Lake Forest Named 'Cool City'

The information below comes from the City of Lake Forest.

Mayor Don Schoenheider signed the Local Sustainability Protection Agreement and will be keeping Lake Forest on track as a “Cool City."

In meeting the agreement’s new 2% annual emissions reduction target, Mayor Schoenheider will be building upon Lake Forest’s record of environmental accomplishments.

At the June 17 City Council meeting, Lake Forest was recognized by the Sierra Club for meeting the emissions reduction goal of the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.  The greenhouse gas inventory completed by the City in 2011 found the community and City operations emitted 402,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2007.  Lake Forest reduced its emissions soon afterwards through the aggregated electricity purchase for residents and small businesses with 100% renewable energy.  For the first 12 months under the new supply agreement, emissions have been reduced by 85,000 metric tons, while saving residents and businesses $3.3 million, averaging $500 per household.

The Lake Forest Collaborative for Environmental Leadership, or LFCEL, was established in 2012, which includes The City of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest Open Lands and School Districts 67 and 115.  The LFCEL serves as the steering committee for the implementation of Cool Cities 2.0.  “We are excited to continue our work to raise awareness and engage Lake Forest residents in improving energy and water conservation and expanding our commitment to renewable energy,” said Curt Volkmann, Consortium member and Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board.

One of the City’s early energy efficiency projects includes the 2009 Municipal Services Building, which was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the national benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

A recognized strength of the Local Sustainability Agreement is its flexibility, allowing communities to tailor implementation to fit local conditions and resources.  An initial priority for Lake Forest is re-foresting the community in the face of a predicted loss of over 100,000 ash trees in the upcoming years as a result of the emerald ash borer infestation.  The ecology of the area including hydrology and integrity of ravines along Lake Michigan depends on the tree canopy and is threatened by the loss of a great amount of trees.