Sustainability

Energy

The City has implemented a solar panel pilot program in its ambulances and fire trucks. This allows crews to turn off the trucks when at a routine stop – avoiding fuel used while idling and still keeping the on-board computers powered.

Energy Efficiency & Conservation

The city is continually working to identify more efficient ways of using energy in our buildings and facilities. We’re identifying wasted energy and setting energy conservation and efficiency goals in all of our facilities. By saving energy, we’re reducing our impact on the environment while saving money for the city and its residents.

Facility Assessments: The City completes assessments of many of our city facilities. These assessments highlight the energy efficiency and conservation measures taken at each facility. Specific information about buildings and energy conservation efforts at our facilities is available by contacting the Building & Facility Maintenance Division at (785) 832-3126.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants: The city received $858,600 grant from the Dept. of Energy in 2009. See how we’re planning to use those funds to save energy and money.

• Staff Memo
• Grant application (PDF, 1.33 MB) (06-19-09)

Annual Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair: Meet vendors, attend workshops, and learn how to make your home or business more efficient.

Renewable Energy: The city purchases green tags from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset 3 percent of our total electrical usage. Green tags offset carbon emissions and support renewable energy sources such as the Bowersock hydroelectric plant.

Recycling

The City hosts two electronic recycling events each year. This past May, staff and volunteers collected over 56,000 pounds of electronics to be recycled rather than landfilled.

Waste Reduction & Recycling

In 2007, the city achieved a 35 percent recycling rate. We’re building on this success- reducing the amount of waste that goes to our landfills with the following programs for residents and businesses:

• Yard Waste Collection and Composting Program
• Cardboard and Office Paper Recycling Program for Businesses
• Curbside Recycling Providers in Lawrence
• Community Drop-Off Recycling Bins for Newspaper, Cardboard, and Mixed Paper
• Community Drop-Off Recycling Centers for many materials
• Hazardous Waste Disposal for Households and Qualified Small Businesses
• Electronic Recycling Collection Events and Tips
• Earth Day Parade and Celebration
• Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Homes Tour
• Environmental Procurement Policy for the City of Lawrence
  

Transportation

The City of Lawrence and KU partner to provide bus service throughout the Lawrence area. In Spring of 2011, Transit will add three new hybrid buses to their fleet, dramatically reducing fuel usage and emissions.

Transportation

Although Lawrence’s mobility continues to be dominated by the automobile, other modes such as public transit, pedestrian, and bicycle transportation are becoming increasingly important means of travel in our community. Lawrence is working with the City-County planning department, fleet management, city transit, KU transit, and advisory boards to provide multimodal, sustainable transportation options.

Transportation 2030: This plan, developed by Metropolitan Planning Office and consultants, sets a framework for developing a healthy, safe, and efficient transportation system to serve Lawrence and Douglas County to 2030 and beyond.

Bicycle Advisory Committee: This group provides a communication linkage between the city and County Commissions and the community on bicycling related issues.

Alternate Fuel Vehicle Pilot projects: See how we’re using hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles in city operations.

Bike Lanes and Paths: Lawrence maintains many shared use paths to enjoy, plus links to bike lanes and bike-friendly routes on area streets.

Lawrence Transit System: Our area transit system has undergone major changes recently – designed to better coordinate city and KU transit operations. Use the new Lawrence Transit System and KU On Wheels Systems to get to campus and around town.

RideShare Connection: Find other commuters in your area.

KDHE Clean Diesel Grant: The city received a $26,800 grant to retrofit vehicles to reduce diesel emissions.

Water

At the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kansas University researchers are working to turn microbes from treated sewage into a commercially viable biofuel that one day could be used to power the nation’s cars, trucks, and airplanes.

Water & Utilities

The City of Lawrence provides clean drinking water to its residents, and also returns waste waters safely back into the environment. The Utilities Department has maintained high environmental ratings by decreasing energy usage, increasing quality of discharges to the Kansas river, and decreasing fuel usage. Lawrence is the only municipal utility to maintain all of these standards in the U.S.

Water Conservation: Learn what you can do to save water and save money.

Stormwater Prevention: The City of Lawrence Code was updated in 2001 to require landowners and citizens to use better practices to prevent pollution of streams, lakes, rivers and groundwater. Learn what you can do to prevent stormwater pollution.

Plant a Rain Garden: Learn how to reduce stormwater runoff on your property with this beautiful garden.

Build Your Own Rain Barrel: Learn how to capture rain from your house, to use for gardening and irrigation.

Biosolid Program: The Waste Water Treatment Plant provides biosolids free of charge to area farmers and landowners. This provides free fertilizer and reduces waste going to landfills.

Use of Sodium Hypochlorite: This liquid bleach treats drinking water as well as chlorine, but is much safer for are workers to handle, and is safer for residents living near the water treatment plants.

Outdoors

The City offers multiple opportunities for alternative transportation and recreation. The Parks and Recreation Department manages over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Outdoors/Parks & Recreation

Since its creation in 1946, Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department has continued to enhance the quality of life in the Lawrence community. We manage over 3,500 acres of open space and parks, operate five recreation centers and four pools, and maintain over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails – providing Lawrence with excellent healthy lifestyle recreational opportunities. The LPRD also offers hundreds of classes and activities from baseball to computers, from personal finance to martial arts.

• Bike Lanes and Paths: Lawrence maintains more than 70 miles of trails and paths to enjoy, plus links to bike lanes and bike-friendly routes.
• Pesticide Reduction in Lawrence Parks: Learn how LPRD is reducing its pesticide use in city parks, and how you can help.
• Prairie Park Nature Center: This 80-acre nature preserve on the east side of Lawrence incorporates wetlands, woodlands, prairie habitats and a five acre lake.
• Earth Day Parade and Celebration: Come join us for this annual event!
• Volunteer Program for Landscaping: Volunteer or bring a group to help keep Lawrence parks beautiful.
  

Advisory Groups

Members of the City’s Sustainability Advisory Board interact with residents at the Annual Earth Day Parade and Celebration.

Citizen Advisory Groups

The city relies heavily on input from its citizens. There are dozens of boards to choose from, but these are the most directly related to the city’s sustainability efforts. Join one today!

Sustainability Advisory Board
The mission of the SAB is to promote environmental protection, and advocate for policies which support sustainability (including environmental protection, waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation and natural resource conservation) in the City of Lawrence and to enhance the quality of life by enhancing the City’s efforts in these areas.

Climate Protection Task Force
The Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Protection was appointed in February, 2008, to create a Climate Protection Plan. The Climate Protection Plan was submitted to the City Commission in 2009, and outlines a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for the City.

Bicycle Advisory Committee
This group provides a communication linkage between the city and County Commissions and the community on bicycling related issues.

Peak Oil Task Force
The Peak Oil Task Force was appointed in September, 2008 to develop a response plan in active consultation with the community that will address both a sudden crisis-related reduction of fossil fuels and a long term depletion of fossil fuels. This draft is in progress.

Public Transit Advisory Committee
This Board advises on all matters regarding on the City public transit system, such as proposed routes, service changes, ridership policies, fare structures, funding and budgets.

Douglas County Food Policy Council
The FPC will serve as a forum for discussion and coordination for community-wide efforts to improve the Douglas County community’s access to local food supply and distribution networks.