KCCI: Tallahassee

The primary goal of this initiative is to establish Tallahassee as the leader in existing and emerging “green” technologies that benefit the environment and spur economic development. Facets of this initiative include taking an inventory of existing technologies and activities within the region, establishing policy and regulation to promote energy conservation and sustainable design, and developing a strategic plan to create the infrastructure to support intellectual and entrepreneurial development. Potential partnerships include local and state government, universities and grade schools, and businesses in the private sector.

Green-Focused

In order to attract green industries, Tallahassee must first become green-focused. To ignite this effort, Greenovation team members are researching best practices in green building and sustainability, and plan to publish a comprehensive document on all regional green activities to determine how green we are right now and how much greener we must become. 

K-12 and Higher Education 

The team has helped establish a partnership between the city, the county and Leon County Schools to help intensify K-12 recycling policies and programs. Take a look at the poster that was created and distributed in the Tallahassee Democrat and posted in our local schools as a result of Greenovation’s efforts: Recycle Poster.

Through this partnership, the three parties have jointly applied for a recycling grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which indicates unprecedented progress in getting everyone to work together to accomplish a mutually beneficial goal. The Greenovation team is also working with our three major universities to increase their recycling efforts and identify grant opportunities.

In addition, the team is receiving additional guidance from the Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center, which is constructing the Zero Emissions building at FSU. This building will be completed by the end of 2007 and will be the first of its kind in the southeastern United States. 

Park & Ride Pilot Program

Greenovation has partnered with StarMetro to establish a Park and Ride Pilot Program, which will run between downtown and the northeast side of town Sept. 4 to Dec. 7, 2007. For more information, please visit www.parkandridetallahassee.com, e-mail parkandridetallahassee@gmail.com, or click here for the program Fact Sheet.

Sustainable Tallahassee

Greenovation plans to establish a public-private funded organization known as Sustainable Tallahassee. Sustainable Tallahassee will be a community resource center offering the public a “how-to” on green construction, as well as green resources, products and vendors, and funding sources for green building. Sustainable Tallahassee will educate and certify builders and professionals, certify green buildings, and pursue grants for research development. Ultimately, it will be the engine that continuously enables and encourages Tallahassee to be green.

Green Inventory

Currently, the Greenovation team is collecting an inventory of “green” initiatives around the Capital Region. If you know of any local “green” efforts – no matter how small - please e-mail David Byrne at byrned@talgov.com. For instance, if your church is starting a new recycling or conservation effort, let us know. If your business encourages carpooling or walking to work, let us know that too. If your neighborhood is working to make residents aware of ways to make their homes “greener,” tell us. You get the idea! The inventory will be indexed and cataloged and made available via the Sustainable Tallahassee Web site, which is currently in the early stages of development.

Urban Design Studio

The Urban Design Studio will enable custom development that follows development patterns envisioned by the community. Tallahassee’s current Comprehensive Plan and land development ordinances do not recognize the difference between urban, suburban and rural development patterns. The Urban Design guidelines will offer incentives for green building, walkable communities, public transportation systems, etc. and encourage planners and developers to think outside the box.

Want to Help?

If you would like to serve on the Greenovation team or have ideas about how to help it succeed, please leave a comment below or e-mail kccitallahassee@gmail.com.