From Kansas City Gardener
Kansas City's civic, business and educational leaders are plotting to make us "America's Green Region."
As budgets tighten and the economy shows stresses from high energy costs, leaders are putting on their thinking caps and becoming creative problem solvers. Regional initiatives such as 10,000 Rain Gardens, Conversations on the Environment, the Mid-America Regional Council's (MARC) Sustainability Academy and the Kansas City Power and Light (KCPL) agreement with the Sierra Club have brought national attention and acclaim. The appeal of goin' green as a region means that Kansas City can become a national model for sensible, sustainable growth.
One way to be a national model is to learn from others about solving common urban issues like polluted stormwater runoff and antiquated combined sewers. Kansas City leaders have traveled to Seattle and Portland to view green solutions that treat water as a resource, capturing and using stormwater to recharge the water table. They've seen green infrastructure such as rain gardens, bio-retention facilities and stream buffers, which reduce storm water runoff and water pollution, create recreational amenities and protect natural resources. These green solutions are integrated and include renewable energy, solid waste recycling, mass transit, bike/pedestrian infrastructure and other measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental quality.
Aside from the environmental benefits, defining Kansas City as the premier green solutions region is a brilliant stroke that could attract commerce.
As the nation's center of sustainability, Kansas City would be uniquely positioned to attract new businesses and relocating existing ones, particularly those that dominate the green industry. The current green industry has no center the way other industries do. The technology industry has San Francisco's Silicon Valley, the American auto industry has Detroit and Connecticut is home to most of the insurance industry. Could the green industry be "goin' to Kansas City"?
Everyone wants to do their part to make Kansas City the premier clean, green community.
The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) has announced a plan to create "America's Green Region" including a suite of training symposiums for area professionals. MARC is the regional planning organization for Greater Kansas City, including transportation and mass transit.
The private sector is also squarely behind the sustainability movement. The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has recently launched a Climate Partners initiative with 131 business members who pledge to assess, measure and reduce their carbon footprints. Taking a similar tack, 20 local mayors have signed a Climate Protection Pledge. Not only do these leaders from both groups see environmental benefits, they also understand that the incorporation of sustainability improves quality of life and can increase their bottom lines through new efficiencies.
The City of Kansas City is preparing a plan for the EPA to describe how the City will reduce six billion gallons of polluted stormwater runoff and sewage that is discharged into local waterways each year. Traditional approaches are projected to cost up to three billion dollars over 25 years. Citizens on the Wet Weather Community Panel advocate the use of green solutions, and that has resulted in a unanimous City Council Green Solutions Policy Resolution. The administrative regulation that recently went into effect February 25 directs City departments to incorporate green solutions into City policies, projects and programs.
To ensure efficient adoption across City departments, the administrative regulation directs more than 10 City divisions and departments to explore and implement green solutions. The policy also provides for the creation of a Green Team Committee, which will direct the City's green solutions efforts, approve modification of internal business processes necessary to implement green solutions throughout the City and provide direction on innovative ways to add green solutions to City projects.
What's in it for the homeowner? Multiple short-term benefits stem from the use of green solutions including improved air quality, and a cooling effect from the urban environment's heat island effect.
Kansas City residents will also benefit in the long run. Green solutions at the home level will help keep costs of renovating sewer system infrastructure in line. By disconnecting downspouts that send thousands of gallons of roof runoff directly into sewers, and redirecting that flow into a beautiful rain garden or a practical rain barrel, we begin to be part of the wet weather solution, one home or business at a time.
For more information on green solutions and how you can play a role, visit www.rainkc.com and plan to attend the Kansas City Green Summit, April 25.
Judy Allmon is a member of the Garden Writers' Association and consults regionally to commercial and government projects on native plants for working landscapes and visual management and on communication strategies for improved landscape success. She is currently consulting to the 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative on education and outreach. Her company, Bluestem Landscapes, is a State of Missouri WBE (Women's Business Enterprise). She lives and gardens in Jefferson City and may be reached at 573-230-1196 or judy@bluestemlandscapes.com.
