Cleaner Greener Lincoln

Mayor Chris Beutler made his commitment to sustainability in the community clear by establishing the Cleaner Greener Lincoln initiative in 2009. The Mayor's Office has a list of accomplishments that are improving the quality of life in Lincoln, as well as saving money.

• Established the Mayor's Environmental Task Force with the mission of ensuring the City of Lincoln follows the best sustainable management practices.
• Diverted 74% of construction and demolition waste when the office relocated in 2010, saving $2,322 by recycling. WasteCap Nebraska's case study
• Signed an executive order banning the purchase of bottled water using City funds.
• The Building Subcommittee of the Mayor's Environmental Task Force audited 10 City buildings in 2008 based on energy consumption, water consumption, indoor air quality and recycling potential:

  Mahoney Golf Course Clubhouse, Gere Library, 'F' Street Recreation Center, Fire Station #8, Water Building, Street Maintenance Garage, University Square Parking, Communications Building #2, Parks and Recreation Office, and Pershing Auditorium

  Cleaner Greener Lincoln will upgrade lighting on several of these buildings to be more energy efficient as a result of these audits. Learn more on the Sustainable Future page.

The Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department (LLCHD) provides environmental public health programs for the community to improve air quality, water quality and waste management practices.

• The Household Hazardous Waste Program and Community Collections provide public opportunities for safe and legal disposal of pesticides, corrosive cleaners, toxic poisons and more.
• SmartPainter Program works to reduce paint waste with educational strategies at partnering home improvement stores.
• Safe Homes for Seniors assists older citizens with home assessments, safe storage advice, and proper disposal of household hazardous wastes via partnership with Aging Partners' Home Handymen program.
• Keep Lincoln and Lancaster County Beautiful prevents litter, raises awareness of storm water drains and provides clean-up grants to the community.
• The comprehensive greenhouse gas emission inventory for Lincoln will allow the City to measure progress in reducing emissions to meet the Mayor's goal of reaching 1990 levels by 2015.
• A secure, protected bike storage in a downtown Lincoln parking garage provided by grant funds serves as an incentive to bicycle commuters.

• Replaced 84% of city traffic signals with longer-lasting LED bulbs, saving the city about $70,000 annually on energy costs (Cleaner Greener Lincoln is funding the LED replacement of the remaining traffic signals).
• Runs the Lincoln recycling program. The public drop-off sites collected 6,808 tons of materials in 2009.
• Creates compost out of biodegradable material and residential yard waste. This compost is available to the public for free (self-loading) and is also used for city landscaping projects.
• Organized free compact fluorescent light (CFL) recycling program at local hardware stores.
• Generates electricity from methane gas at the Theresa Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, saving Public Works and Utilities an estimated $125,000 per year.
• Developing the Landfill Gas Retrieval Project to capture methane from the Bluff Road Landfill for future energy use.
• Funding and assembling over 200 rain barrels and leading classes on rain barrel installation to support water conservation and reclamation through Watershed Management.

• Constructed a LEED Silver Prairie Building Addition to the Pioneers Park Nature Center. LEED certification projects demonstrate lower operating costs, a reduction in waste sent to the landfill, conservation of energy and water and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Installed energy-efficient LED lights in the American Legion Park (S. 26th and Randolph Streets) to demonstrate the use of an alternative and energy-reducing light source for park area lighting.
• Encouraged growth of natural plants in parks to reduce mowing, therefore fossil fuel consumption.

• Operates all buses on biodiesel fuel. There are currently 13 hybrid buses and handivans in the fleet, and more hybrids will be introduced in the future.
• Plans to install bike racks on every StarTran bus, making it easier for cyclists to get to their destinations.

• Provides recycling in every LPS building.
• Includes "Garbology" in the 2nd grade curriculum, which teaches students about litter prevention and recycling.
• Offers "Zoo School", a science-based, holistic learning environment for high school students.