Sustainable Practices within Government Agencies Did you know?... •64% of respondents have incorporated sustainability into their community or projects •91% of respondents are somewhat likely or very likely to pursue an Energy Audit •56% have some type of Sustainability Plan in place Want to Learn More?...

1. Baxter & Woodman advocates for a
sustainable future. We will educate
our sta and clients, innovate
processes, and integrate solutions
that provide a responsible balance
of economic, environmental,
Sustainable Practices in
operational, and social value.
Government Agencies
Survey Results Report
Sustainable Thinking. Let it grow on you.
Baxter & Woodman, thoughtfully planning for tomorrow.

2. Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report
by Lori Schendl
© 2010 Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without written permission is prohibited.
Sustainable Thinking. Let it grow on you.
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report

3. Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................1
Executive Summary..........................................2
Survey Results..................................................3
Conclusions.....................................................12
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report

4. Introduction
Baxter & Woodman’s Sustainable Mission Statement:
Baxter & Woodman advocates for a sustainable future. We will educate our staff and clients,
innovate processes, and integrate solutions that provide a responsible balance of economic,
environmental, operational, and social value.
Survey Background
In order to support our mission, a survey was commissioned in August of 2010 to determine
sustainable practices and trends within government agencies. The survey, titled Sustainable
Practices within Government Agencies, was emailed to approximately 1000 public organizations
and Baxter & Woodman contacts. Over 100 recipients participated in the survey. While most
of the responses were received from local municipal officials in Illinois and Wisconsin, a few
replies came from as far away as Georgia and South Carolina. Organizations responding to
the survey included municipalities, sanitary districts, water utilities, townships, conservation
districts, transportation authorities and more.
The survey was conducted to:
• gauge local interest in sustainable services,
• determine which sustainable services are being implemented,
• identify which sustainable services agencies want to learn more about, and
• establish which sustainability topic learning methods are deemed valuable.
The information gathered from the survey will be used to:
• further develop Baxter & Woodman’s sustainable services...tailoring these services
to meet the needs of government agencies,
• identify sustainable services to target for educational materials, case studies, etc.,
• share valuable data on current sustainability trends in the industry, and
• create baseline data for continuing to enhance sustainability efforts for our clients.
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 1

5. Executive Summary
• Government agencies deem sustainability as a practice worth undertaking. Sustainability is
somewhat or extremely important to an overwhelming majority of 88% of our respondents.
A very small percentage of respondents (9%) cited that sustainability was ONLY important
when cost benefits where apparent.
• 15% of survey respondents have a FORMALIZED Sustainability Plan or Ordinances in place.
42% have INFORMAL Sustainability Plans and Ordinances in place, while 43% currently
have NO Sustainability Plans or Ordinances in the works.
• 46% of communities cited that they pursue LEED certification, 37% participate in WaterSense
and 62% attempt to achieve Energy Star Ratings.
• 65% of respondents HAVE incorporated sustainability into their community and/or projects.
• Not surprisingly, lack of funding was cited by 80% of our respondents as the biggest
challenge faced when incorporating sustainability into their community and projects.
Along these lines, 40% of our respondents HAVE applied for sustainable funding.
• Energy Audits (47%), Expanding and Maintaining Tree Cover (46%), and Installing LED
Street Lighting (41%) all topped the list as sustainable services that communities are VERY
LIKELY to pursue. On the other hand, Installing Green Roofs was selected as the sustainable
service that communities are LEAST LIKELY to pursue.
• The desire for additional information on sustainable topics is great. Over 93% of our
respondents want additional information on sustainable funding opportunities. 81% of
respondents deemed Email funding alerts as a valuable tool.
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 2

6. Survey Results
How important is incorporating sustainable practices?
Sustainability continues to gather momentum. The survey finds that incorporating sustainable
practices is important to an overwhelming majority of respondents. 88% of respondents
stated that incorporating sustainable practices into their communities and projects was either
Extremely Important or Somewhat Important.
Saving money is not the sole motivator when it comes to incorporating sustainable practices.
A low percentage of respondents, only 10%, deemed incorporating sustainable practice
important ONLY when cost benefits are apparent.
How important is incorporating sustainable practices
into your community and projects?
2.9%
9.7%
Extremely Important
40.8% Somewhat Important
Not Important
46.6%
Important only when cost
benefits are apparent
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 3

7. Do you have a sustainable plan in place?
41% of our respondents already have an INFORMAL Sustainability plan or ordinances in
place. Another 15% of respondents currently have a FORMAL plan in place for incorporating
sustainable practices. The remaining 44% have NO sustainable plan or ordinances in place at
this time.
Survey says...
“We have Ordinances for storm water BMPs and energy codes and water conservation.”
“My community is working on a sustainable master plan. In the meantime, there are many actions taken to
promote and to become more sustainable.”
Which of these statements is true?
15.0% My community has no
Sustainability Plan or
ordinances.
44.0% My community has an
informal Sustainability Plan
or ordinances.
My community has a
41.0% formalized Sustainability
Plan or ordinances.
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 4

8. Does your community pursue any of the following?
LEED Certification, Water Sense and Energy Star were listed as possible choices of sustainable
programs/certifications that respondents might be seeking or actively participating in. While
less than half of our respondents actively participate in the LEED and WaterSense programs,
63% stated that they pursue Energy Star Ratings.
Survey says...
“Recently we became an Energy Star Partner!”
“We have pursued and achieved the Bronze level from Clean Air Counts”
Does your community pursue any of the following?
70.0%
63.0%
60.0%
44.4%
50.0%
35.2%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
LEED Certification
Energy Star Ratings
WaterSense
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 5

9. Have you incorporated sustainability into your community and/or projects?
64% of respondents have incorporated sustainability into their community or project. Recurring
themes seem to be energy efficiency/reduction and water conservation efforts. Types of
sustainable features/projects that were listed by respondents include:
Survey says...
• Energy Efficiency and Reduction, Energy Audits • Capital Project Incorporating Sustainable Features
• Geothermal • All New City Buildings - LEED ONLY!
• Pervious Pavement • Stormwater BMPs
• Shade Trees in Landscaping • Trenchless Technology
• Green Roofs • Rain Gardens
• Solar Powered Pedestrian Crossing Lights • Water Conservation Ordinance
• LED Traffic Control Lighting • Solar Aerators
• Planned Native Plantings, Grass Swales • Recycled Steel Sign Posts
• Changeover to Fluorescent Lighting • Solar System at WWTF
• Sustainability in Product Purchases • Flex, Hybrid, Biodiesel Vehicle Replacement
Have you incorporated sustainability into your
community and/or projects?
35.6%
Yes
No
64.4%
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 6

10. What challenges do you face when incorporating sustainability into your
community and projects?
Lack of Funding was cited by almost 80% of our survey respondents as a challenge with
incorporating sustainability. Not a surprising result in this challenging economic environment.
Survey says...
“Limited public knowledge and demand; staff buy-in”
“Sometimes the ordinances in place in the Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance are in
contradiction. Education of BMPs seems to be the biggest hurdle in the development community, public
and staff.”
What challenges do you face when incorporating
sustainability into your community and projects?
90.0%
79.4%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0% 44.1%
40.2%
40.0%
30.0%
21.6%
20.0% 13.7%
10.0% 4.9%
0.0%
Board/Council Buy-in
Lack of Funding
None of the Above
Limited Staff
Lack of Public
Not Offering
Knowledge
Consultants
Sustainable
Options
Support
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 7

11. Have you ever applied for sustainable funding?
61% of our respondents have not applied for any type of sustainable funding. Of those that have ap-
plied, Energy Grant Funds are the most popular including; Energy Efficiency and Block Grant funding,
ComED, Illinois Clean Energy Foundation WPPI Energy, and Focus on Energy.
Survey says...
“To be honest, in order to obtain various funding opportunities, sustainable projects are a priority.”
“Energy grants, bicycle racks, water quality projects”
Have you ever applied for sustainable funding?
Yes
No
39.4%
60.6%
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 8

12. How likely is your community to pursue the following sustainable service/
technique or process?
Toping the list of the sustainable services or techniques that communities are VERY LIKELY to
pursue are Energy Audits at 47%, Expanding and Maintaining Tree Cover at 46% and Installing
LED Street Lighting at 41%.
Installing Green Roofs is the technique that is the LEAST LIKELY of the sustainable services that
were listed to be pursued at this time.
60%
50%
40%
Not at All
30% Somewhat
Very
20%
10%
0%
Water Conservation Plan
Incorporate Natural Landscaping
Expand and Maintain Tree Cover
Install Bioswales/Rain Gardens
Trenchless Rehabilitation/Installation
of Underground Infrastructure
Install LED Street Lighting
Alternative Heating/Cooling Such as
Geothermal or Heat Exchanger
Maximize Efficiency by Upgrading
Equipment at Pumping or
Treatment Facilities
Conduct an Energy Audit
Install Green Roofs
Utilize an Alternative Energy
Source - Wind or Solar
Create a Sustainable
Community Plan
Water Reuse
Install Permeable Pavers
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 9

13. Which of the following sustainable topics would you like to learn more about?
The desire for information on sustainable topics is great. An overwhelming majority of 93% of
respondents want to learn more about Sustainable Funding Opportunities! Respondents are
also looking for more information on Water Conservation Plans 73%, Utilizing an Alternative
Energy Source 72%, Creating a Sustainable Community Plan 71% and Water Reuse 70%.
Once again, the least popular topic is Installing Green Roofs, with 51% of respondents not inter-
ested in learning more on this concept.
100%
90%
80%
100%
70%
90% Yes - Learn More
60% 80%
No - Not Interest
70%
50% Yes - Learn More
60%
40% No - Not Interested
50%
30% 40%
30%
20%
20%
10% 10%
0% 0%
Create a Sustainable
Community Plan
Conduct an Energy Audit
Utilize an Alternative Energy
Source - Wind or Solar
Water Conservation Plan
Install Permeable Pavers
Trenchless Rehabilitation/Installation
of Underground Infrastructure
Install LED Street Lighting
Alternative Heating/Cooling Such as
Geothermal or Heat Exchanger
Maximize Efficiency by Upgrading
Equipment at Pumping or
Treatment Facilities
Funding Opportunities
Install Bioswales/Rain Gardens
Water Reuse
Incorporate Natural Landscaping
Expand and Maintain Tree Cover
Install Green Roofs
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 10

14. Which of the following do you consider to be valuable?
(check all that apply)
Email alerts on sustainable funding and white papers on sustainable topics were of high value
to survey participants. While free webinars and low-cost energy audits were not as popular,
they still had appeal to over half of the survey respondents.
Which of the following do you consider to be valuable?
(check all that apply)
90.0%
81.6%
80.0%
70.0%
62.1%
60.0% 53.4%
49.5%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
An email alert identifying
A low-cost energy audit
A free webinar focused on
White papers on municipal
identifying ways to
sustainable funding
lifecycle cost analysis
sustainable topics
opportunities
save money
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 11

15. Conclusions
Municipalities are eager to implement sustainability into their community and projects. In
fact, as evidenced by the sustainable projects that they have already completed, many are
embracing the sustainability effort.
Funding sustainable efforts is a challenge that most government agencies share.
Energy efficiency and water conservation are two sustainable services that communities have
been undertaking and are likely to pursue in the future.
Many communities are interested in creating or formalizing a sustainable community plan.
Overall, government agencies are very interested in obtaining more information on a wide
variety of sustainable topics and services.
Sustainable Thinking. Let it grow on you.
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report Page 12

16. From energy audits to email funding alerts,
Baxter & Woodman is committed to
providing sustainable services,
programs and information to our clients.
For additional information:
Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
Carolyn Grieves, PE
cgrieves@baxterwoodman.com
815.459.1260
www.baxterwoodman.com
Sustainable Practices in Government Agencies Survey Results Report