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šļø Sustainability at Home
Save Energy (and Money) With a No-Cost Weatherization
We are excited to partner with Green Iowa Americorps to provide no-cost energy audits and weatherization services to all Ames residents. This program can help conserve energy, save money on your utility bills, and maintain a more comfortable home. After an initial energy audit, the weatherization could include air sealing and caulking around leaky doors and windows, insulating water pipes, weatherstripping, LED lights, and more, depending on what your home needs.Ā Learn more at greeniowaamericorps.org/energyaudit.
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Curbside Recycling Survey
Today is your last chance to give input and help shape the residential curbside recycling program. A new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) is being developed to handle solid waste, recyclables, and yard waste. This change is necessary because the current waste-to-energy process will no longer be an option after 2027. The city will instead transition to a transfer station and landfilling operation. Recycling will play a crucial role in reducing waste. Learn more about the future of trash in Ames on our website.
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More Bees, Please
Hear from Lisa Kuehl, a volunteer on the Ames Pollinator-Friendly Community Task Force, about the importance of pollinators and how to get involved with the community 10-year Pollinator Plan.
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Climate Action Grants
Applications are due for the Community Climate Grants this Friday, October 3. Community grants are available to organizations in Ames for projects or activities that advance the community Climate Action Plan. Mini-grants of up $500 are available year-round for students to encourage sustainability-focused outreach and education initiatives in Ames.
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š§ Water Quality In Action
Water & Pollution Control Facility
The Ames Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) treats all of the wastewater from Ames homes and businesses, including Iowa State University, as well as for the City of Kelley. The Ames facility holds the record for environmental compliance that is the second-longest in the nation. In fact, the facility, which began operation in 1989, has never violated its discharge permit. But as good as the facility is at the things it was designed to do, it cannot remove nutrients as efficiently as the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy now requires.
The WPCF is currently underway with the first of two phases of construction that will allow it to achieve the goals of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This first phase includes a $59.7 million upgrade to its treatment process to begin the transition to an innovative biological nutrient removal process that will ultimately cut its nitrogen discharge by 67% and its phosphorus discharge by 75%. The main purpose of the new standards is to prevent pollutants from traveling down the Mississippi, where they can cause dead zones, specifically in the Gulf of Mexico.
Energy efficiency was a key design consideration for the new treatment system. One example is the use of a large bubble mixing system instead of traditional propeller-style mixers. This requires fewer motors, has a higher energy efficiency, and a lower construction cost. The Administration Building will ultimately be LEED-certified, making use of multiple energy and water-saving designs, including an ultra-efficient HVAC system.
Edge of Field Solutions
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The W&PC Department is also working at the watershed level to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution within the South Skunk River. From cover crops, bioreactors, and saturated buffers to wetlands and prairie restorations, this work has utilized and strengthened partnerships with other City Departments, local landowners, and County and State agencies. These watershed improvement projects improve water quality both locally and downstream of Ames. They also contribute to the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and create credits that the W&PC Department can utilize in the future if regulatory requirements become more stringent.Ā
Photos - Prairie Valley Wetland, a 74-acre wetland conversion, pictured during and after construction. This new ecosystem treats water from a drainage district tile before flowing into Ioway Creek upstream of Ames (Above). Woodchips are placed in a bioreactor. Weāve worked with local landowners to install over 50 of these edge of field projects that help filter out pollutants and protect waterways (Right).
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Ioway Creek Restoration Project
The Ioway Creek Restoration Project in Brookside Park is back on track after a rainy summer delayed progress. The 3,000-foot effort between 6th and 13th Streets will stabilize creek banks, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat using natural materials and native plantings. Major construction is expected to wrap up this winter, with landscaping finished by spring.
Project highlights:
- Stabilizes a 40-foot failing slope by relocating 500ā of the creek
- Adds boulder features to protect banks and improve fish habitat
- Replaces invasive plants with a native landscape for wildlife
- Improves water quality with a new oxbow and erosion control
- Enhances public viewing and engagement opportunities
- Repairs storm sewer infrastructure discharging to the creek
š Read more about the Ioway Creek Restoration Project
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š Fire Station No. 2 Relocation
The City of Ames is moving forward with plans to relocate Fire Station No. 2 from its current location on Welch Avenue to a new site along State Avenue. A bond referendum will appear on the Tuesday, Nov. 4 ballot. There are many reasons to relocate, including the age of the current station (over 50 years), enhanced community safety, and improved emergency response times.
To promote sustainability, the City Council decided to include net-zero readiness in the facility's design. Net zero ready is a sustainable design principle where a building is so efficient that if solar panels are installed, it would generate more energy than it uses over a year. While these upgrades increase the up-front cost, the investment will reduce operating costs and cut pollution in alignment with the community Climate Action Plan. The facility will use efficient windows, added insulation, and a geothermal system to achieve this, harnessing energy from the earth to reduce heating and cooling costs by over 50%.
Learn more about Fire Station No. 2 Relocation on our website.Ā
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ā” Smart Energy Updates
 Together, We Beat the Peak
Ames Electric Services extends a thank you to all electric customers for their efforts to keep their electricity demands down over peak demand times this summer. Managing energy use during these times is crucial to avoiding new peak demands and keeping rates low. New peak demands require the utility to invest in new generation capacity, a costly investment.
The Impact of Rebates
The Smart Energy rebate program offered by Ames Electric Services has been critical in reducing energy consumption for Ames residents. The program offers rebates for refrigerators, HVAC systems, electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, and much more. This year, thanks to your participation, we have reduced annual energy consumption by an estimated 275 megawatt-hours (MWh), resulting in over $25,000 in utility bill savings. This amount of energy savings is equivalent to the electricity used by 30 homes for the entire year!
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New Solar Incentives
The City of Ames Electric Services has updated its solar panel rebate, providing $500 per kilowatt installed on new solar systems, an exciting increase from the $100 previously offered. To speak in terms of an average roof, households typically install solar panel systems that are between 4 and 7 kilowatts. Thatās $2,000 to $3,500 back to you! For any excess electricity generated, Ames Electric Services will purchase it from you at a set rate per kilowatt. This rate is determined every January.
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Healthiest State Walk
Date:Ā Wednesday, Oct 1
Time: 12 p.m. (noon)
Location: City Hall, 515 Clark Ave, View Map
Join us for the Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at noon in front of City Hall! Let's get moving with a brisk 20-minute walk around downtown Ames to show our commitment to a healthier lifestyle!
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No-Charge Yard Waste Days
Dates:
- October 25: Leaves only
- November 8: Brush and leaves
- November 15: Leaves only
- November 22: Leaves only
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: GreenRU, 400 Freel Drive, View Map
Story County residents can dispose of yard waste at no charge.
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Great Pumpkin Disposal
Dates:Ā November
Time: Anytime
Location: Resource Recovery, 420 E. Second St., View Map
Once Halloween is over and your jack-o-lanterns are really getting scary, resist the urge to toss them in the trash ā that would be a nightmare for the Resource Recovery Plant! Instead, take them to the drop-off bin on the north side of the plant along East Second Street for the Great Pumpkin Disposal program.
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EV Car Show & EcoVision Recap
We had a great time at Brookside Park on Saturday, Sept 13th, celebrating the parkās 100th birthday. There were plenty of activities, tables of information, displays, ice cream, Ames water, an electric vehicle display, and ribbon-cutting to celebrate a new fire department-themed playground. Photo: ISU PRISM Solar Car.
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We enjoyed seeing you at EcoVision on Saturday, Sept 27th at the Library. This event was organized by EcoTips, an organization formed by Ames High School students and a recipient of our Youth Climate Action Grants. There were many local booths, food, and fun activities focused on sustainability. It's amazing to hear about all the sustainable initiatives led by localĀ organizations and ISU students.
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š What Weāre Reading
City of Ames News
Any questions? Reach out to us atĀ sustainability@cityofames.org.
Enjoy this newsletter? Want to see other topics covered? Let us know. Complete thisĀ short 3 questions survey.
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