Over the past 20 years, the Chatham Environmental Forum (CEF) has addressed complex issues, such as air quality in the Savannah area and its potential impact on community cancer rates, and the long term protection of the Floridan aquifer as the area’s primary drinking water source. For each issue undertaken by the CEF, the final analysis has been a consensus product based on the best available science with recommended solutions that all sectors within the community could support.
Challenge
There are over 250,000 people who live in Chatham County, and that number has been growing at about 10% a decade1. As the population grows, it is increasingly important that residents make wise use of our shared resources. Total municipal water use in Chatham County averages 861 million gallons a month2. There are over 7,000 publicly subsidized parking spots in lots and garages in Savannah alone3. The average household in the Southeast United States consumes 76.1 million BTU’s of energy, and spends $1,703 annually consuming it4. By making smart choices as individuals and as a community, we can help preserve Chatham County’s resources for future generations. Take the JoIN Pledge and do your part in making Chatham the “greenest county” in Georgia.
1 2009 US Census Bureau Quick Facts
2 Metropolitan Planning Commission Tricentennial Plan. Chapter 9, Page 6.
3 1994 Long Range Transportation Study
4 2005b Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Energy Information Administration.