City officials offered an in-depth look at recent successes in municipal sustainability at a press conference Sept. 8, and explained how ongoing green efforts affect residents’ lives.

Mayor Bob Donchez and Director of Parks and Public Property Ralph Carp described a decade of improvements going on behind the scenes which have resulted in improved services, lower taxes, more efficient energy use and reduced wear on infrastructure.

If that sounds dull to you, Carp agrees. “It’s not sexy, but it’s essential.”

An array of improvements in technology, from thousands of lights to hyper-efficient boilers to energy-efficient windows on city properties have added up.

The current green mindset at city hall began with a 2006 pact between Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton to each reduce their total carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2012. Bethlehem has continued its push in the intervening years and now falls 23.5 percent lower than in 2005. The city’s greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 25 percent and total usage has gone from 16,000 tons in 2005 to an estimated 7,000 tons this year. Additionally, as of last year 50 percent of Bethlehem’s purchased energy is green, meaning it is provided by an accredited renewable source.

While significant, these numbers are essentially meaningless to many of us. But Carp did provide some information with appreciable impact on our lives.

In 2014, the citywide collection of recyclables – 14.7 million pounds worth – translates to $2.7 million in revenue, saving us about 2 mills on the tax rate. Management of 20,000 acres of watershed land is now bringing in over $130,000 in carbon credits annually, while the Water Authority is studying solar, wind and water turbine sources of power to supplement the city’s self-sufficiency.

And the city’s efforts in energy reduction last year saved the equivalent of 137,000 gallons of gasoline.

So years of behind-the-scenes efforts are reaping real, if not glamorous, results. Carp reminds residents there are many things going on in the city that are smaller parts of long-term efforts not getting headlines. “We’re doing better than it really appears.”

At the time of publication, the cities of Allentown and Easton did not respond to inquires about their own programs.