Dunwoody has stepped up its eco-game and the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) took notice, bestowing the suburban city with a Gold Level recertification as a Green Community, the ARC confirmed last week. This nod from the ARC honors local governments that stand out in pursuing sustainability initiatives and making environmental responsibility a top priority. Dunwoody's efforts toward greener living have not gone unnoticed, as it proudly stands alongside 19 other metro Atlanta governments with ARC Green Communities certification.
Among the eco-friendly achievements that bagged Dunwoody its gold star was the city's overhaul of its street lighting, ditching the old bulbs for energy-saving LED lights that cut energy use by a whopping 80%, and the installment of a cool, EnergyStar-certified roof on the city hall, which saves a bunch of money on energy bills. Other initiatives included tackling pesky stormwater flooding with bioswales in Pernoshal Park, which reduce stormwater runoff by about 48%, and partnering with Georgia Power and EnviroSpark Energy Solutions for the setup of thirteen Level II electric vehicle charging stations, now we got a city that's not just talking the talk but walking the walk—electrically-charged, environment-friendly struts.
Dunwoody didn't stop there; the city launched Solarize Dunwoody, a bulk-purchasing program for solar panels, resulting in 52 installations around the city that dodge an estimated 640,838 pounds of carbon dioxide every year, according to details posted on the city's official website, and participants in the program rack up $163,000 in savings. Danny Johnson, ARC’s Managing Director of the Natural Resources Department, highlighted the importance of local initiatives, stating, "This voluntary certification leads the way to healthy, livable, and resilient communities, which we hope inspires others across the nation."
The ARC introduced its groundbreaking Green Communities Program back in 2009 and since then has been doling out recognitions to local governments that buckled down to reducing their environmental footprints — Dunwoody just so happens to be one of the shining examples of these efforts. And in a display of community and municipal teamwork, Richard McLeod, Dunwoody Community Development Director mentioned how the city, along with the Dunwoody Sustainability Committee, piled efforts into planting trees, rolling out electric vehicle charging stations, and hosting household hazardous waste and electronic recycling events annually, these seemingly small but mightily significant acts help carve a greener path for the community.
With ARC serving as the principal planning body for the 11-county Atlanta Region, Dunwoody's recertification not only adds a feather to its cap but also sets a bar for environmental standards that other cities in the region and potentially across the nation may strive to reach. ARC's mission encompasses fostering communities that prosper inclusively within the Atlanta area, by means of cooperation and data-informed strategies and investments—and Dunwoody's latest accomplishments are text-book examples of this ethos in action, with every switched lightbulb, every planted tree, and every collected recyclable pushing the needle towards a sustainable future.
