Peoria's Sustainability Action Plan (SAP)
Mission Statement
The city of Peoria is committed to providing an environment in which our natural resources, our people, and our economy are balanced. We will not compromise the future by focusing solely on the needs of today. We aspire to make Peoria a regional leader that develops, promotes, and improves the quality of our community through sustainable practices. (City of Peoria Sustainability Team, 2009).
Definition
Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (Brundtland Commission 1989)
Executive Summary
Sustainable organizations operate within a social and economic context. Environmental sustainability is a part of this operation and is best achieved when integrated with consideration for other goals. A sustainable organization seeks to participate within its community, integrate economic development with environmental protection, and minimize the impacts of development on the community. Through seeking balance, an organization will take into account the needs of future generations.
With financial difficulties and environmental concerns facing the global and national economy, the city of Peoria has taken steps to address these challenging concerns at the local level. We will place a high priority on sustainable economic development, energy efficiency, and responsible growth management.
Peoria has created its own definition of sustainability based on the needs of the community, the priorities established by the City Council, and the performance goals established within the Peoria Sustainability Action Plan.
The city of Peoria established a Sustainability Committee to ensure that city departments are working to develop sustainability-oriented goals, tracking success metrics, and also to encourage cross-communication in the preparation of Sustainability Update presentations made to the City Council on an annual basis. For Peoria, Sustainability means a change in the way of doing business, a change in the way of delivering services, and a new emphasis on encouraging community-wide sustainability through interactions with citizens via online resources, social media outlets, public forums, and the exchange of ideas.
Objectives
• Reduce environmental impacts of local government projects
• Save water
• Save energy
• Save money
• Build for the future
• Reduce waste
• Preserve open space
• Enhance livability
• Embrace design excellence
• Recognize and reward excellence in sustainability.
• Education
Factors in Sustainability Criteria Prioritization
• Cost savings
• Energy savings
• CO2 reductions
• Maximizing the life expectancy of products/technology
Stakeholders:
• Infrastructure
• Buildings
• People
• Ecology
• Economy
• Government
Download the 2012 Sustainability Action Plan
