Just three years old, the City of Peachtree Corners has earned a certification that only 20 other communities in the entire Atlanta metro 10-county area have achieved the Atlanta Regional Commission Green Communities certification.
This is the citys first certification in the ARCs Green Communities program. The award is in recognition of the citys efforts to conserve energy, reduce waste and protect natural resources. Peachtree Corners was honored at ARCs recent board meeting for becoming a bronze certified Green Community.
Being environmentally responsible and providing leadership in sustainable practices is a top priority for Peachtree Corners, said Diana Wheeler, the citys Community Development Director. This award represents our long-term interest and commitment to the well-being of our community.
To gain the certification, the city provides a public drop-off location for cell phones, household batteries and ink cartridges and encourages the recycling of a wide range of items by providing incentives for businesses to locate recycling facilities in the city limit. The city also encourages businesses to redevelop aging buildings within the existing Technology Park and other under-utilized locations rather than build on undeveloped land.
The citys zoning code allows recycling in areas zoned light industry, the most common zoning district, resulting in a large number of properties suitable for this use. Peachtree City has also adopted a night sky ordinance to reduce excess light pollution and conserve energy. The city also provides incentives for sign lighting that is controlled by timers, uses high-efficiency LED lamps and installed electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall.
