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City of Lancaster is going green

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Contributed by: City of Lancaster on 8/22/2008

The city of Lancaster has launched an internal "Growing Green" campaign to reduce its impact on the environment.

The campaign focuses primarily on employee awareness, encouraging staff members to engage in green office practices such as energy conservation, recycling and waste reduction.

"This campaign demonstrates the City's long-term commitment to preserving our natural resources and protecting our environment," said City Manager Mark Bozigian. "We are not simply 'Going Green,' because we as an organization chose to do precisely that long before the term even existed. Instead, we are 'Growing Green' by encouraging our staff to continue existing green practices while cultivating new ones."

The Growing Green campaign informs employees of ways to change their daily habits in order to be more environmentally sound. Tips include turning off computer monitors, unplugging phone chargers, and turning off power strips when not in use, as leaving them on uses a great deal of unnecessary energy.

Other guidelines emphasize such practices as ride sharing and waste reduction by printing responsibly, reusing or recycling paper and reusing packaging materials.

The city is also committed to replacing worn-out office supplies and machines with more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products.

Employees are receiving the information through a variety of channels, including e-mails, the city's intranet site, posters and memos.

The campaign is the latest in a series of environmentally friendly city efforts stretching back to 1994, when the City Council adopted the Blue Skies program and a resolution to purchase alternative fuel vehicles whenever feasible.

Since then, Lancaster's green efforts have continued to grow both internally and externally.

Currently, City Hall offices are equipped with lighting systems that use motion sensors. The sensors, installed approximately 10 years ago, automatically shut off lights when no movement is detected in a room after a certain period of time. A recycling program has also been in place at City Hall for several years.

Recent additions to the city's internal environmental efforts include automatic paper towel dispensers to reduce the amount of waste produced and energy-efficient air conditioning units, which will save energy while saving the city money.

Officials are also investigating ways to implement the use of solar energy.

"Our environment is a vital necessity for every member of our community," said Bozigian. "We are engaged in a number of efforts to preserve and protect that environment. I encourage our citizens to do the same."

For more information about Lancaster's environmental endeavors, including water conservation efforts and tips for residents, visit the "Going Green" section of the city's Web site. It can be accessed at www.cityoflancasterca.org under "About Lancaster."

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