This is the first edition of the City of Charlotte's electronic environmental newsletter! This quarterly feature will bring you up-to-date on some of the City's latest environmental initiatives, programs, and successes. We hope that you find this information useful as you join with us in helping build a greener and more sustainable Charlotte-Mecklenburg, through the choices we make every day.

Stepping up it's commitment to environmental protection through education, the City has created a new web site designed to provide information on the City's latest environmental initiatives, including direct links to City and County agencies and programs charged with protecting out region's air, land, and water. The site also houses the Pledge to Improve Our Environment; created to encourage residents to make their own personnel commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. Visit the new environmental web site at www.charlottenc.gov and click on Focus on Environment.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities has opened their new Environmental Services Facility, which is home to Utilities' Environmental Management and Lab Services Staff. The building is LEED Gold certified a designation from the U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable, high performance buildings. This is the first LEED certified building in Charlotte city government. Its eco-friendly features are too numerous to list, but here's just a few:

• Energy Efficiency – The building uses "daylighting," or maximizing natural light, orienting the building, skylights, and windows for optimal light. The large windows and skylights bring in the outdoors while reducing lighting needs, and also helps reduce the need to cool the building.
• Indoor Air Quality – Paints and sealants used in the building are free from chemicals that could irritate lungs. Carbon dioxide sensors provide fresh air from outside to office and conference spaces as more people occupy them.
• Sustainable Materials – One of the goals was to reduce the impact of construction on the environment. When possible, materials were selected that were made locally, with recycled or rapidly renewable materials. The carpet has a high-recycled content, while the linoleum is made from flax, which grows quickly. The wood used for doors and cabinetry is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
• Water Quality – A retention pond behind the building reduces the volume and speed of rain water runoff, while native plants prevent erosion and clean the water.
• Water Conservation – Water-conserving plumbing fixtures are used in low-flow faucets, shower heads and toilets. Water-efficient landscaping is low maintenance, so it needs no irrigation.
• Recycling – Metal, drywall, and other materials were used during construction, diverting 78% of construction waste from the landfill.

Want to see the building up close and personal? Simply schedule a tour of the Environmental Services Facility by calling 704-621-0854, or e-mail bplanet@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The Pledge to Improve Our Environment encourages residents to help the environment by taking certain actions in their daily lives. Pledge activities range from actions you can take at home such as replacing light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, and shortening shower times to reduce water consumption. In addition, the pledge contains things you can do in the workplace such as using coffee mugs instead of Styrofoam cups and walking to off-site meetings that are within walking distance of the work place.

To view the pledge online, visit www.charlottenc.gov and click on Focus on Environment. Wallet-sized pledge cards can be obtained by calling the City's Corporate Communications office at 704-336-2396.

Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) has been honored with the Keep America Beautiful (KAB) President's Circle Award. In citing the local organization's efforts, KAB officials said that Charlotte met the standards of excellence by conducting an annual Litter Index, which is a tool used to measure litter from year to year, tracking litter "hot spots" and monitoring the progress in addressing the problem. Keep Charlotte Beautiful was also lauded for engaging volunteers to take greater responsibility for their community environment.

Keep Charlotte Beautiful is one of the oldest affiliates of Keep America Beautiful. For more information, visit neighborhoods.charmeck,org and click on the KCB logo.

The Government Channel brings you City of Charlotte news, including the latest environmental news. Whether you're watching City Source or tuning in to Queen City Limits, you'll get an in-depth look at how City leaders and staff are addressing environmental concerns and planning for sustainable future. You can view episodes of City Source online at www.charmeck.org by clicking on The Government Channel logo.