21 July 2010

Oakland County Executive, L. Brooks Patterson, presented an Oak Green - Green Community Excellence Award to the City of Novi, MI for being a leader in green initiatives. The award was designed to honor communities who exemplify natural resources stewardship, energy efficiency, green building, watershed management and recycling.

The City of Novi has long been a proponent of sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives and demonstrates this in a number of ways:

• In 2007, the Novi City Council established a strategy to allow and encourage green building and development. City Council passed resolutions to encourage new private developments to be energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. Following the strategy, the design and construction of the new Novi Public Library (opening June 1, 2010) includes sustainable measures to limit impact on the natural environment, reduce operating costs and maximize user comfort, providing an environmentally friendly and healthy space for the community.
• In 2009, the Master Plan update offered additional goals related to Green Building and sustainable design best management practices, non-motorized transportation, rapid transportation, and includes a Green Infrastructure Map, (created in partnership with Oakland County’s Green Infrastructure program).
• The City of Novi recently updated the woodland and wetland protection ordinances, in place since the mid-1980’s. The City has also adopted new ordinances that provide standards to permit wind turbines and solar panels at certain locations throughout the City.
• The City of Novi has an on-going street tree and park tree planting and maintenance program, with 6,500 trees planted by the City over the last five years. Nearly 35,000 street and park trees have been inventoried, with the subdivision street trees estimated to have a value of over 9.7 million dollars.
• The City of Novi is a recipient of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant(EECBG), in the amount of $533,100, from the Department of Energy. The majority of the EECBG grant funds will be used to implement energy-reducing projects at City facilities.
• A Walkable Novi Committee was formed to encourage walking, biking and other non-motorized transportation in the City. Since 2006, an inventory of “missing links” in the bike path and sidewalk network is updated each year, with new priorities identified for consideration and inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program.
• Green pages were recently launched on cityofnovi.org. These pages highlight eco-conscious tips for homes and businesses, as well as ways for citizens to engage in environmentally friendly practices.

Other communities recognized by Oakland County include Farmington Hills and Wixom. To learn more about the Oak Green - Green Community Excellence Award, visit the Oakland County website.

For more information, contact Sheryl Walsh, Director of Communications, at 248-735-5628.