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Environmental Stewardship Regional Practices
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The NADO Research Foundation is currently collecting and documenting the environmental stewardship practices and initiatives of regional development organizations from across the nation. The report Regional Strategies for Environmental Stewardship describes a range of projects that RDOs have completed. These projects relate to renewable energy, land use, water quality, air quality and other environmental issues. The report introduces a variety of innovative and model practices for coordinating economic development and environmental stewardship initiatives on a regional basis. The complete report will soon be available to download in PDF format. RDO projects are also highlighted below, and new projects will be added throughout 2006. This project is part of a cooperative agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Renewable Energy
Regional development organizations promote economic development through initiatives on renewable energy production and consumption, as well as energy conservation. These projects can enhance communities in several different ways: diversifying economic opportunity, adding or retaining jobs, reducing businesses' and local governments' operating expenses and reducing the region's dependence on non-renewable, imported sources of energy.
Regional Assets Provide Renewable Energy in the Upper Midwest
Bio-Waste Is a Valuable Energy Resource
Renewable Fuels Benefit Regions
Going Green Saves Green: RDOs Conserve Energy with Green Buildings
Getting Started in Regional Energy Planning – Sharing the Land of Sky Experience
Getting Started in Regional Energy Planning, Stokoe, Annual Conference Presentation 2007
Land Use
Model land use practices are successful in regional strategies to improve the economy, local communities, and natural resources. These land use initiatives promote development in ways that preserve environmental quality and enhance residents' quality of life.
Mixed-Use Developments Provide Alternatives to Single-Use Zoning
Low Impact Development Preserves Water Quality
Conservation Subdivisions Help Communities Grow Sustainably
RDOs Guide Communities in Managing Growth
Coordinating Transportation and Land Use Leads to Successful Development
Zoning Can Prevent Resource Degradation
Land Use Decisions Affect Water Quality
Water Quality
RDOs lead their regions in planning for water and wastewater infrastructure, mitigating pollution sources, mapping significant resources, protecting watersheds and raising residents' awareness of water quality issues. These practices protect public health and water quality through environmental stewardship.
Modern Infrastructure is the Pipeline for Clean Water
Reusing Gray Water Conserves Resources
Keeping Water Pollutant-Free
Managing Watersheds to Assure Safe and Clean Water Supplies
Using Technology for Clean Water
Environmental Corridors Contain Important Resources
Citizen Participation is a Critical Component of Environmental Preservation
Educating Local Residents
Air Quality
These regional projects balance economic development, public health and environmental stewardship through early action compacts and public outreach. RDOs can see beneficial results of adopting practices that decrease pollutants such as particulate matter and ground-level ozone whether their regions are in attainment with EPA standards or not.
Early Action Compacts Promote Pollution Prevention
Civic Participation for Clean Air
Sustainable Business Practices
Regional development organizations often lead their member governments and other organizations in identifying sustainable practices that are cost-effective or promote new development. These initiatives involve conserving energy and other resources, using recycled materials, and promoting the development that uses local resources sustainably.
Conservation Practices Make Economic Sense
Sustainable Actions Include Environementally Preferable Purchasing
RDOs Support Asset-Based Development
Solid Waste Management
Regional approaches to solid waste management can provide solutions to dump-site prevalence, low reycling rates, and limited access to hazardous waste facilities. If left unaddressed, these issues can compromise a region's water supply and other resources.
Regional Recycling and Clean-up Foster Economic Growth
Collecting Hazardous Waste Promotes Public Health and Resource Protection
Risk Management
Working on a regional level to identify hazards that threaten residents, businesses and natural resources can have the beneficial effects of mitigating damage through preparedness.
Mitigating Environmental Degradation Caused by Natural Hazards
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