June is National Rivers Month. We will be having our annual St. John’s River Cleanup on June 6^th to support National River Cleanup Week.  Learn more about the importance of our rivers at www.americanrivers.org.  

June 5^th is the World Environment Day, sponsored by the United Nations. This year the theme is “Your Planet Needs You-Unite to Combat Climate Change.” 

Hang your clothes out to dry beginning June 6^th, for International Clothesline Week.  Hanging your clothes on a line, instead of throwing them in a dryer will save you money on your electric bill, help your clothes last longer, & conserve energy and the environment. For more information check out www.laundrylist.org.

June 6^th is National Trails Day sponsored by the American Hiking Society. Volusia County will celebrate National Trails Day this year with events taking place at Gemini Springs from 9am to 2pm. See www.volusia.org/trails for more information.  

Green Cleaning Tip – In the spirit of hanging your clothes out to dry, try an alternative fabric softener. Use about ¼ to ½ Cup of Distilled White Vinegar in the rinse cycle.  It will keep your clothes static free and soft, without causing a vinegar odor.

Heather Squires, Environmental Management

A highlight on the Green Practices the County of Volusia has implemented  

• The Computing Security Policy not only promotes system security, but also power conservation by requiring PCs to be turned off at the end of the workday. Turning off the approximately 75% of the county’s PCs not required for around-the-clock operation such as the jail, has resulted in savings of up to $55,000 annually.
• County facilities have been retrofitted with T8 fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs reduce energy consumption by 25 percent (estimated to save more than $8,700 annually after two years). They also run cooler than the T12 bulbs they often replace, reducing cooling costs.
• Programmable thermostats: New thermostats were installed in fleet management offices and maintenance shops last year, saving $15,000 in electric and natural gas bills.
• The Medical Examiners office has purchased Digital Radiography equipment, a digital fingerprinting system and has implemented electronic distribution of postmortem reports.  The new systems have eliminated the need for chemical processing equipment and chemicals, including hazardous waste disposal. The digital images can be shared electronically, reducing the need for paper. The estimated cost savings is $5,000 a year.
• Road and Bridge - This division uses seven LED (Light-Emitting Diode) hybrid solar powered portable changeable message boards and two solar power arrow boards. These systems are very efficient, and their use releases no carbon emissions. The estimated cost savings for switching to the new boards is $13,000 a year.
• VOTRAN, Volusia County’s Public Transit System, has developed a Commuter Assistance Program (CAP). The CAP is an umbrella term for the alternative transportation programs VOTRAN provides. Its purpose is to provide commuting alternatives for the driving public to reduce the number of vehicles on the highways. It’s a service that the nearly 35,000 Volusia County residents who commute to work in Seminole, Orange and Brevard Counties can use.  Last year local van pool commuters saved $1,651,398 in commuting costs, 137,616 gallons of gas, 3,440,412 miles on their personal vehicles, and eliminated over 84,350 trips from the road.

Check out Sierra Club's NEW Green Tips Library, your one-stop-shop for green lifestyle tips: http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=QjQwh1MG9VSHgAz229Z90g  OR sign up to have green tips delivered right to your inbox! http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=V3fl_nvaq3YrvgSkhbJEyw   Program Announcements         Becoming a Florida Green Local Government The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) created a recognition program to designate Green Cities and Green Counties for outstanding environmental stewardship. The program uses energy, air, water, land and waste as benchmarks when looking at environmental practices done “in-house,” incentives and ordinances to foster green practices, and educational activities to improve the environment. Volusia County has committed to obtaining the Green Local Government Designation in 2009. Learn more about the program Measuring our carbon footprint A carbon footprint measures the amount of carbon dioxide released from many activities such as energy used in your home, appliances, and transportation. For example, burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, releases carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. As part of Volusia County’s goal to move toward a sustainable future, we will measure our carbon footprint and identify ways to reduce it over time. Learn more about Cool Counties Promoting green development The development of land and construction of homes and commercial buildings have a big impact on the environment. As part of Volusia County’s move toward sustainability, we want to encourage citizens and builders to reduce their impact on the environment. The Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD) recently presented Volusia County Council with draft ordinance language to provide incentives for builders and developers to build using green practices. This draft ordinance is based on the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Building Standards and the U.S. Green Building Coalition Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs. The draft ordinance language is under review by county staff. Learn more about FGBC Learn more about LEED Implementing Smart Growth Practices Since 2005, Volusia County has been working with the Volusia Council of Governments (VCOG) on smart growth planning to identify how we can preserve a high quality of life while allowing growth (building) within our communities. The program will include a number of measures that will guide future growth in an environmentally friendly way. Learn more about Volusia County’s Smart Growth Program Ride-share Program On their commute to and from work, Volusia County employees may drive approximately 100,000 miles each day, nearly four times around the earth! County employees are being encouraged to use Votran's web-based Ride Share program to find others interested in car pooling. The employee program encourages employees to carpool and therefore reduce fuel use. The program provides ride-share incentives such as designated parking spots, a gas card drawing, and a guaranteed ride home. Votran’s Ride Share program is open to the public.  Click on the graphic below to learn more.