2018.10.22 Council Agenda Item 07

In 2007, the Town of Falmouth signed the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, which recognized a voluntary commitment of reducing town greenhouse gas emissions within municipal operations. Along with that commitment, Falmouth set an annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 2%. During that time, the ad hoc Green Ribbon Commission was established and tasked to prepare an emissions inventory and offer recommendations on ways to lower emissions within the town. The twenty -seven (27) recommendations in their Climate Action Plan were accepted by the Town Council in 2010.

One of the Commission’s recommendations was to create a standing committee of town volunteers to work on energy and waste reduction efforts. In 2010, the Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee (REAC) was established to advise the Falmouth Town Council on matters relating to the Town’s solid waste and recycling program, energy efficiency, and other related matters.

REAC is now presenting an updated Energy and Sustainability Plan for the municipal and school departments. The Plan includes a mission and vision statement, a history of Falmouth’s progress towards sustainability and an analysis of emissions since 2007. The Plan is organized by five sectors accompanied with goals and action items to achieve those goals, being: the municipality, the school department, Falmouth businesses, Falmouth residents, and the Town working towards sustainability at a regional and state level.

The Town and School partnered to hire a consultant, Sustainability Metrics LLC. (dba RAPPORT) to assist with emissions analysis in 2017. Their findings have shown that, while Falmouth’s gross square footage has grown nearly 25% since 2007, efficiency measures taken have not only held greenhouse gas emissions steady but showed a 1% reduction.