Our little town has mounted a huge effort to "go green" as a gift for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary! As relative newcomers to the area, Warren and I are very impressed by the efforts that are being put forth to preserve the gem of nature in our backyard! In addition to Gatlinburg's efforts, Sevier County is also very pro-active in preserving our environment. Just some the changes already in place:
Gatlinburg's trolley system, used by nearly 800,000 riders in 2008, is the fifth largest mass transit system in the state. The 20+ trolley fleet is fueled by ultra low sulphur biodiesel.
The Gatlinburg Convention Center has reduced it kilowatt hours usage by 31% over the past year.
City of Gatlinburg Winterfest light displays have been converted entirely to LED bulbs over the past 3 years, saving more than 75% on power bills for the 5 month period.
Gatlinburg Wastewater treatment plant has increased efficiency, resulting in a 22% reduction in electrical consumption. The facility has also been honored with the Operational Excellence Award for 2008.
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce has launched a "Gatlinburg Goes Green" campaign to encourage area businesses to make environmentally-friendly changes in their operations. The goal is 75% participation to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Park.
The brand new Sevier County Composting Facility (one of only eight in the WORLD) went into operation. This state-of-the-art facility converts 70% of our solid waste into compost, leaving only 30% going to landfills.
We are proud to be part of a community taking seriously the responsibility to care for our earth!
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