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ARC’s Green Communities Program Recognizes Four Communities for their Continued Commitment to Sustainability

Atlanta — Jan 22, 2020

(ATLANTA, January 22, 2020) The Atlanta Regional Commission announced today that the cities of Dunwoody, Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs and Woodstock have been certified through the agency’s Green Communities Program for demonstrating leadership in sustainability practices.

ARC developed the Green Communities Program in 2009 to recognize local governments that invest in programs and policies that lead to a more sustainable region. The nationally-recognized program showcases the many ways that local governments can reduce their environmental footprint.

The 2019 Green Communities honorees achieved the following certification levels:

• City of Woodstock – Recertified Gold
• City of Dunwoody – Upgraded to Gold
• City of Sandy Springs – Upgraded to Gold
• City of Peachtree Corners – Recertified Bronze

All winners earned certification points for sustainable measures implemented in their communities. Examples of measures that were awarded certification points include:

• City of Woodstock – Built more than 12 of a planned 77-miles of multi-use-trails throughout the city through its Greenprints Plan.
• City of Dunwoody – Installed a cool roof on City Hall to reflect solar energy away from the building, making it easier to maintain internal temperature and reduce energy costs.
• City of Sandy Springs – Cleaned up a formerly contaminated, low-density commercial business site and transformed it into a healthy, thriving downtown destination for residents to live, work, and play.
• City of Peachtree Corners – Provided single-stream, curbside recycling to all residents and hosted an annual electronic waste disposal events for residents to safely and properly dispose of electronic appliances and devise.

Together, the efforts of these four communities have had the following cumulative impact over the past four years:

• Saved over 80,000kWh/year in energy, resulting in approximately $554,000 in energy costs
• Added 147 acres of protected greenspace
• Planted 625 trees on government property to replace those lost during development
• Installed 11 electric vehicle charging stations at community facilities
• Collected approximately 150 tons of household hazardous waste for proper disposal, including electronics, batteries, textiles and more
• Located six government buildings at infill locations, greyfields or brownfields rather than disturbing undeveloped land

In metro Atlanta, 20 local governments — 13 cities and seven counties — are currently certified under ARC’s Green Communities Program. This is the first program in the country to promote sustainability through a green certification program for local governments.

“These local governments are to be commended for showing an ongoing commitment to conserving energy and protecting our natural resources,” said Kerry Armstrong, ARC board chairman. “Their efforts set a positive example for other communities while fostering a sense of regional pride.”

More information about ARC’s Green Communities certification program is available at atlantaregional.org/greencommunities.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 73 other cities. ARC serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues.

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Contact Name: Marquita Bundrage
Contact Phone: 470-378-1444
Contact Email: mbundrage@atlantaregional.org