This ordinance outlines the requirements for city compost collection. It provides guidelines for vendors concerning acceptable compost and recyclables hauling practices. It creates special zones within municipal limits for the disposal of compostable matter as well as an equitable and manageable schedule of compost collection.

A review of the city by city commitments reveals an overwhelming concern with the energy efficiency of buildings; in a few cases, particularly where the local energy utility is municipally owned, there’s a major focus on green power; all cities are committed to “lead by example” by greening their own buildings and fleets; and only in a handful are there significant commitments to reducing transportation emissions area-wide.

The current financial crisis and economic recession have dramatically pointed out the economic fragility of large segments of the United States population and their vulnerability to financial products that are misrepresented or poorly explained. It also shows how many families, with little or no savings, live on the brink of financial disaster. Individual Development Account programs (IDAs) offer matched savings accounts as one solution to this low savings rate. These accounts have been effective at providing additional incentives to save, as well as multiplying the saving contributions of account holders so that assets can be more quickly accumulated.

The current financial crisis and economic recession have dramatically pointed out the economic fragility of large segments of the United States population and their vulnerability to financial products that are misrepresented or poorly explained. It also shows how many families, with little or no savings, live on the brink of financial disaster. Individual Development Account programs (IDAs) offer matched savings accounts as one solution to this low savings rate. These accounts have been effective at providing additional incentives to save, as well as multiplying the saving contributions of account holders so that assets can be more quickly accumulated.

Global climate change poses a challenge of historic proportions for Chicago and the world. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the scope and scale of that challenge by offering a rigorous accounting of Chicago and the metropolitan region’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, an in-depth investigation of the sources of those emissions, and a description of the likely trends if no action is taken. This report also offers a path forward in the form of a portfolio of emission reduction strategies designed specifically for Chicago. This research is intended to serve as a solid foundation which will enable Chicago to implement its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As San Antonio continues to grow, it has the opportunity to develop in such a way that residents can reduce the environmental impacts of travel, while also reducing household transportation costs. This report provides information on the combined housing and transportation (H+T) costs in the San Antonio metro area, demonstrating that these two household expenses are closely linked. In San Antonio, combined housing and transportation costs are higher away from the city center. While housing developments on the urban fringe take advantage of low land costs, transportation infrastructure makes car ownership a necessity. In contrast, both housing and transportation costs are lower in the compact neighborhoods closer to downtown, where residents can more easily get to jobs, shopping and amenities by transit and walking.

Establishing measureable goals for the city’s energy service is a critical step towards defining a sustainable energy plan. In order to establish realistic and achievable goals, it is necessary to define indicators and identify performance standards. This report outlines ways to establish performance benchmarks for system reliability and for energy consumption.

Facilitating access to available energy efficiency technology as a strategy for reducing energy costs.

This report examines methods for cities to improve job quality in their communities by using city regulatory power to establish wage floors and other employment standards, regulating domestic-employee placing agencies, using city resources to enforce existing government employment regulations, implementing equal opportunity employment policies, using city proprietary interests, and curbing employers\\\' practices that take advantage of immigrant workers. The policy recommendations in the report are based on the experience of cities around the country.

This ordinance establishes green building requirements for newly constructed residential and commercial buildings. The ordinance requires building departments in the city and county to enforce new regulations on lighting, insulation, climate control systems, and other building design and construction standards that increase energy efficiency. The ordinance allows for the adoption of local energy standards if the standards are cost effective and will save more energy than the statewide standards. In order to improve compliance with this ordinance, the city and county will seek out additional education and training opportunities for staff in green building technologies.