How Salem can save taxpayer dollars and protect the environment at the same time

As summer is upon us, the Oregon Conservation Network, Oregon’s Largest Environmental Coalition, is in the process of choosing its “Priorities for a Healthy Oregon” for the 2011 session. As we make these decisions, we are all very aware of the tough choices Oregon is facing, and looking for innovative solutions to help the State meet its budget challenges and protect Oregon’s environment.

Last month, members of OCN joined forces to send a list of potential cost-saving measures to the Governor’s office that also protect the environment. The question we asked ourselves was: “Could we find some “win-win-win” policies that the State could implement over the next few months that could save the state money, protect vital services, and protect the environment?"

The answer is YES.

Within a week, OCN members generated a list of ideas that were extremely innovative, good for the economy and good for the environment. This list was submitted to the Governor’s office for consideration. Here are some of the ideas:

•    End the governmental purchase of bottled beverages
•    Implement energy-saving policies, such as turning off lights and vampire electronics, in government buildings between 7pm and 7am
•    Move more government communications from paper to electronic
•    Mandate recycling or composting of all waste in government facilities
•    Discourage/prohibit use of personal refrigerators
•    Remove nonessential lights from vending machines
•    Enforce protocols to turn off/power down office equipment over night and on weekends
•    Use power strips for easy equipment shutdown
•    Lower temperature for office water heaters
•    Prioritize fixing leaky faucets
•    Double-sided copies standard
•    Turn unneeded one-sided copies into memo pads (for free)
•    Implement a “fix it first” policy for all highway maintenance and construction projects
•    Coordinate local transit service and school bussing for increased efficiencies
•    Encourage employees to use public transportation for job-related activities
•    Require agency meetings to be held telephonically whenever possible

OCN submitted many more ideas and I can share those with anyone who is interested. We haven’t heard if the Governor is going to implement any of these measures, but we will let you know if and when that happens. Some of these things may seem small, they can end up having a meaningful impact on the State’s budget--and the environment. I hope to be able to report to you that some of these suggestions become a reality in the near future.