The Charleston Green Committee, only in existence for a few months so far, will present twelve immediate measures at 5 p.m. tonight that they recommend the City implement immediately. The group’s mission includes lowering the City’s greenhouse gas emissions 7 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

This is a good list. Fortunately it doesn’t include clauses like the state bill which will phase in CFL bulbs by 2011, instead calling on this stuff immediately. Where it’s not all that specific, at least it sets precedents for things we should already be doing. Building only LEED government buildings is a great step.

Here’s an excerpt from the release and the list …

These measures do not purport to solve the serious and urgent issues of climate protection and sustainability facing our coastal city, but are an initial set of recommendations that they believe can have an impact.

The Green Committee is studying plans from municipalities from around the country and around the world and is considering proposals from internationally known experts to help them create an action plan that is both far-reaching in its goals and practical in its implementation. To that end, it will require thoughtful consideration as to how to tailor proven “best practices” to the needs and unique demands of our historic, Lowcountry city. They believe however, that as those best practices are identified that Charleston should not wait until the completion of the plan to begin to take meaningful action.
The list of items to be considered for immediate implementation are as follows:
1. Require that all City staff recycle paper, plastic (# 1&2,) aluminum and tin via Charleston County Curb Side Pick-up or the City Parks Department.

2. Require that all City staff recycle printer cartridges.

3. Require that all City staff use recycled copier paper for routine use.

4. Request that the Department of Public Service study the ability to pick up recyclable materials such as aluminum, tin, plastics, cardboard, and newspaper from the downtown business merchants as a pilot program that may be used to design an effective City-wide program including mandatory recycling where the program is offered.

5. Create a partnership with local stores to develop a plan to responsibly decrease the amount of plastic bag waste.

6. Identify and clearly advertise the CARTA route on which all City events are located.

7. Promote the City’s policy of providing CARTA passes to employees who choose a CARTA pass in lieu of a parking garage pass to new and current employees.

8. In partnership with individual businesses and institutions and groups such as the Downtown Business Association and the Chamber of Commerce initiate a lights out in buildings at night campaign.

9. Ensure that all City owned construction beginning with those buildings whose planning begins in 2009 will meet LEED certification.

10. City Council shall pass a resolution supporting the Federal Energy Block Grant Program.

11. Enforce the City’s current idling ordinance which prohibits idling for more than 5 minutes.

12. Create an eco hospitality program that welcomes visitors to help Charleston be a sustainable city by helping with some small acts such as indicating when new towels are needed or turning lights out when leaving a hotel room etc.