For the City of Anaheim, California, “going green” is more than just a catchphrase—it’s a way of doing business.

While a single city may only play a bit role in the larger mission of saving the planet, Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle noted in his State of the City address that “there is no doubt that we can play a major role in our neighborhoods and community by practicing good stewardship, conserving resources and providing leadership.”

The Green Connection started with a federal mandate encouraging municipalities to move toward green power. The city then adopted a resolution framing goals for a city-wide initiative grounded in the principles of environmental soundness and sustainable development. With programs such as Sun Power for Schools, the Green Building Program and the popular TreePower program, which has distributed over 35,000 trees to residents, Anaheim is at the forefront of municipal green programs. The initiative has proved so popular that existing programs are expanding while new ones are being added regularly.

The Anaheim Public Utilities Department is working particularly hard not just to provide innovative programs to residents, but also to operate more environmentally friendly themselves. Using Laserfiche Records Management Edition™ to eliminate paper records is an important part of this strategy. Ron Smith, the department’s records and information administrator, says that, as part of the green initiative, the department will improve its records management practices, beginning with the way records are stored and accessed. By linking the Laserfiche repository to network drives and implementing GIS integration, the department will reduce dependence on paper and limit duplicated efforts—saving both paper and electricity. In recognition of its success, the department will receive a Run Smarter Award at the 2008 Laserfiche Institute Conference in January.

Smith says that the advantages of going green extend beyond the fact that it creates opportunities to review and streamline business processes throughout the department. It also promotes innovative government that affects real change. With its Green Connection program, Anaheim is working hard to provide clean, renewable energy options and minimize environmental impact.

Posted on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 at 3:06 pm under UserNews. You can comment on this article. trackback from your own site.