Protecting Our Environment: Green Initiatives 

The City of Greensboro takes seriously its responsibility to protect the environment and to promote "green" initiatives. Below is a list of actions the City is taking to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability.

Land Use Policies

• Reduce sprawl and protect open spaces
• Infill development and traditional neighborhoods
• Sidewalk Construction Projects and promoting pedestrian travel
• Linking land use and transportation planning
• Activity centers
• Investment in downtown
• Brownfields, redevelopment, historic preservation
• Connections 2025: Comprehensive Plan, which directs City policy and actions to address challenges associated with protecting the environment and for managing growth

Alternate Transportation Options

• Bike lanes
• PART, HEAT, GTA and SCAT
• Properly timed traffic signals
• New engineering, such as roundabouts
• Off-street greenways, paths and trails
• Pedestrian sidewalks
• More online services

Energy Efficiency

• Motion-sensitive lighting
• Programmable lights and thermostats
• More energy-efficient lights and ballasts
• Energy-saving water heaters and boilers
• Energy-efficient enhancements at the Coliseum, Melvin Municipal Office Building, and other city buildings
• Use of Energy Star (ES) equipment and appliances

Sustainability

• Sustainable building practices using the LEED program
  for all new fire stations
• NeighborWoods program
• Tree planting for shade and to absorb carbon dioxide (Tree City USA)
• Landscaping and tree preservation
• Stream restoration and reforestation
• Erosion and sedimentation control
• Adherence to environmental standards in parks
• Sustainable living education for children at libraries
• Environmental education programs
• Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library, with its focus on environmental education
• A user-friendly and comprehensive recycling program
• Use of recycled materials whenever possible
• Household hazardous waste disposal program
• Water quality standards and monitoring

• Bio-diesel in use seasonally since 2002 when cost is comparable to ULS diesel 
• First hybrid vehicles purchased in 2003
• Use of oxidation catalysts on large trucks and equipment
• Sharing of employee vehicles and consolidating work-related trips
• Adoption of policy requiring that the City purchase the smallest, most fuel-efficient vehicle practical for the job to be performed 
• Methane recovered from landfills and sewage treatment, and converted to green waste

Air Quality

• Burn permits issued for controlled burning
• Triad Air Quality Early Action Compact
• Hybrid vehicles in City's fleet