Chapel Hill is praised as one of the coolest cities in the state, according to an annual report released Friday by the N.C. Sierra Club Cool Cities program.
The report researched the most innovative techniques taken by the 20 cities participating in the program across the state to combat global warming, said N.C. Sierra Club outreach coordinator Tom Jensen, who is involved with the Cool Cities program.
Douglas Crawford-Brown, director of the UNC Institute of the Environment, said the goal of the report is to give other cities ideas that they can emulate.
"There are a lot of individuals, companies and municipalities that want to do something to help the climate but don't know what to do," Crawford-Brown said. "In particular, many don't know what strategies are effective and really work. The report shows what ideas municipalities and companies have found effective."
The report has a wide distribution through North Carolina, which makes the data available for more cities, businesses and individuals to learn about innovative sustainability efforts, he said.
Jensen said Chapel Hill's most impressive strategies for sustainability are its free public transit system, development regulations that require 20 percent energy efficiency for buildings and the 2003 bond voters passed to increase energy efficiency projects.
Crawford-Brown said the impacts of climate change are going to impact communities just like Chapel Hill all over the world; therefore, measures implemented here could work for cities in similar situations.
Chapel Hill Town Council member Sally Greene said sustainability and green efforts are important to the town because it is necessary for everyone and every town to do their part in the face of global warming.
Chapel Hill will continue making cutting-edge advances in dealing with global warming, Jensen said.
"Chapel Hill is always looking to build on what it's doing. Even as they're honored, they keep coming up with new initiatives," he said.
Crawford-Brown attributed the success of Chapel Hill's programs to the close relationships of the council, Mayor Kevin Foy and University Chancellor James Moeser.
"Chapel Hill is the first town in the United States to have a town-university partnership to fight global warming," he said.
A UNC student capstone, led by Beth Shaye, is working with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives to determine what new and effective measures can be taken by Chapel Hill in the future, Crawford-Brown said.
Greene said the council is increasingly requiring that developments follow strict energy standards. She also noted the town's hybrid buses as a forward-thinking initiative.
"I think everyone already knew Chapel Hill is a cool city, but the report puts the Sierra Club stamp of approval on our actions and lets everyone know that town leaders are working as hard as we can on global warming," she said.
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