AMES, Iowa — The City of Ames is going green. And now it's one step closer to that dream.
If you take a walk through Ames, you might come across some of the efforts made to be more eco-friendly. Officials have started switching out traditional city vehicles for hybrids and electric cars. Plus, gardens with native plants absorb rainwater to prevent storm water runoff pollution.
This kind of initiative isn't new, according to the City of Ames' Public Relations Officer Susan Gwiasda.
“For over a decade, the Ames City Council has had sustainability as one of its goals," she said.
That effort ramped up a few years ago with the city's Climate Action Plan. Gwiasda said the city made an effort to get input from a variety of sectors from business to education to residents in general when putting together the plan.
"We need lots of people at the table moving forward, agreeing with the plan, implementing the plan," she said.
Gwiasda said the original goal was to be net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but officials later realized that wasn't realistic.
The city's new sustainability coordinator, Nolan Sagan, said the goal has since been adjusted to a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and a 94% reduction by 2050.
Sagan officially stepped into his role a few weeks ago which signified the magnitude of the city's desire to go green. Gwiasda said the hiring of a full-time sustainability coordinator will take the city's plan to the next level.
Sagan's job fulfills multiple roles, including:
- Making sure all departments are aligned with the goals of the Climate Action Plan
- Fielding sustainability ideas from city departments and the public
- Outreach and education
- Locking down federal funding
For instance, Sagan said the city will bring local businesses together to discuss sustainable business practices and how they can collaborate with the city at the mayor's luncheon later this month.
When it comes to the plan, getting different players on board, like residents and businesses, is important.
“When you switch over to LED lighting, install a heat pump, you install really efficient equipment for your home or business, you’re saving money on your utility bill, you’re reducing your energy use,” Sagan said.
He added that rebates make changing over to more energy efficient equipment more affordable.
Sagan says the city plans to expand its program that assesses the energy use in residents' homes and gives them suggestions on how to become more efficient.
He said the city's priorities for the Climate Action Plan this year fall into the following seven categories:
- Increased wind and solar generation as part of electric services portfolio
- Reducing waste emissions
- Promote net zero ready new construction
- Energy efficiency in existing buildings
- Energy efficiency in municipal buildings
- Electrify the municipal fleet
- Create a Mayor’s Climate Action Plan Leadership Task Force
Sagan says that the city wants to make sure its sustainability priorities align with community needs like economic development and housing.
There’s a lot of work left to be done, but Ames believes it's making strides.