Contact: Kay Johnson, Office of Environmental Initiatives Manager
Phone: 268-4251
E-mail: kjohnson@wichita.gov

Eligibility Covers Four-County Area

Nominations for the third annual Metro Wichita Clean Air and Sustainability Awards are now being accepted by the City of Wichita Air Quality Improvement Task Force.

The awards recognize companies, organizations, institutions, government entities, community groups, neighborhood associations and individuals who are taking steps to reduce air pollution and emissions in the urban area.  Those steps may include energy efficiency measures, pollution reduction, increased recycling and conservation of natural resources. 

The efforts can have a significant impact on improving air quality in the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and avoiding the risk of falling out of compliance with federal air quality standards. 

Entries are welcome from the four-county metro area including Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick, and Sumner counties.  A panel of judges from local and state government, business, and the private sector will select the winners. Application deadline is Jan. 4.   

Award winners will be recognized in public ceremonies at the 2012 Kansas Preservation, Energy and Sustainability Summit and Fair at Century II Jan. 27-28.  They will also be featured on City7, the City’s Cox Communications cable channel. More information about the 2012 conference can be found at  www.greenwichita.org.

Completed applications can be mailed to Kay Johnson, Office of Environmental Initiatives Manager, Planning Department,  455 North Main Street, Wichita, KS, 67202.  They may be emailed to kjohnson@wichita.gov or faxed to 316-858-7392.

Applications and general guidelines can be viewed and printed from the City’s website at Wichita.gov or at www.greenwichita.org   For more information, contact Kay Johnson at 268-4251.  For assistance in filling out the application or quantifying environmental improvements and cost savings, contact Kansas Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) at 800-578-8898 or by email at sbeap@ksu.edu.

Documents to download:

• AQITF CAA General Information and Criteria 2011
• AQITF CAA Application Form 2011

July 21 Public Forum
KU School of Medicine - Wichita
1010 N. Kansas
Roberts Amphitheater
6:00 - 8:30 PM
[Google the address] [Download parking map]

Come out to listen, learn and provide your opinion on this important quality of life issue for Wichita.

3^rd Annual Regional Energy and Sustainability Summit and Fair
Jan. 28-29, WSU Metroplex, 29^th and Oliver

Saving energy, saving the environment and saving money are all on the agenda for the 3rd annual Regional Energy and Sustainability Summit and Fair Jan. 28-29 at the Wichita State University Metroplex, 29^th and Oliver.

Eligibility Covers Four-County Area

Nominations for the second annual Metro Wichita Clean Air Awards are now being accepted by the City of Wichita Air Quality Improvement Task Force.

Over 5000 elementary age children, parents and teachers braved the rainy weather for 2010 Celebrate Earth Day Kansas! at the Sedgwick County Zoo. This free environmental fair gives everyone the opportunity to learn how to protect and care for the world we live in. Local businesses, organizations and agencies provide hands-on activities and interactive exhibits; resulting in many environmental learning opportunities for children.

Tougher federal air pollution standards coming soon

The Wichita area could face greater health risks and may have to pay for costly air-quality improvement programs if new federal air pollution standards aren’t met, City of Wichita officials announced on Wednesday.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Hugo Wall School to serve as the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for EPA Region 7, which includes Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. The Environmental Finance Center’s mission is to assist state and local governments to create environmentally and financially sustainable solutions to answer the “how to pay questions” associated with EPA mandates. The school competed for this designation as part of a national grant award process and represents the only newly created EFC in the nation. Awards are for six years with up to $2.4 million in funding available. For fiscal year 2010, the school anticipates $190,000 in funding.