Flexible Schedules Are Among Efforts
By Lauren Wiseman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Rising fuel costs have prompted Howard County to launch a series of initiatives aimed at not only conserving energy and saving money but protecting the environment.
Last week, County Executive Ken Ulman (D) implemented an alternative work schedule policy that would cut the number of county employees driving to work any given day.
"We have been working for a long time on creating a family-friendly workplace," Ulman said in an interview. "Gas prices just created a sense of urgency."
The initiative makes sense to Samantha Stoney, a community planner from Baltimore who is considering a condensed workweek. She said her 17-mile commute usually takes 40 minutes because of traffic on Interstate 95.
"Going through the tunnel every day is painful, so to not have to do it once every two weeks would be great, and it would definitely save on gas," said Stoney, who works in the Department of Planning and Zoning.
Employees can choose to work 40 hours in four days or 80 hours in nine days. Ulman said the compressed and flexible work schedules, which the county has used in the past, would not only save on gas costs but decrease pollution.
The scheduling is one of several "green" initiatives Ulman has introduced in recent weeks in a bid to find energy-efficient and, over the long term, cost-effective approaches. Last week, he announced the creation of the Green Business Council, which he said could help Howard capitalize on the nationwide growth of "green-collar" jobs.
"If there is something we can do to encourage environmental sustainability and business growth, then this is where our focus should be. We need to make sure Howard County is seen as a place to locate and grow green business," Ulman said.
The county already owns a fleet of hybrid cars and uses LED traffic lights, said Joshua Feldmark, director of the county's Office of Environmental Sustainability. The county installed solar panels recently at the East Columbia Branch of the public library, and in a few months it will do the same at Worthington Elementary School in Ellicott City. Two years ago the county created a tax credit for those who use solar energy. Last year, according to Ulman, 44 residences applied for the credit.
"It's not as much about saving money as it is about saving energy and doing the right thing. But as energy prices rise, it is likely we are paying less for energy than if we bought off the grid," Feldmark said.
The county is also instituting a plan to measure and reduce carbon emissions, he said.
"We need to be building from the ground up so we have an infrastructure that takes energy efficiency into consideration," Feldmark said.
Annapolis has also launched environmentally friendly, energy-conscious steps.
The city instituted a storm-water utility tax this year that will pay for repairs for the storm-water system under the campaign "Five Cents a Day for the Bay."
City officials also created the Stormwater Education Experience at Back Creek Nature Park, with exhibits that include a faux beaver dam, various types of porous pavers, rain gardens and other eco-friendly storm-water controls.
"It is not a typical energy initiative, but it helps the younger generation learn the impact of storm water in yards and about pollution in the bay," Plumer said.
In February, the City Council passed an ordinance promoting the purchasing of material that can be reused, recycled or turned into compost. Under the former rules, departments would pick the cheapest materials, said Frank Biba, chief of the city's environmental programs. Now department heads are encouraged to take energy reduction and life span into account.
The city has switched to LED traffic lights, which use less energy than bulbs and last longer. All traffic signs that blink, including crosswalk signs, use solar panels. And city officials can drive any of the new Honda Civic and Ford Explorer hybrids.
"It's more than a trend. In the absence of initiatives on state and federal levels, local governments can make a difference," Biba said.
LeeAnn Plumer, director of the city's Recreation and Parks Department, is making choices that reflect the environmentally friendly policy. Plumer uses certified green cleaning products and fertilizers with organic substances rather than phosphorus-based chemicals. All new park benches are made from recycled materials, and parking lots are being paved with "glassphalt," which uses crushed glass, instead of asphalt.
"We are certainly looking for more green alternatives, and we are trying to do it in a more aware sense," Plumer said. "If we have choices, we try to pick ones that are a better fit for the environment."
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