Sustainable Stamford is the mayor’s task force on sustainability, established in 2007. In October of that year, the mayor announced the goals of the group, including the new Energy Improvement District ordinance, clean energy campaign, solid waste and recycling goals, vehicle fleet efficiency, and green procurement.
Mission
The mission of Sustainable Stamford is to promote energy efficiency, environmental education, waste reduction and recycling, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, green buildings and all efforts affecting sustainability in Stamford.
Inception
The task force held its first meeting in March, 2007.
Members
The task force includes members of Stamford's business, educational, environmental, and religious communities; City staff; and concerned citizens.
Projects as of September 2009
Promoting Increased Residential and Commercial Recycling
Working with a capital budget of $23,000 to promote increased recycling, staff worked closely with Dan Colleluori, Supervisor of Solid Waste on a variety of programs. The NYU Wagner School of Public Service studied the lowest and highest performing residential neighborhoods, presenting their report in May 2009. Land Use Bureau staff supported the study with GIS maps of the recycling routes, access to ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) for advice on designing the study, and Sustainable Stamford members donated time to conduct the survey in various public venues. Catalyst Marketing Communications, a member of Sustainable Stamford, designed a promotion campaign that will be implemented in bus shelters, in mailings, and throughout the public school system in fall 2009.
Construction Waste Recycling
Staff has worked closely with the law firm of Robinson & Cole, another member of Sustainable Stamford, on a draft ordinance requiring that 50% of construction waste be recycled on most construction and demolition projects. The ordinance is currently under review by Corporation Counsel.
"Corporate Challenge" – Improving Building Efficiency
Sustainable Stamford has convened a committee to approach building owners (BLT, RFR, George Comfort, Malkin Properties, Soundview Farms, etc.) and corporate owned facilities (PB, RBS, UBS, WWE, GE, etc.) to inquire about their energy/sustainability plans, work with them on energy programs, invite them to collaborate with Sustainable Stamford, and participate in a “corporate challenge.” Only 1% of the buildings in Stamford are new construction – 99% of buildings are in place. Retrofitting, therefore, is the key strategy for improving building efficiency. Other possible areas to work on, although not part of the corporate challenge, are water efficiency and indoor air quality. Another goal is to eventually network with other municipalities.
Sustainability Amendment to the Master Plan
Land Use Bureau staff has worked with Robinson & Cole and volunteer environmental attorney Sue Levy Eytel to complete an outline for a sustainability amendment to the Master Plan.
Sustainable Stamford Website
All of the group’s accomplishments will shortly be posted on the newly created Sustainable Stamford website. The goal for the website is that it eventually be the clearing house for local environmental guidance and information.
Major Environmental Accomplishments for the City of Stamford
Transit Oriented Development
The City has ardently pursued transit-oriented development to create an active and pedestrian-friendly environment in the City’s core business center; expand the City’s walkable and lively historic center; build new residential neighborhoods around Stamford’s branch line train stations, Glenbrook and Springdale; increase density on East Main Street; and promote the rehabilitation and redevelopment of Stamford’s South End neighborhood, an underused industrial area with brown fields, including a proposal for a light rail line connecting the South End to the north side of downtown.
Energy Efficiency Projects
Since 1998, the City has implemented more than 70 energy efficiency projects within existing buildings and new construction for an annual savings of 13,267,800 kilowatt-hours, or approximately 19% of municipal consumption.
Private Sector
City staff members have successfully encouraged the private sector to build energy efficient buildings in Stamford.
- The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) building – In addition to offices and a trading floor, this 400,000 square foot building will be the first building in the city to meet the LEED gold standard and will also include a landscaped extension of the Mill River Greenbelt.
- Metro Green – Situated across the street from the Transportation Center, construction began in the summer of 2008 on the first phase of this mixed-use, “transit oriented development.” The project is also designed to meet the LEED Gold standard, exemplifying City planning goals to foster sustainable building and to reduce vehicle miles traveled.