Welcome to MVRPC’s Sustainability Resource page. It has been designed to provide you with a range of environmental and life quality sustainability topics to assist you in keeping up to date on best practices, introducing key contacts/subject matter experts, presenting additional learning opportunities and much more. We also want you to share any information that comes your way. In each topic, you will have an opportunity to pass along your news.
Sustainability Roundtable
MVRPC hosts periodic Sustainability Roundtables. Here are the meeting materials, links and presentations, where available.
Solid Waste Management - November 18, 2020 via teleconference.
Our specific topic at this session will focus on strategies to help households and businesses in your community “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle More.” Our speakers are nationally-recognized experts on “Pay as You Throw” and “TRUE Certification.”
- Dr. Lisa Skumatz is Principal and President of Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc. (SERA). Dr. Skumatz will share insights on approaches to implementing a “Pay as You Throw” approach to community solid waste management and will be joined Charles Kamenides from the City of Longmont, CO who will share first-hand experience from that community.
- Stephanie Barger is the US Green Building Council’s Director of Market Transformation & Development for the TRUE zero waste program, and will be sharing how your local businesses can use TRUE to reduce their waste, thereby reducing your community’s solid waste costs. Barger will be joined by Krista Jaeger, Cintas Manager of Sustainability who will share her company's direct experience in the TRUE program.
Organic Waste Management - July 31, 2020 via teleconference.
A panel of experts from local and state government and the private sector will discuss strategies for organic waste management from the individual (kitchen composting) to the regional scale. This session will present approaches to educating residents and diverting these wastes out of landfills and into more productive use. Our panelists will be:
- Tim Pritchard, Five Rivers MetroParks
- David Andre, GoZero
- Angel Arroyo-Rodriguez, Ohio EPA
- John Minear, Montgomery County Solid Waste District
The State of Solid Waste Management in the Miami Valley - March 11, 2020
Our expert presenters included:
- Ms. Dana Doll, Manager, Environmental Services Division, Greene County Sanitary Engineering
- Ms. Beth Wright, Assistant Director, Preble County Solid Waste District
- Mr. John Minear, Community Outreach and Education Manager, Montgomery County Environmental Services
University of Dayton Carbon Neutrality Pledge - December 4, 2019
At this session Ben McCall, Director of the Hanley Sustainability Institute at the University of Dayton and Matthew Worsham from Facilities Management at the University of Dayton provided an overview of the University’s Carbon Neutrality Pledge and the planning and projects that will go into implementing that pledge.
Making your Community EV-Ready - August 28, 2019
Community Resilience Planning 2 - June 27, 2019
Developing a Community Resilience Plan
Community Resilience Planning - February 27, 2019
Community Resilience Planning
Resiliance Planning for Local Governments
Case1: New Sandy Hook School
Case 2: Princeton's microgrid Sandy
Case 3: Toronto Checklist
Case 4: Paradise Fire
Case 5: Cleveland
Case 6: Healhcare Resiliency
Storm Water: Districts and Data - December 5, 2018
Strand Associates
Woolpert presentation and Impervious Surface Project
Clermont County presentation and Handout
Storm Water Management: Buildings and Grounds - September 26, 2018
Rain Gardens in Franklin County, Ohio
Stormwater BMPs, City of Dayton, Ohio
Roundtable Introduction
Storm Water Management - July 24, 2018
ODNR - Street Trees and Green Infrastructure
OKI - Trees and Stormwater
CMT - Pervious Pavement Use for Effective Design
Textile Recycling Event - April 3, 2018
Simple Recycling presentation.
Rumpke presentation.
Montgomery County Environmental Services presentation.
City of Cincinnati presentation.
Is your Community Solar-Friendly? - Nov. 9, 2017
DPandL presentation.
OEC presentation.
Energy Optimizers presentation.
Using trees to improve vacant lots - Mar. 23, 2017
Facilitation session, no presentations.
Emerald Ash Borer - Feb. 25, 2016
No presentations available.
Best Practices in Snow and Ice Control - Oct. 22, 2015
No presentations available.
Miami Valley Climate Change Seminar
Miami Valley Climate Change Seminar 2023
April 17, 2023
Understanding the Opportunities in IIJA and IRA
Session Program
Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
Matt Lindsay
Headlines and Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant
Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy and Environment
Caroline Johnstone, Manny Anunike, Kevin Smith, Karla Gulker
Energy Efficiency and Finanace Programs
Department web links:
Energy Efficiency Program
Energy Loan Fund
Power A Clean Future Ohio / City of Bexley
Joe Flarida, Cassandra Clevenger, Elizabeth Ellman, Jon-Paul d'Aversa
Local Communities Lead the Way
Keep up with more news from PCFO by signing up for their newsletter.
Miami Valley Climate Change Seminar 2022
April 26, 2022
Making the Business Case for Climate Action
Dr. Aaron Wilson
Atmospheric Scientist
Ohio State University
This presentation, discusses the physical indicators of climate change, from a global overview to the temperature and precipitation trends right here in the Miami Valley. It highlights the key challenges that communities and businesses face throughout the region and think about ways we can individually and collectively adapt to and mitigate future expected changes. Download slides.
Julia Wynn
Director of Government Affairs
Government Advantage Group
An overview of the climate and energy policy landscape in Ohio, including recent developments impacting local governments’ involvement in energy policy and pending climate and energy legislation at the Statehouse.
Panel: Making the Business Case for Climate Action
Power a Clean Future Ohio - Joe Flarida
PCFO provides no-cost technical assistance, research, grant-writing support, and planning tools for local governments interested in pursuing impactful climate and clean energy policy. Supported by a coalition of organizations, PCFO’s member communities (cities and counties) are working together to build Ohio’s clean energy and clean transportation future. This session and the speakers present will share more about the opportunity that PCFO presents for local governments. You can also learn more on PCFO’s website and the Ohio Clean Energy and Sustainable Communities Toolkit. Download slides.
Making Your Community EV Ready - Brandon Jones
This session will provide an overview of key considerations for municipal fleet electrification planning, including an EV market snapshot, operational, financial, and decarbonization benchmarks for EV adoption feasibility, Ohio model availability and other low-carbon fuel alternatives, and financing and funding opportunities. Download slides.
Making Your Community Solar-Ready - Jon-Paul d’Aversa
Ohio’s interest in solar is at an all-time high and our local governments need to be prepared if they want to capitalize on the benefits that this technology can bring. This presentation will cover how to quantify the benefits of solar in your community, what preparation is needed for a healthy solar market, and what resources are available to achieve your community’s energy goals. Download slides.
Miami Valley Climate Change Seminar 2021
February 24, 2021
This year's seminar included a keynote presentation from Jacqueline Patterson, Director of the NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice Program. You can view a recording of the presentation here.
The afternoon sessions included:
- A presentation from Carlton Eley, MVRPC's Regional Equity Intiative Manager on Driving Equity Now, through intential planning efforts. You can view a recording of this presentation here. You may download Mr. Eley's slides here.
- A demonstration of the En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator with Karen Jeffers-Tracy and Steve Schlather. You can view a recording of this session here.
Miami Valley Climate Change Seminar 2020
February 24, 2020
This was MVRPC's first climate change seminar, with a goal of presenting the current state of climate science and data, with particular attention to measured and modeled future impacts of climate change in Ohio. The speakers were:
1. Dr. Aaron Wilson from the Byrd Climate and Polar Research Center at Ohio State University. You can download Dr. Wilson's slides here.
2. Mike Ekberg from the Miami Conservancy District. You can download Mr. Ekberg's slides here.
3. Kevin Kent from Critical Facilities Efficiency Solutions and The Climate Reality Project. You can download Mr. Kent's slides here.
Electric Vehicles
Electric Vehicles (EV) are significantly cleaner, more energy efficient, and quieter than internal combustion-powered cars.
The Zero-Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI) tool is an interactive online resource for worldwide commercially available offerings of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs). The tool aims to provide fleets and governments with comprehensive information including regions where zero-emission brands are available for purchase.
EV charging at Multi-unit housing is a key hurdle to broader adoption of EV. Here are links to initiatives across the US to expand availability of EV charging at apartment and condo developments.
Use the Sierra Club’s 2019 Plug-In Vehicle Guide to find the best electric vehicle for your driving habits. Plug In America has recently published a Used Electric Vehicle Buyers’ Guide.
Clean Fuels Ohio (CFO) is our state’s primary advocacy organization for alternative fuel vehicles. This CFO presentation discusses the EV market in Ohio, local government policies and fleet conversions.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Recycling
Recycling prevents usable materials from needlessly going into landfills, creates raw materials for new products, and saves communities landfill costs!
Contact information for every Solid Waste Districts in Ohio. Find out how you and your community can recycle more!
Ohio EPA’s Materials Marketplace is a free online platform allowing businesses and organizations to connect and find reuse and recycling solutions for waste and by-product materials.
The National League of Cities has published a new report, “Rethinking Recycling: How Cities Can Adapt to Evolving Markets.” This 36-page report describes numerous strategies cities across the US are using to address collapsing markets in recyclable materials.
Trash and Recycling information for residents of the City of Dayton.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy from sources like wind and solar are low carbon alternatives to coal, oil and gas and have been the fastest growing sources of energy in recent decades.
In March of 2019 MVRPC partnered with the Ohio Environmental Council and the Hanley Sustainability Institute to conduct a “Growing Local Solar” workshop. The workshop agenda, presentations and handouts and photos from the day are available from the HSI web site.
Ohio cities and local governments can wield multiple tools to encourage renewable energy in their communities.
Ohio residents and businesses can make an individual choice to buy energy from renewable sources. Find out more at Energy Choice Ohio.
Energy efficiency – the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use.
Development of large scale wind and solar farms is regulated in Ohio by the Ohio Power Siting Board. Check out their renewable energy resources, approved sites, and pending facilities at their web site. The OSU Agricultural Extension Service has a Farmland Owner’s Guide to Solar Leasing to understand solar energy development in Ohio.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Urban Forestry
Trees offer tremendous value to urban communities: from storm water management, to summer cooling, to increased property values.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry is seeking help to identify key issues, threats, and opportunities associated with Ohio’s forest resources. Stakeholder input will contribute to Ohio’s 2020 Forest Action Plan (FAP) that spans public and private forestlands, and urban and rural areas. More details about Ohio’s Forest Action Plan are available on the ODNR website: forestry.ohiodnr.gov/ForestActionPlan. The webpage includes a link to a stakeholder survey and the 2010 Forest Action Plan documents and will soon include draft action plan documents. Surveys and comments will be accepted until March 1, 2020.
OKI Trees and Storm Water tool is useful for project and area planning.
A 2019 report from the Ohio State University, “Economic Valuation of Natural Areas in Ohio,” calculates the value of ecosystem services from Ohio’s natural lands, and maps those values by county.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Storm Water
Managing storm water is a constant responsibility of municipalities. Sustainable practices can help the environment help you manage it better.
“Making Your Community Forest Friendly” is a free codes and ordinances worksheet from the Center for Watershed Protection designed to help local officials determine whether local codes require, allow, or prohibit “forest-friendly” development practices.
Urban Storm Water BMP Fact sheets.
NACTO Urban Street Storm Water Guide
Trees and Storm Water tool from USFS
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Food
Access to healthy food and locally grown foods are two central issues for regional sustainability. “How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used.”– Wendell Berry
Montgomery County Food Equity Coalition has released the Food Equity Plan 2019. The plan identifies six action areas to increase community food security.
Hall Hunger Initiative seeks to address hunger and its causes in West Dayton.
Check out the Local Foods Directory from B-W Greenway Community Land Trust.
The Food System Primer from the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future explains many of the current issues in food systems planning and development.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Public Health
A healthy region needs to also include healthy residents living healthy, fulfilling lives.
Community Health Improvement Plans for Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble, Warren, and Clark Counties.
Miami Valley Recreation Assets Inventory highlights opportunities to get out and be active.
Senior Living Resources from the Area Agency on Aging.
Chronic Disease and Infant Mortality.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
Equity
How can a region with disparate education, wealth/income, and health outcomes call itself “Sustainable?”
The Miami Valley Equity Initiative provides a clear overview and basic data about equity in our Region.
The State of Black Dayton from the Urban League of Southwest Ohio reveals lost opportunities and promise for African-Americans in Greater Dayton and Montgomery County.
Dayton Council on Health Equity is Montgomery County’s Local Office of Minority Health.
Food access/deserts resources from PHDMC.
Have something to include? Send it to Matt Lindsay!
The pages will be updated on a regular basis to keep it fresh and beneficial; we hope that you find this a worthwhile tool and are open to your suggestions to improve its value. Please contact Matt Lindsay at mlindsay@mvrpc.org to provide feedback.
If you are using an e-reader and encounter problems with this page, please contact Matt Lindsay, Manager, Environmental Planning at (937) 531-6548 for assistance.