Green Accomplishments
See how far we've come. There are some highlights beginning in January 2008. While there is still much more to do, we're proud of what has been accomplished so far. Check back for the latest updates on the Greening of Nashville.
2009 Accomplishments
*October 14, 2009 – Mayor Dean along with Council Members Jim Gotto, Parker Toler and Darren Jernigan announced the expansion of the subscription recycling service in the 37027 (Brentwood), 37013 (Antioch/Cane Ridge), 37076 (Hermitage) and 37138 (Old Hickory) zip codes of the General Service District. Residents in these areas can sign up online for curbside recycling collection.
*October 13, 2009 – MTA officially launched the "Google Transit Trip Planner" on their website in partnership with Google. Transit riders can enter their starting location, end location, time of day for their trip and select either departure time or arrival time to get directions.
*October 8, 2009 – Mayor Dean joined District 18 Council person Kristine LaLonde, the Urban Land Institute, Nashville Electric Service, Village Real Estate in launching the first energy conservation neighborhood initiative, Go Green District 18, with the goal to reduce energy consumption in District 18 by 5%. This initiative supports Mayor Dean’s Green Ribbon Committee goal of reducing energy use in Nashville 5% by 2012 and 20% by 2020.
*October 8, 2009 - Mayor Dean and Metro Public Works announce sustainability initiatives and first application of “green street” methods in Nashville on Deaderick Street which feature:
- 700% increase in pervious area (diverting approximately 1.2 million gallons of stormwater per year)
- Bioswales at sidewalk and street level to capture, filter and infiltrate rainwater.
- Porous concrete in sidewalk
- 102 shade trees (can reduce temperature of surrounding area by 35%) and 4,249 shrubs
- Irrigation utilizes low flow nozzles (33% less water) and drip system
- LED - Pedestrian streetlights, Pedestrian wayfinding kiosks, Traffic signals
- Solar Powered parking meters
- Recycling disposal units for on street recycling collection
- Sub-base of concrete walls made of recycled concrete
- High percent recycled content in light poles, tree grates, fence, trash/recycling containers, wayfinding kiosks
- Recycled coal fly ash within concrete
- Local steel fabricators used
*September 29, 2009 – Formation of Open Space Advisory Committee which will serve in an advisory/technical capacity to the Nashville and Davidson County Open Space Project. The Open Space Project is a public/private partnership between the Metropolitan Government and the Land Trust for Tennessee to inventory critical natural and cultural resources and create a long-term plan for conservation and development of these resources for use and adoption by various government departments and private conservation organizations.
*September 27, 2009 - One of the Green Ribbon Committee recommendations, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is Music City's new public transportation service designed to move MTA bus riders along the city's busiest corridors with fewer stops, more frequent buses, and a greener attitude.
*September 3 through October 8, 2009 - “Live On the Green,”6 free, environmentally-friendly concerts held each Thursday night on the Public Square in front of the Metro Courthouse.
*September 2009 – General Services begins accepting applications for new energy manager position.
August 14, 2009 – Mayor Dean presents US Green Building Council Award for LEED Commercial Interiors to Schneider Electric.
*August 13, 2009 – Coulomb Technologies, the leader in charging station infrastructure, today announced that the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is the first municipality in the State of Tennessee to install and deploy ChargePoint™ Networked Charging Stations for plug-in electric vehicles.
*August 2009 – Nashville Electric Service demonstrates its environmental commitment by switching from petroleum-based mineral oil to a renewable source – soybean oil – in all new distribution transformers.
*August 2009 – Food Security Partners receives USDA Community Food Projects Grant to fund “Music City Farm Fresh” which aims to:
- Develop strategies to improve access to fresh, healthy food for low-income residents in Middle Tennessee through farm-to-institution programs at schools, hospitals, prisons, and community centers;
- Identify barriers to and opportunities increasing the economic self-sufficiency of Middle Tennessee’s small to mid-size farmers by expanding cooperative marketing and distribution opportunities; and
- Strengthen Middle Tennessee’s rural and urban communities by creating new economic development opportunities that are socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable.
*August 2009 – MWS Stormwater designates LID Coordinator. LID Coordinator will be available to work on Metro LID development initiatives as well as answer general LID questions and coordinate with private development site representatives to facilitate their implementation of green infrastructure/LID on their project plans.
*August 2009 – Public Works receives grant from Tennessee Department of Forestry to conduct Downtown Tree Inventory and Tree Canopy Assessment.
*July 2009 - Mayor Dean convened a regional meeting of Mayors in the Middle Tennessee area for the purpose of discussing issues of regional importance. Out of this discussion, a "Middle Tennessee Mayors' Caucus" was formed for these elected officials to brainstorm and develop solutions to problems shared by communities across the region. The Caucus met for the first time in July 2009, and serves to augment and support already formed regional groups including the Greater Nashville Regional Council, Metropolitan Planning Organization and Regional Transportation Authority.
*July 23, 2009 – MDHA announces geothermal energy system at the recently renovated Parkway Terrace Apartments which is the first of its kind in Tennessee public housing.
*July 21, 2009 – Metro Council adopts Green Jobs memorializing resolution supporting the creation of a Green Jobs Corp in Nashville.
*July 9, 2009 – Mayor Dean announces public-private partnership to develop an Open Space Plan for Davidson County.
*July 1, 2009 – Fulton Campus Parking Garage opens with charging stations for electric vehicles.
*June 18, 2009 – Mayor Dean presents US Green Building Council Award for LEED Core and Shell (CS) at Freeman-Webb building. Tennessee’s first LEED CS Gold certified building.
*June 13, 2009 – Mayor Dean announces Mayor’s Environmental Pledge at the Sounds Go Green Night.
*June 9, 2009 – General Services begins participating in TVA Demand Response Program.
*June 5, 2009 – Mayor Dean issued a Call to Action for the Middle Tennessee region to create our own unique approach Regional Transit Planning, Funding and Implementation at the Annual Convening the Region Summit - "Power of Ten". "The Power of 10" represents a 10-county Region: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson Counties. Power of Ten Summit was organized by the Cumberland Region Tomorrow, Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and Tennessee Department of Transportation.
June 2009 –Green Ribbon Committee releases full report "Together Making Nashville Green" to Mayor Dean.
May 2009 - Enabling legislation to create dedicated a funding source for mass transit unanimously approved by the state House and Senate.
*May 5, 2009 – Mayor Dean announces need for comprehensive vision as well as a planned strategy to ensure consistent access to an affordable, sustainable, and nutritious food system for Nashville at the Farmer's Market Grand Re-opening event.
*May 2009 – Metro Information Technology Services begins testing an enterprise-wide green software management program that would conserve energy and save money.
*April 23, 2009 – Mayor Dean delivers State of Metro Address and announces plan to:
- Purchase adjoining parcels of land to Peeler Park and Warner Park
- Provide Bus Rapid Transit on Gallatin Road and expand to main thoroughfares in County
- Support dedicated funding for mass transit in State Legislature
- Retrofit General Services managed buildings for energy efficiency (Howard School – LEED)
- Green Metro’s Fleet by expanding use of hybrid, electric and bio-diesel vehicles
- Develop a Community Parks Plan
- Seek private funding to assist Greenways staff in developing an Open Space Plan
- Systematically implement each of the short term recommendations over the next few months
*April 2009 - Mayor Dean presents US Green Building Council Award for LEED Gold EB to Caterpillar Financial, first privately owned commercial building in Tennessee to achieve LEED EB.
*April 2009 – Mayor Dean releases Lake Sturgeon into Cumberland River. 75 Lake Sturgeon are released into the Cumberland River as part of a long-term program designed to restore reproducing populations of this primitive species to Tennessee waters.
*April 14, 2009– Metro Transit Authority announces:
- 6 new Hybrid articulated 60-foot buses and new Bus Rapid Transit project on Gallatin Pike
- BusLink on Demand shuttle service in Madison area with 30 stops
- 26 New Bus Shelters with solar powered LED security lighting on the horizon
*March 2009 – Metro Nashville Public Schools announced energy and water savings through improvements at public schools:
- HVAC improvements at 30 schools
- Lighting retrofits at 110 schools
- Water and conservation measures at 50 schools
- Flozone Services, Inc. provided chemical-free water treatment to 62 systems in 58 schools, improving the efficiency of the HVAC systems and saving 3,377,849 gallons of water, while lowering utility costs by $196, 046 in its first six months of operation
- Building control updates at 70 schools
- State of the art building automation systems in 15 schools
- Two schools applying for LEED Silver
- Geo-thermal in one wing of Cane Ridge High School
- Renovations at Apollo Middle School include installation of an air barrier insulation system and a HVAC system matched to the building envelop that, in conjunction with Solar Energy system, will result in Net Zero Energy usage for the HVAC system.
- District-wide, energy and resource reductions have generated more than $2.9 million in total savings for MNPS
*March 28, 2009 – Mayor Dean turns off the lights on lower Broadway to celebrate WWF EarthHour 2009.
*March 27, 2009 - Metro Council adopts Clean Water Infrastructure Program funding stormwater infrastructure improvements for Metro Water Services.
*March 16, 2009 – Curbside recycling rolled out in Bellevue, residents have first pickup day.
*February 17, 2009 - Mayor Dean presents US Green Building Council Award for LEED Silver for Neighborhood Development (ND) in the Gulch , first LEED ND project in Southeast.
February 12, 2009 - Mayor Dean, recording artist Jo Dee Messina, officials from World Wildlife Fund, and dozens of local business owners and city leaders challenge Nashvillians to "Go Dark" for Earth Hour as Nashville is selected as one of six flagship U.S. cities for WWF EarthHour 2009.
*February 11, 2009 – Mayor Dean announces completion of first Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Metro Nashville and Davidson County in conjunction with the Green Ribbon Committee and Nashville Electric Service.
*February 10, 2009 – Metro Council adopts Green Streets ordinance requiring green infrastructure to improve stormwater absorption and infiltration downtown.
2008 Accomplishments
*December 11, 2008 – Mayor commissions downtown tree Master Plan.
November 11, 13, 15, 20 and 22, 2008 - Mayor Dean's Green Ribbon Committee holds 5 public workshops “Together, Making Nashville Green” in 5 locations throughout the city.
October 24, 2008 -US Green Building Council presents Mayor Dean with Green Star Award for the establishment of the Mayor's Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability and demonstrated support of the US Green Building Council mission.
October 24, 2008 -Opening of the Metro Transit Authority's Music City Central downtown bus transit station.
October 23, 2008 – Mayor Dean issues Executive Order 34, creating Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
*August 11, 2008 – Mayor’s Office creates Internal Green Team of representatives from 10 core departments with environmental responsibilities (Codes, Farmer's Market, General Services, Health, MDHA, MTA, Parks, Planning, Public Works and Water Services).
*August 18, 2008 - Metro Council adopts ordinance to reduce paper consumption by city departments.
*July 2008 – Launch of MTA RideShare program providing free bus service for Metro Government employees to and from work.
June 19, 2008 – Mayor’s Office launches online environmental survey of Nashville Residents.
June 19, 2008 - Mayor Dean issues Executive Order 33, creating the Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability.
*June 2008 – Metro Council adopts Green Building Permit & Green Certificate of Occupancy Ordinance for sustainable design development.
*May 2008 - Mayor Dean mandates 100% recycling participation goal for Metro Government employees.
*April 19, 2008 - Mayor Dean speaks at Earth Day and announces:
- Expansion of Metro Government In-house recycling
- Anti-idling policy for City vehicles
- Metro Employee MTA Rideshare Program
- Thermostat settings no higher than 68 degrees in winter and 72 degrees in winter at all city government buildings
- City buildings to phase in use of fluorescent lighting.
*January 2008 - Mayor Dean signs US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.
* Accomplishments which reflect Green Ribbon Committee goals and recommendations.
Note: This website is still under development. Check back frequently for enhanced reporting and informational capabilities.