Switching to florescent lightbulbs and adding better sealing around windows may seem like smallchanges, but they are among the steps Howard County Executive Ken Ulman wants to take for a greener county.
Ulman has dedicated $400,000 in his proposed capital budget for a new green fund to pay for the costs of converting to more energy-efficient products.
“This is the start of some funding to replace some of these environmentally unfriendly products,” he said.
From lightbulbs to heating and cooling systems, county officials will be looking for places to boost efficiency and choose greener options, Ulman said.
The money is included in the county?s systemic facility-improvements funds, which go to improve public buildings and their systems.
Ulman?s budget also includes $405,000 for an ongoing evaluation of environmental compliance for county facilities.
This money will go to making sure the county?s maintenance facilities follow environmental standards, such as properly storing chemicals.
Ulman said his operating budget, which he will release in a couple weeks, also will include several more environmental projects.
Cathy Hudson, head of the Howard County Citizens Association?s environmental committee, called the initiatives “wonderful.”
Historically, county government hasn?t been bound by the same environmental standards as developers and residents, Hudson said.
This was often done to save money, but now is the time to invest in these initiatives, she said. Green initiatives tend to be more costly up front, but the changes will save the county money in the long run.
“Investing now for payoff later is always a challenge when you have tight budget times,” Ulman said. “But it?s important for us to make hard decisions and make investments now.”
In February, Ulman formed a 22-member Commission on the Environment and Sustainability charged with identifying environmentally friendly measurescounty officials should enact, and a report on the commission?s findings is due at the end of August.
Highlights from Ulman?s proposed 2008 budget
» Systemic facility improvements of county buildings ? $1.5 million
» Waste-management improvement at the county?s landfills and transfer station ? $2.9 million
» Parkland acquisition program ? $7.5 million
Source: Howard County Government
