Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Strategy CM-5. Improve sustainability of City operations and purchases. City operations account for a relatively small portion of Ashland’s emissions, they are a relatively easy target for sustainability improvements because the City has direct control over them. PRIORITY ACTIONS CM-5-1. Introduce environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) guidelines for City procurement. Creating an EPP policy is a low-cost action that would guide City staff to choose more sustain - able products and services by modifying the procurement process. While the complexity of Ashland’s existing procurement process may make this action more difficult to implement, it is worth considering because a wide range of cities similar to Ashland have successfully implemented EPP policies of their own. For example, the City could require evaluation of electronic equipment using the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). CM-5-2. Assess the feasibility of co-digesting food waste and biosolids to generate electricity at the wastewater treatment facility. Generating electricity from the gases captured from decomposing organic matter is a win-win strategy: it prevents harmful GHGs from entering the atmosphere, and it creates electricity that can offset the wastewater treatment facility’s energy use or be fed back onto the power grid.OTHER ACTIONS • Promote online citizen services (such as permitting and bill payment) to reduce paper use and car trips. • Evaluate the use of low-carbon concrete and/ or recycled asphalt shingles on City buildings. • Evaluate feasibility of increased use of recycled aggregate in residential street construction and sidewalks.M Mi M Mi 78 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANCONSUMPTION & MATERIALS MANAGEMENT