Mark Telling, Director of Finance
22-769: The Clean Air Campaign was a not-for-profit organization that motivated Georgians to take action to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. The organization was formed in 1996 by government, business, civic, health, environmental and educational organizations to address traffic congestion and air quality issues in the metro Atlanta region. Until 2014, The Clean Air Campaign received 80 percent of its funding from U.S. Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program funds. After that date, The Clean Air Campaign secured private funding through corporate and foundation grants to deploy demand management programs and services to employers, commuters and schools. The campaign ran for 20 years and
44-458: A statewide strategic approach to improve mobility and air quality, bringing public and private sector interests together. The Clean Air Campaign worked with employers in the region, given that high concentrations of employees commuting to a common destination during peak travel periods are a high-value audience for their programs. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the Center for Transportation and
66-418: Is an effort by primary and secondary schools worldwide to address climate change and conservation challenges by creating a peer-to-peer network of school members committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the implementation of sustainable solutions. GSA-member schools share and implement sustainability best practices and promote connections between schools, communities, and
88-539: The 20-county metro Atlanta region, the program was expanded in 2008 to include middle and high schools statewide and the name changed to Clean Air Schools. Later, the Clean Air Schools program focused on two teen-targeted programs: Get There Green, a high school transportation planning challenge, and OnAir, a clean air website and social media initiative that rewards teens with 'AirCreds' for taking clean transportation modes and completing other air-friendly tasks. Since
110-625: The Environment on behalf of the Georgia Department of Transportation, 82 percent of metro Atlanta commuters drive alone to and from work. . The Clean Air Campaign's principal method of engaging employers was through its general Employer Partnership Program. Campaign experts designed a commute alternative program tailored to the specific needs of the employer based on workforce size, operating hours, office access to public transit and an array of other factors. Campaign staff were then able to assist
132-659: The GSA Commitment. With additional guidance from the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), Second Nature and AASHE , the GSA primary and secondary school climate commitment was further refined. In November 2007, with a signatory group of 40 schools, the GSA was launched to the public at the US Green Building Council annual GreenBuild Conference when President Bill Clinton highlighted
154-804: The GSA in his keynote speech. It is currently listed as one of the organizations committed to the Climate Education and Literacy Initiative launched by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The 501c3 nonprofit organization connects more than 9,000 schools, districts, and organizations worldwide, representing more than 5 million students in 48 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 88 countries. Schools participate individually or and as entire school districts to share sustainability best practices and reduce their environmental footprint. In January 2016, 21 school districts formed
176-497: The Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative in pursuit of utilising their collective influence and resources. These districts build and share best practices and leverage their combined purchasing power to increase access to sustainable alternatives, promote market transformation, and influence policy decisions. Membership to the GSA's online community is free. Schools and districts can also pledge
198-566: The NYC Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), Consolidated Edison , National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and National Business Officers Association (NBOA). The Allen-Stevenson School in NYC hosted the first GSA planning session that convened schools to address climate change and "what schools can do about it", and review
220-766: The Sustainability Leadership, where principals, heads of school, and superintendents pledge to take action in these areas: Reduce Our Climate & Ecological Impact, Educate & Engage Our Community, and Transform Our Culture. GSA programs aim to integrate education and action, and aggregate and quantify progress. Using the building and campus as a teaching tool, students work alongside faculty and staff on projects from recycling, weatherizing , conducting energy audits, changing lights, and replacing old boilers to improving science and technology education, restoring wetlands, and planting green roofs. Best practices are intended to ripple outward from schools to families and to
242-627: The United States under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code as social clubs. Common ventures for which NFPOs are established include: Charities, as NFPOs, function under the premise that any revenue generated should be used to further their charitable missions rather than distribute profits among members. This revenue might come from donations, fundraising, or other activities undertaken to support their charitable cause. Green Schools Alliance Green Schools Alliance ( GSA )
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#1732887056362264-413: The average Atlantan would keep 2,080 lbs., or slightly over one ton, of pollution out of the air. Over 3,600 commuters participated in the challenge in 2008, the program's first year. In 2004, The Clean Air Campaign introduced Clean Air Schools, an education outreach program that engaged the entire school community in improving air quality. Initially offered to a select group of elementary schools in
286-399: The employer with employee outreach through programs such as onsite "transportation fairs," educational sessions and assistance in taking advantage of available alternative commute incentives. The Clean Air Campaign developed alternative work arrangements typically to augment an alternative commute program. Telework, compressed work weeks and flextime are all viable options employed to reduce
308-585: The end of the Clean Air Campaign in 2016, this work has continued through OnAir Schools, an initiative of the Green Schools Alliance . Not-for-profit A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization ( NFPO ) is a legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. An NFPO does not earn profit for its owners, as any revenue generated by its activities must be put back into
330-601: The environments that sustain them. GSA does this by creating peer-to-peer forums, exchanging resources, offering original programs and curriculum , and connecting youth to nature. The sustainability coordinators that participate in the network are composed of faculty, staff, students, administrators, and other school decision makers. The GSA was formed in October 2007 as a result of Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg 's PlaNYC and related challenge to all NYC facilities to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2050, with support from
352-474: The fact that an individual commuter in metro Atlanta is capable of eliminating a full ton of atmospheric pollutants simply by using an alternative commuting method once per week. The average round-trip commute distance in Atlanta is 40 miles. It is estimated that one pound of atmospheric pollution is emitted per mile driven in a conventional vehicle. By eliminating one commute per week, or roughly 52 commutes per year,
374-568: The leading American cities when it comes to wireless and broadband internet access, the Atlanta metro area stands to benefit economically from the expanded adoption of telework. Based on 2010 survey data, 600,000 metro Atlanta employees telework occasionally and another 245,000 employees do not have permission from their employer to telework but believe their job function would allow it. Clean Air Campaign lobbied to keep Georgia's telework tax credit in place, as well as assisting businesses in taking advantage of these available funds. The One Ton Challenge
396-456: The number of instances in which employees must commute to work during peak traffic hours or inclement weather conditions. This element of The Clean Air Campaign's program was unique in that it aimed to assist with business continuity planning as much as transportation demand management and air pollution mitigation. This program also proved critical to employers whose workforces were affected by Atlanta's frequent road and highway closures. As one of
418-454: The organization. While not-for-profit organizations and non-profit organizations (NPO) are distinct legal entities, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. An NFPO must be differentiated from a NPO as they are not formed explicitly for the public good as an NPO must be, and NFPOs are considered "recreational organizations", meaning that they do not operate with the goal of generating revenue as opposed to NPOs. An NFPO does not have
440-458: The same obligation as an NPO to serve the public good, and as such it may be used to apply for tax-exempt status as an organization that serves its members and does not have the goal of generating profit. An example of this is a sports club , which exists for the enjoyment of its members and thus would function well as an NFPO, with revenue being re-invested into improving the organization. These organizations typically file for tax exemption in
462-471: Was a statewide effort to encourage commuters to use a commute alternative. By tying a measurable and easily understandable amount of impact on the environment (one ton of atmospheric pollutants conserved) to a clear and consistent call to action (one alternative commute to work per week) this challenge attempted to provide a more tangible, less abstract illustration of the environmental benefits provided by alternative commute options. The challenge derived from
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#1732887056362484-451: Was discontinued in December 2016. The Clean Air Campaign was formed in 1996 following an initiative by Atlanta business, civic, environmental and political leaders which led to less traffic and air pollution during the 1996 Olympics. The non-profit organization fulfilled its education efforts through mass advertising, public relations and community outreach. These education efforts were part of
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