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Overview: Temple University’s Center for
Sustainable Communities (CSC) conducted a Sustainability Audit of
Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in the spring of 2009
that analyzed greenhouse gas emissions and the use of water, wastewater,
and solid waste disposal services by the Township government and the
community’s residents and businesses. The audit—initiated by the Board of
Supervisors upon the recommendation of the Township’s Environmental
Advisory Committee (EAC)—sets a baseline against which to measure future
efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impacts
of the township’s use of public services and it makes recommendations for
specific steps the municipal government can take. First, Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Audits were completed for government operations and community
consumption using a toolkit distributed by ICLEI – Local Governments for
Sustainability. Second, a Water Audit was conducted, analyzing municipal
and community water use. Third, a Wastewater Audit examined the wastewater
systems and processes of the Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer
Authority. Finally, a Waste Management Audit studied waste and recycling
systems in the Township.
Figure 1 – Community Emissions, CO2 Equivalent, 2005
Montgomery Township’s municipal government, residents, business
owners, and public service managers use some effective conservation
practices that reduce the Township’s environmental impacts. But per
capita greenhouse gas emissions and the use of water, wastewater, and
solid waste disposal services are, at best, only slightly lower than in
neighboring communities and in the region as a whole, indicating that
there are opportunities for Township, community and business leaders to
initiate and promote policies to encourage reductions in consumption and
solid waste and wastewater disposal.
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the final report > |
