Prepared by the City of Boynton Beach Green Task Force,
utilizing the US Mayor's Council categories for Best Practices
Municipal Buildings, Facilities & Operations - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
 •Balcony & roof overhang around Intracoastal Park Clubhouse to reduce passive solar heating of interior rooms.
•Waterless urinals in Utilities Administration & Library.
•Infrared toilet and sink sensors at Intracoastal Park Clubhouse, infrared sink sensors the Art & Activity Center, and the recently awarded Dept. of Elder Affairs grant will provide infrared toilet and urinal sensors at the Senior Center.
•Infrared soap and recycled paper towel dispensers in all City facilities.
•Recycled toilet paper in all facilities.
•Adopt-a-street program.
•Invasive tree species removal program.
•Integrated pest management vendor.
•Street sweeping.
•Converted medians to low volume and changed plant materials, removing turf.
•Changed all watering levels on irrigation systems to meet SFWM mandate.
•All new Recreation facilities RFQ's for consultants have a rating factor for "green building" certified and experienced.
•Irrigatation from ponds and canals whenever available as an alternative to potable water use.
•The CRA office uses low flush toilets.
• Utilities recycles fluorescent light bulb, and other mercury-containing devices.
•Cardboard recycling.
•Utilities' acid/basic waste is neutralized before disposal.
•Utilities utilizes lab packing and proper disposal of all expired/unused laboratory chemicals.
•Utilities' chloride process waste is collected and disposed properly by waste hauler.
•Utilities recycles used petroleum products and waste oil.
•Utilities recycles lead washers from chlorine cylinders with used ammunition from Pistol Range.
•Utilities recycles the brass-body of water meters.
•Utilities optimizes energy efficiency of pumps and motors, including the use of variable frequency drives.
•Utilities provides reclaimed water/reuse water to golf courses for irrigation and is extending reclaimed water service to the eastern part of the City.
•Utilities Administration building has reflective solar window film.
•Parks is constructing a public restroom facility in which the individual restroom units are also under a secondary roof which creates a cooler main roof and assists with natural ventilation.
•Parks has reclaimed a wetland.
•Parks play equipment uses recycled plastic parts.
•Parks is implementing recycling for the public in city parks.
•Facilities Management recycles fluorescent light bulbs and other mercury-containing devices.
•The Links is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
•The Links has replaced their chemical storage shed with a state-of-the-art steel chemical storage unit with secondary containment and security.
•The Links has provided a buffer area for all water features to mitigate possible runoff of fertilizers and chemicals, and to provide cover and food sources to increase biodiversity.
•The Links conducts regular water testing to assure that maintenance activities are not adversely affecting water quality.
•The Links has replaced the irrigation pump station with a 225hp computer controlled pump station that assures proper distribution of water.
•The Links will be replacing their irrigation control system this summer with a computerized state-of-the-art control system.
•Sprinkler heads at the links are routinely inspected and replaced to assure that water is not wasted irrigating offsite areas.
•All irrigation systems at the Links have rain switches to shut off irrigation when not needed.
Air Quality - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
•Community Gardens.
•Adopt-A Tree Annual Program.
•Arbor Day Annual Celebration.
•Removed berm at Pistol Range and replaced all plants with native plants for lower  maintenance and water consumption.
•Fire Station IV – Installed low volume irrigation system.
•Fire Station V – proposed low volume irrigation and changed turf from St. Augustine to Bahia to lower maintenance and water requirements.
•Using "gator bags" – self-watering devices for newly planted trees.
•Using low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) cleaning solutions.
•Jaycee Park – all native vegetation.
•Flex work schedules reduce traffic congestion which translates into reduced emissions, and because some of the flexible schedules require fewer days of work per week, the number of trips is reduced.
•Biannual native plant give-away through the Sand Sifters Clean Up program.
•Boynton's Police Department utilizes bicycle patrols in the CRA area.
Climate Change - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
•The CRA's trolley system provides free transportation throughout the district. The Trolley runs six days a week, Monday-Friday 7am-7:30pm and on Saturday from 9:15am-5:45pm.
•Shopper Hopper Program reduces the number of vehicles on the road .
•Residential & Commercial Recycling programs – curbside pickup City wide.
•Recycling of Construction and demolition material.
•Greenways program.
•Staff is compiling data for ICLIE Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory to establish baseline inventory to provide recommendations for carbon emission reduction levels.
• Boynton Beach has been a Tree City USA for 22 years.
•Blue Wave Campaign at Oceanfront Park beach.
•Reduced out-of-state conference attendance through use of web conferencing and on-line training.
•The CRA is working toward securing the Marine Industries Association of Florida "Clean Marina" designation when renovations are completed to the Boynton Harbor Marina.
•The public leaves their automobiles in the driveway when they access approximately 5,000 files/documents per month via LaserFiche WebLink. These documents reside in City Clerk, Development, and Finance repositories. No need to travel to City Hall to pick up paper copies or do research.
Energy Sources - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
•Pool pump at Wilson Center – Geothermal power.
•Computerized lighting of Athletic fields at both Wilson and Little League Parks.
•Departmental policies for energy consumption reductions by turning off lights in unoccupied rooms; disconnecting trickle chargers when not in use; turning off all PC equipment and peripherals.
•Facility thermostats and HVAC systems set to fixed temperatures on programmable timers.
•Utilities facilities use motion sensors on lighting fixtures in low use rooms.
•Replacing T-12 Florescent bulbs with T8 in remodeled section of Library.
•HVAC Energy Management System with remote facility capability from Facilities Management to City Hall.
Fuels, Vehicles, and Transit - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
•Use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Products.
•Flex Fuel vehicles that can run on E-85 and Propane .
•Recycle oil and antifreeze.
•City Warehouse delivering 3 times a week instead of 5 times a week by combining orders in similar locations to save fuel.
•Parks – one alternative fuel vehicle.
•Public Works no idle policy.
•Carpooling between City facilities whenever possible.
•Enhanced bicycle security at parks and recreation facilities.
•Recreation provides a van pool program for group travel.
•The Links at Boynton Beach has replaced underground fuel storage tanks with above ground tanks with armored secondary containment.
Housing - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
•Expedited green permits – the Building division has issued two solar panel installations, one commercial and one residential in under six days.
•The CRA provides down payment assistance to very low, low and moderate income first time homebuyers. This initiative meets the FGBC requirement for placing location efficient affordable housing.
•The CRA donates vacant lots to Habitat for Humanity who in turn provides houses to the very  low income at a greatly reduced cost because of the land donation. These homes incorporate upgraded features, including reflective metal roofs, R30 insulation, and ceramic tile throughout.
•The CRA (with Board approval) will work with the City of Boynton Beach to formulate financial incentives for developers of office buildings, commercial development and affordable/workforce housing projects within the CRA district who reach various levels of LEED certification.
•Planning staff has amended portions, and continues to amend the balance of the City's Land Development Regulations to incorporate sustainable, green development practices.
•Proposed ordinance to include green development and building standards in both the Land Development Regulations and the Boynton Beach Amendments to the Florida Building Code.
•On going in house staff training sessions on green development and sustainable building principles and practices.
•Participation in local and national conferences and workshops on green building.
•Active members of the US Green Building Council; Palm Beach County USGBC; and Florida Green Building Coalition.
• Public education displays in City Hall and West Wing on green building Website pages devoted to green building, with links to green resources, grants and incentive programs.
•Planning division promoting green practices via smart growth practices.
•Building division distributes International Code Council "Building Green – Living Better" literature in West Wing lobby, during Building Safety week and the Hurricane Expo at the Boynton Mall.
Other - BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES
•Both City and CRA offices have paper recycling programs.
•Both City and CRA offices have plastic and can recycling program.
•Both City and CRA offices produce two-sided copies and have paper reuse initiatives.
•Both City and CRA use electronic document transmittal/receipt, including fully automated FAX, e-mail and alternative media, reducing paper waste.
•Recycled materials used for Recreation art projects.
•Recycling of computer equipment and toners.
•Purchasing of green products utilizing higher quantities of recycled materials; low or no VOC cleaning products.
•Grants Team has eliminated the need for duplicate hard copies of grant applications and award documents by using eCivis Grants Network software, saving on average 250 sheets of paper per grant. Since we have begun using this process we have been awarded 52 grants, saving – 13,000 sheets of paper and ink. Note: departments are currently working on another 26 applications (potentially an additional 6,500 sheets).
•The Grants Team has also significantly reduced travel to the city by the grant auditor, by having team members scan original documents into Grants Network which can be accessed via the Internet with a password. The grant audit can be substantially completed at the auditor's office without travel to the City.
• The CRA sends electronic agenda packets to staff in lieu of printed packets.
•Earth 60, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Green Every Day public displays including distribution of free compact fluorescent bulbs, battery-free LED flashlights, tree seedlings, native plants, water conservation, conservation literature/playing cards, kits, etc. to increase public awareness and education of green programs.
•Utilities distributes free indoor water conservation kits.
•Utilities sponsors WaterWise student education program.
•Utilities distributes an annual Water Quality Report to educate our customers on the City's water conservation goals and green initiative and how they can participate at home.
•Utilities participates in Customer Service Week to educate the public on the City's water conservation programs.
•Utilities and Parks Department are developing a conservation garden to demonstrate green landscaping techniques, such as drip irrigation, xeriscaping, and use of native plants.
•Reduce, reuse, recycle programs for both public and City employees, including central recycling collection of used Compact Fluorescent bulbs.
•Removal of exotic and invasive species from public areas.
•The CRA office currently uses 5 gallon containers for drinking water and not small plastic bottles.
•The CRA office uses ceramic coffee mugs instead of Styrofoam cups.
•The CRA office uses energy efficient light bulbs.
•City employees are encouraged to drink tap water over bottled water .
•Library and Utilities Customer Service departments broadcast friendly electronic reminders to overdue account holders/customers. This semi-automated, paperless, postage-less method helps expedite the collection of receivables.
•Parks is constructing a bioswale which will allow water to percolate back into the soil rather than become run off.
•The Links has implemented, and Parks will be Implementing, an integrated pest management program which will allow for the use of more environmentally safe pesticides and fertilizers.
•The Links has photographed and/or documented 50 different species of birds, fish, reptiles, mammals and insects that call it home.
•The Links has provided training to staff, along with postings and notices for customers and the public, regarding wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.
BOYNTON GREEN PRACTICES |
