So Arnold got big press for being the first city in the country to install a new LED street light over by city hall.  But what else has the city done to go green?  My guess is not much. 

Here are a few suggestions for the city council to consider.

• Promote alternative transportation; bike racks around town
• Ban or restrict plastic water bottles from convenience stores
• Provide tax breaks for families using green home items such as bamboo flooring, in-line or solar water heaters, and recycled roofing/shingles
• Offer new home builders the same incentives/breaks
• Provide incentives to small business owners who use green alternatives
  
• Use low-energy LEDs in traffic lights
• Encourage people to upgrade old window A/C units for newer, Energy-Star compliant units
• Promote local thrift stores - particularly ones that use metal hangars :)
• Provide an Arnold-wide shuttle to major events (thus cutting emissions).  Events would include city council meetings (in which all council members would of course ride to meetings on) ,court days, Arnold parade/Arnold Days, concerts in the park, etc.

And I've requested in the past several different documents produced by the city to be emailed to me instead of printed.  Why don't they do that yet?

• Provide a way on the Arnold website to opt in for an e-newsletter instead of receiving one in the mail
• Require the LEADER, Jeffco Journal, ROCK and other newspapers to do the same
  
• Provide dockets, summaries via email
• Reduce (or remove) usage of colored ink in favor of black only
• Ask local utilities to use e-billing instead of mailing statements
  

This is a good start. Do you have some others? 

Comments (3)

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written by VickyVicky, April 16, 2008

I'll add one, which is to install rain barrels that collect rainwater, which then funnels the water into gardens and flowerbeds, etc. They could do this at City Hall and sponsor some kind of program possibly where residents could purchase the barrels and the hardware, etc.

Saw this on "This Old House" or some show, and it was amazing how much water runs down the gutters and into the barrel, and then 'recycled' out to the garden.

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written by Vicky, April 17, 2008

Hm, I don't know what happened to my earlier comment from yesterday. I would suggest placing the plastic barrels at downspouts on the city properties to collect rainwater, which would then be funneled (recycled) to water gardens, flowers, etc.

I would like to see Arnold (or JeffCo) sponsor a program helping residents obtain the necessary barrels and hardware to implement.

Saw this on "This Old House" and was amazed at the amount of water collected (huge barrels) and how easy it was to use the water for plants, beds, gardens, etc.

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Local Mattress Store Helps Green Up Arnold
written by Doug Belleville, April 17, 2008

As manager of the Arnold based Water Works Sleep Center we have added the choice of green mattresses to our bedding line up. With over 22 years in the furniture and mattress industry, we are very proud to announce for the first time a complete line of more Earth Friendly Mattresses.

Did you know that most mattresses today have an extremely high percentage of polyurethane foam in them? The polyurethane foam being used is petroleum a based manufactured good originating from crude oil. As we all know crude oil is a natural resource that we have come to be dependent on for many years now. The Earth’s supply is not endless, and many of the countries we rely on for crude oil are not friendly with us.

The alternative choice of All Natural Latex Rubber Mattresses with Organic components not only make us less dependant on unfriendly governments, but also provide us with an unusually durable and comfortable mattress constructed from the sap of the rubber tree. The trees are fast growing and can be replaced after 15 or so years while being quickly reinstating new growth and sap output within 5 years.

We also use raw materials such as cotton, both organic and non- organic and natural wool. These mattresses last 15-30 years slowing the rate at which mattresses fill landfills while being biodegradable. For those interested in learning more about green mattress products in Arnold Missouri Mattresses Get Healthier and Go Green, What It Means to You

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