Sustainable Florida Best Practices Awards Program

| 10/1/2007

People	Profit	Planet

Government Best Practice Award

Pinellas County

If Pinellas County was a country it would have the sixth highest population density of any nation in the world. It’s hard to imagine a leader in sustainability having such demographics. But under the leadership of the County Commission, Pinellas County is becoming just that.

Pinellas County is leading by example by using bio-fuels, building green and reducing waste. [Photo courtesy Pinellas County]

When the County Commission began to think about quality of life in a county with no more vacant land, they began to understand the importance of urban sustainability.

With a shared vision – that Pinellas County should be a place where families and businesses would want to stay and where children would want to remain – the Board completed Vision Pinellas 2005. They created The Bushnell Office for Urban Sustainability that uses an interdisciplinary approach to address the problems associated with the growth the county has experienced. Efforts focused on comprehensive planning, waste management, environmental management and community education.

The Board also understood that it had to not only encourage but also practice sustainability. With the renovation of the 26-year-old Bushnell center, building an energy saving “cool roof” paid for itself in just four to five years. The innovation saves the county money, reduces its environmental impact, and serves as an example to the entire community.

What can you do?

• Engage the community in designing a regional vision.
• “Green” your purchases of vehicles, paper, electronics,
  and cleaning supplies.
• Offer recycling in government buildings and schools.
• Build and renovate to green standards.
• Adopt resolutions and ordinances promoting sustainability.

Tags: Environment