Building Sustainable and Resilient Grand Rapids. Haris Alibašić, Ph.D. City of Grand Rapids June 26, 2014

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1 Building Sustainable and Resilient Grand Rapids Haris Alibašić, Ph.D. City of Grand Rapids June 26, 2014

2 Haris Alibasic Agenda Sustainability and Resiliency Overview Supporting and Implementing Resiliency and Sustainability Efforts Applied Sustainability Tracking and Measuring Sustainability Grand Rapids Climate Resiliency Report

3 Sustainability Defined Set of effective and efficient actions taken by an organization to ensure the economic stability, growth, and financial success, with the most positive societal outcome and the least negative environmental impact.

4 Haris Alibasic Resiliency Planning Resiliency planning takes into consideration emergency preparedness, energy planning, health, and safety issues. Alibašić (2013). Local Governments Must Take Charge of Building Resilient Communities

5 Resiliency Planning in GR

6 Timeline of Sustainability in GR Haris Alibasic

7 Haris Alibasic Supporting and Implementing Resiliency and Sustainability Efforts Office of Energy and Sustainability Internal and External Support/ CSP, WMEAC, WMSBF Working with local universities Internship opportunities

8 Sustainability Plan Haris Alibasic

9 Grand Rapids Sustainability Haris Alibasic Economic Issues: A Strong Economy Diverse Supplier Base Employment & Workforce Training Financial Management/Sustainability Enhanced Customer Service Vital Business Districts Environmental Issues: Energy & Climate Protection Environmental Quality & Natural Systems Land Use & Development Social Issues: Great Neighborhoods Strong Education, Arts & Community Civic Engagement Healthy Lifestyles & Healthy Environments Public Safety

10 FY2013 Sustainability Plan Progress Report Haris Alibasic

11 The Sustainability Plan Progress Haris Alibasic Report Climate Resiliency Transformation Economic Highlights Brownfield Redevelopment Micro Local Business Enterprise firms Social Highlights LEAD Youth Employment Program Volunteerism Local food sources: Downtown Market, Urban farming Environmental Highlights Bikeway Network LEED Certification Extreme weather events (heat waves/flood) Tree Canopy Solar panel system

12 Overall Progress Haris Alibasic In FY 2013, 51% of all targets are shown as completed, compared to last year s 36%. FY 2013 Results FY 2013 By Theme 1% 60% 50% 52% 48% 50% 50% 53% 44% 40% 48% 51% 30% 20% Complete In Progress Little to No Progress 10% 0% 3% Economic Social Environmental Complete In Progess Little to No Progress

13 FY 2013 Economic Progress Haris Alibasic 48% 52% FY 2013 Social Progress 50% 50% FY 2013 Environmental Progress 3% 44% 53% Complete In Progress Little to No Progress

14 Applied Sustainability Energy efficiency in city owned buildings and in residential homes Geothermal at fire stations Better Buildings for Michigan Achieved 20% renewable energy target before 2008, and the City is now committed to 100% renewable energy by 2020 Solar project at LEED certified administration building The City installed Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) charging stations last year. Stations were used over 1,800 times since installation.

15 Solar Energy Application

16 Geothermal Project at Fire Stations DOE/EECBG* Grant funded Annual Utility Savings (kwh) Total Cost Savings GHG Reduced (metric tons) Geothermal Fire Stations $300, ,000 $22, Haris Alibasic Geothermal Project at Fire Stations is to implement a geothermal heating and cooling system that extracts an pumps heat from underground. The system will reduce energy costs and pay back the city s upfront expense in 7.5 years

17 Haris Alibasic Electric Vehicle Charging Stations The City installed seven Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) charging stations last year.. Stations were used over 1,100 times since installation vs use

18 Solar at Butterworth Haris Alibasic Landfill Superfund Site With EPA funding, completed a feasibility study for large scale solar.

19 Haris Alibasic RE Projects Under Consideration Request for Proposals : Sustainable Biosolids Management Programs

20 Applied Sustainability (contd.) Bio-retention islands Seven new bio-retention islands installed last year Refuse and recycling MyGrcity Points Bike lanes Adding additional 100 miles of bike lanes Urban forestry Grand Rapids Urban Forest Project which set a 40% tree canopy goal

21 Resiliency Planning Process A comprehensive climate change strategy improves the current conditions and lessens the future impacts of weather events

22 Emergency Planning and Resiliency

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24 The climate knot Climate change impacts each sector in isolation, but it also impacts the interaction of each to others and the function of the system as a whole. Therefore, understanding the needs of the community, major relationships between sectors, and the ability of the sectors to provide those needs in a changing climate world is key to building resilience. (Grand Rapids Climate Resiliency Report, 2013)

25 Climate Resiliency Report & Grand Rapids Sustainability Plan Water Emergency Preparedness Energy Connecting Issues Transportation Built Systems/ Infrastructure

26 Climate Resiliency Report Recommendations Water Energy Built Systems/ Infrastructure Transportation Emergency Preparedness Strengthen Efficiency Capture first flush Use critical climate infrastructure Increase Energy Efficiency Reduce GHG emissions Improve access to food sources Increase # of certified sustainable buildings Change transportation culture to one built around multimodal, vital streets for all residents. Analyze the effectiveness of resources used during extreme events, continue providing efficient response Grand Rapids Sustainability Plan Corresponding Targets Water Energy Built Systems/ Infrastructure Transportation Emergency Preparedness Reduce customer water consumption Reduce stormwater discharge increase square footage of green roofs, pervious pavement, and parks Reduce City s consumption of gasoline, diesel, and natural gas Achieve at least 30% renewable energy portfolio Reduce direct and indirect GHG emissions Increase access for development of community gardens Improve access to farmer s markets Increase # sustainable redevelopment projects, and certified buildings Increase miles of on-street bike lanes to 70 Develop new sidewalks Decrease total vehicle miles traveled by city employees Increase mix of alt. vehicle fuels All City employees involved in the National Incident Management System will maintain 100% of the training requirements to ensure preparedness. Regionalize Emergency Preparedness Planning by 2015

27 Climate Resiliency Report Uses the system-wide approach to understanding climate change and concrete impacts on the local community.

28 Resiliency Report (Contd.) Focus on localization of climate change impact, and a specific set of recommendations to build resiliency in the local community and strengthen disaster recovery and resilience by local government.

29 Localization of Climate Science The MAGICC/SCENGEN Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse-gas Induced Climate Change with the Regional Scenario Generator modeling software was used.

30 Results The climate change variables of temperature and precipitation were projected through the years 2022 and 2042 to coincide with the City s 20-year Master Planning process. Temperatures and precipitation were compared to baseline annual average and monthly average data from

31 Haris Alibasic Results (Contd.) A sample of the analysis and findings from the report that describe climate change impact in Grand Rapids area: Average temperature and precipitation will increase by 1.1oC and 2.6 percent, respectively, by 2022, and further increase by 2.2oC and 8.5 percent, respectively, by 2042.

32 Haris Alibasic Results (Contd.) Seasonally, the largest increases in temperature are projected to occur during the winter. The least in summer. The largest percent increase in precipitation is predicted to occur in the winter and spring months. Summer is the only season projected to actually become drier. The Great Lakes region can expect more variable and volatile weather, and that could lead to more extreme weather events such as storms and more freeze-thaw cycles in winter and spring.

33 Conclusions and Recommendations A number of in the areas of process improvements social, economic, and environmental. Under processes, encourage use of an economic, triple bottom line cost-benefit approach in financing and implementation of major projects. Under crime prevention, the report suggests to increase the use of crime prevention tools through environmental design of parks and public spaces.

34 Recommendations Seek to move from a centralized energy system, toward a more distributed energy system. Continue to encourage the construction of bestin-class green building projects. Implement a forestry program addressing heat island, air quality, and other resiliency values delivered by a diverse, healthy urban tree canopy.

35 Articles Alibašić, H. (2012). How Energy Efficiency Strategy Pays Off in Grand Rapids Alibašić, H. (2013). Local Governments Must Take Charge of Building Resilient Communities Alibašić, H. (2013). Building Sustainable and Resilient Grand Rapids. German American Chamber of Commerce Water Technology Magazine, Page 28 tiative/gawt_magazine_ _final.pdf Alibašić, H. (2013). The Evolution of Sustainability Planning in Grand Rapids

36 Articles (Contd.) Alibašić, H. (2013). Grand Rapids Publishes Climate Resiliency Report Alibašić, H. (2014). Planning and Implementing Climate Resiliency in Grand Rapids, Cover Story on Page 24 of the Michigan Municipal League s magazine: Alibašić, H. (2014). Michigan Cities Building a Sustainable Energy Platform: Focus on Grand Rapids Alibašić, H. (2014). Michigan Cities Building a Sustainable Energy Platform: Holland, Ann Arbor and Beyond

37 Thank you! Haris Alibasic Website: Source: Office of Energy and