Making green strides in Johnson City

Johnson City, Tenn., has established itself as an influential force in just how far a town can go in terms of being green.

In 2008, it was named Tennessee’s First Green City after converting its vehicle fleet to biodiesel, and being awarded the Governor’s Stewardship Award and “Project of the Year” by the Environmental Protection Agency for its “Gas to Energy” participation program that removes tons of methane gas carbon dioxide from the environment each year.

Then City Manager Pete Peterson earned the distinction of Manager of the Year by the Tennessee City Management Association in part due to his environmentally friendly efforts. Peterson’s work include creation of a volunteer-based “Earthday Workday,” implementation of a gas-to-energy program at the Iris-Glen landfill facility, converting methane gas from the landfill to power used at the Veterans Administration campus, and creation an Energy Efficiently committee to develop ways for saving fuel consumption. The launch of Johnson City’s “Green Building Initiative” will make all city buildings energy efficient. Downtown improvements include underground utilities and upgraded sidewalks and streets.

Most recently Tennessee’s first green hospital, Franklin Woods Community Hospital, opened its doors with the aim to heal patients and the environment at the same time. The facility earned its Silver LEED Certification in late 2010, making it the first hospital in the region to earn the highly coveted recognition for sustainable construction and operations.