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of Arden Hills - Comorehensive Plan - DRAFT 12. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY Goal. Promote conservation and sustainable design practices in the preservation, development, redevelopment, and maintenance of the City's natural and built environment. To achieve this environmental sustainability goal, the following policies are proposed: o Encourage the use of sustainable design practices in the construction and operations of new development, additions, and building renovations. o Evaluate energy use,that contributes to energy and climate uncertainty. o Encourage the use of site sensitive planning and design to protect significant natural features throughout the City. o Support the use of renewable energy. o Support the efficient use of land and development that reduces reliance on fossil fuels. o Work to reduce carbon emissions at City facilities, from City vehicles, and overall City design. o Work to protect air, water quality, and healthier indoor environment. o Encourage programs that reduce waste and increase recycling. The need for environmental sustainability, green building practices, energy efficiency, and conservation is becoming more apparent as energy prices rise and the impact of humans on the environment becomes more prominent. While Arden Hills has a relatively small impact when compared to the rest of the world, the City does play a role in protecting the environment and encouraging sustainable development and redevelopment. If more cities adopt environmentally sustainable practices, the combined impact is substantial regardless of city size. Sustainability is more than just energy and water conservation. It incorporates environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient building materials, enhancing indoor and outdoor air quality, enhancing the use of daylight, reducing the need for automotive travel, and many other techniques. There is a vast array of techniques that can be used to reduce the impact on the environment. The benefits of implementing sustainable building, sustainable environment, and conservation practices include, but are not limited to: o Lower electric and utility costs; o Environmentally effective use of building materials; o Enhanced health and productivity; o Long-term economic returns; and, o Reduced environmental impact. DRAFT 89 5/1/200& Formatted: No underline Deleted: energy use at City facilities and vehicles. Formatted: Font (Default) Arial, 10 Pt _ Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 Pt