Green Resources

Healthy Economy 

The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to improving the built environment in Florida. Its mission is "to provide a statewide green building program that defines, promotes and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits." FGBC offers a Green Local Government certification.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It is a green building tool that addresses the entire building lifecycle and recognizes best-in-class building strategies. This site offers general information on the program and links to LEED credentials, rating system and credit library.

Healthy Environment

Clean Boating Programs are created to raise awareness about environmentally friendly practices that protect and preserve Florida’s natural environment. These programs are typically geared toward marine facilities and boaters and environmental stewardship.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protects, conserves and manages Florida's natural resources and enforces the state's environmental laws.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides general information concerning wildlife. It also includes news releases, programs offered, and links to other important sources of information. This link specifically brings you to the North Florida Ecological Services Office.

The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to improving the built environment in Florida. Its mission is "to provide a statewide green building program that defines, promotes and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits." FGBC offers a Green Local Government certification.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It is a green building tool that addresses the entire building lifecycle and recognizes best-in-class building strategies. This site offers general information on the program and links to LEED credentials, rating system and credit library.

MyFlorida Green Building offers a list of third party green building certifications and scoring methods available in Florida. This site allows you to find the certification that is right for your project and provides links to each of the programs.

Healthy Community

Let’s Move is an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010. The website is a great resource for information and ideas about eating healthier and staying active.

Florida Health: Community Health collaborates with community partners to promote physical activity, improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and work to eliminate health disparities.

American Heart Association provides information on how to get healthy and stay healthy. Tips are provided for nutrition, physical activity, weight management, stress management, deciding which fats and oils are good for you, and how to quit smoking. 

Transportation

ReThink your commute is your No. 1 resource for commuter options in Central Florida. This service of the Florida Department of Transportation has four goals: to save you money, reduce congestion, improve air quality, and conserve natural resources.

Guide to Sustainable Transportation Performance Measures is a guidebook made by the EPA describing 12 performance measures that can readily be used in transportation decision-making, from transit accessibility to bicycle and pedestrian level of service.

Fueleconomy.gov is the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information. Through this website you can calculate and track your fuel economy, find ways to save money and fuel, learn about benefits and tax incentives, and find out about advanced vehicles and fuels and what to look for when buying a new car.

Water Efficiency and Conservation

Florida Water Star is a water-conservation certification program for new and existing homes and commercial developments. It includes standards and guidelines for indoor fixtures and appliances, landscape design and irrigation systems.

EPA’s WaterSense provides steps to save water and protect the environment by choosing WaterSense labeled products in your home, yard and business.

St. Johns River Water Management District website provides information about the district, water conservation, up-to-date news, permitting, budgets, government involvement, and more. The site also includes information on water-wise landscaping.

DEP Water Resource Management offers links to several topics such as wastewater, stormwater, drinking water, wetlands, water quality and funding. It also provides information about data findings, supply forms and applications, and describes the processes for different types of permits.

Water Footprint Calculator helps you estimate your total water use. You know water comes from the tap, but do you know how much water goes into your sandwich? Your gadgets? The electricity that powers them? Soon you will!

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provides educational material, federal employment opportunities, and webinars that cover a range of topics on energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, training for the clean energy workforce, and more.

The Florida Solar Energy Center conducts research and develops energy technology to improve the economy and environment of Florida and the nation. This center also aims to educate the public about its research and how energy technology can make a difference.

The Home Energy Scoring Program offers homeowners straightforward, reliable information about their homes' energy efficiency. A report provides consumers with a home energy score between 1 and 10, and shows them how their home compares to others in their region. The report also includes customized, cost-effective recommendations that will help to reduce energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes.

EPA's Energy Star Program has information for homes and business about energy, efficiency, savings and strategies. You can also browse through a list of Energy Star qualified products.

Energy Survey or Audits

Have you ever wondered how much energy you could save at home? Or how much money you could save on your energy bill? An energy audit or survey will help you identify where you are using your energy and, in some cases, where you are losing it.

The U.S. Department of Energy website provides information about energy audits. It includes information about how you can conduct a DIY audit of your home and about having a professional energy audit conducted.

Florida Power & Light has an online home energy dashboard, energy manager, mobile app, and energy savings programs available for its customers. 

Duke Energy has energy-saving and efficiency tips, rebates and incentives on its website. Customers can compare their current energy usage to previous years and determine where they need to improve.   

The Utilities Commission of City of New Smyrna Beach has energy-saving tips and information on energy incentives on its website.

Reducing Waste and Recycling

Volusia County Recycling page explains why it is important to recycle and offers ways to reduce waste.

EPA’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle page provides information on how you can reduce your impact on the environment at home and at work. This page also shows how reducing, reusing and recycling can save money, energy and natural resources.

Earth 911 offers a search tool you can use to search for recycling solutions in your area. You can find out where to recycle a variety of items such as batteries, construction materials, household items, and much more. 

General

EPA website provides information about all aspects of the environment. The EPA creates regulations for environmental laws that are passed through Congress and enforces those laws and regulations.
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