The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a new District policy to further incorporate a commitment to superior environmental stewardship and efficiency into the District’s day-to-day operations in support of the state’s Climate Change Initiative.
Last July, Governor Crist signed several executive orders establishing Florida’s energy policy. These executive orders call for all state agencies to implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as implement smart building and operational practices to reduce their carbon footprint.
The state’s five water management districts already lead the way in water conservation. Incorporating an emphasis on energy efficiency into the District’s daily operations makes business sense and fits well with the District’s focus on sustainable growth and community responsibility.
As part of the new policy, District staff is:
- Evaluating the District’s entire operations.
- Working with other federal, state and local governments to share ideas and promote environmental sustainability.
- Establishing measurements for reducing energy, fuel and water consumption.
- Developing and implementing projects and business practices that achieve environmental sustainability.
- Incorporating an emphasis on environmental stewardship into the District’s strategic planning efforts.
The District has already taken significant steps toward incorporating superior environmental stewardship into its daily operations. Some of the steps include:
Fleet Management
- The District already has 13 electric or hybrid vehicles in its fleet and is evaluating replacing more vehicles with hybrid, fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel models.
Recycling Programs
- The District has long had programs in place to recycle paper, batteries, aluminum cans, printer cartridges and cardboard. Last year, the District added a plastics recycling program.
General Services
- The District’s General Services Department has retrofitted all old light fixtures with new energy-efficient models and replaced all refrigerators with EnergyStar-compliant models.
- The General Services Department is also setting energy-management guidelines for the operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment as well as computer equipment and lighting fixtures.
- The nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping have been incorporated into the grounds of the District’s headquarters and service offices, resulting in a reduction in water use for irrigation and the need to apply fertilizers and pesticides that leech into the environment.
Environmental Purchasing
- The District’s Finance Department is developing procedures to purchase products and services that save energy, water, fuel or other resources when economically feasible.
- All budget requests for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 must provide an assessment of energy-efficient options for budgeted products and services.
Internal Resources for District Staff
- The District is establishing an internal web site that will provide employees with information and resources to educate them on office and personal practices that conserve energy, fuel, water and other resources. The site will also feature a blog for District staff to share ideas and a ridesharing network to promote carpooling among staff members.
For more information on these or other District efforts to incorporate superior environmental stewardship into its daily operations, please contact Eugene Schiller, Deputy Executive Director of Management Services, at 1-800-423-1476 ext. 4605.