http://www.harrisonburg-international-festival.org/

·         Rockingham County’s Green Tent – August 2008 was first year. Participants from a variety of community organizations. Contact avallot@vt.edu 

·         Shenandoah Sierra Club – http://virginia.sierraclub.org/shenandoah/

·         Climate Action Alliance of the Valley