| |
 |
|
Pinellas
County Goes Green |
|
| |
|
Pinellas County mayors sign the
Mayor’s Green City Action Accord - Watch Video 
In a ceremony May 3, 2008, mayors from Pinellas County cities came together to ceremonially sign the Mayor’s Green City Action Accord. The ceremony symbolized the strong and unified support of green initiatives throughout the community.
Pinellas County was the first government in the state to receive the designation of Green Local Government. St. Petersburg was the first city designated in the state. Since then, Dunedin has become a green city and many other cities in the county are adopting sustainable practices.
The Green Government designation is administered through the Florida Green Building Coalition, the organization promoting the signing of the Mayor’s Green City Action Accord throughout the state. See the Accord.
“Sustainability encourages us to make both small and large changes in our everyday lives, both personally and in business,” said Commissioner Seel, emcee of the ceremony. “Recycling. Reduced energy usage. Alternative fuels. Water-wise landscaping. Job training. Healthy families. Sustainability is a holistic approach to our lives that looks at the balances between economy, environment and society.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The state’s most densely populated yet second smallest county, Pinellas County needed to implement urban sustainable practices for its burgeoning population. With little land for continued growth, the Board of County Commissioners rolled out a strategic plan to address urban sustainability. With a commitment to fund the first Regional Specialized Agent for Urban Environmental Sustainability in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Bushnell Office for Sustainability was formed at Pinellas County Extension to help lead the county’s sustainability efforts.
For its efforts, Pinellas County has received state and regional recognition:
- Green Local Government designation
- Best Practices Sustainable Government Award
 Certified Green Local Governments function in a more efficient manner through better internal communication, dollar savings, and effective risk and asset management.
- Mayors Green City Action Accord
- Steps to Becoming a Florida Green
Local Government |
|
|
|
|
Pinellas County
Is First In State
To Achieve Green Local
Government Designation
|
|
|
Not only is it easy being green, it’s prestigious! Pinellas County’s environmental stewardship has received statewide attention. In 2007. the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) has named Pinellas the first jurisdiction in the state to receive the coveted Green Local Government designation as a silver award winner.
In order to obtain the Green Local Government designation, the coalition considered a comprehensive list of criteria, organized in terms of local government department functions.
For more information on this prestigious designation, visit: www.floridagreenbuilding.org.
|
|
|
|
|
 County Drives Clean, Green and Lean Machines
 If you think environmental sustainability is something new for Pinellas County Fleet Management, think again. Fleet has a longstanding program of vehicle maintenance that improves mileage and reduced emissions by using off-the-shelf technology.
The cornerstone of this commitment to green is an extensive program of preventative maintenance. Each of the county’s nearly 2,000 vehicles is given a thorough work over when they are brought to the shop. From the mundane – such as checking tire pressure and air filters – to more advanced application such as throttle body cleanings, the goal is efficiency, reliability and prolonged vehicle life.
While checking what’s under the hood is the first step, what goes into the tank is just as critical. Pinellas County Fleet Management was one of the early adopters of biodiesel to power their large trucks. This product, made from vegetable oils, is an outstanding substitute for straight diesel fuel. This fuel keeps grease out of the waste stream and has significant advantages when it comes to environmental impact – a 30 percent reduction in hydrocarbons, 20 percent reduction in carbon monoxide and a 22 percent reduction in particulate matter – the stuff coming out of the tailpipe.
It’s not only clean and green, but lean as well. Fleet management has been moving toward smaller, more efficient vehicles to conduct county business. Sure, when the job calls for a large dump truck or other apparatus, departments can check them out from Fleet. But, for day-to-day operations, studies conducted by Fleet show that smaller trucks and cars can easily handle the load. This further increases fuel efficiency, and by purchasing more standardized equipment, it’s easier to keep necessary parts on hand for maintenance.
Simple steps for a greener future.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|