Jared LangProgram ManagerNACo Green Government

Sustainability in America’s Counties

Sustainability in America’s Counties

3,068 Counties in the United States

Large Counties: 129 (> 500,000 Pop.)

Medium-sized Counties: 960 (250,000 to 50,000 Pop.)

Small Counties: 1,979 (< 50,000 Pop.)

“Sweet Spot” for County Sustainability Work: > 250,000 Pop. (250 Counties)

What does sustainability mean to America’s

Counties?

Hillsborough County, Florida“Good Governance” through Sustainability

Largest of its kind in an urban downtown area in the nation

Generates $60,500 annually in energy costs

Approximately 40 percent of the building’s energy load

Old Main Courthouse Building, Downtown Tampa, Florida

Frederick County, Maryland Community-wide Engagement:

Incentives and Challenges

Green Home Challenge

Encouraging Community Energy Efficiency through Residential Challenge

$840,000 program

3-part Challenge

Power Saver Certification Green Your Lifestyle, Enhance Your Health! Renewing Your Power

Website: http://www.frederickcountymd.gov/index.aspx?NID=3531

Boulder County, ColoradoCounties Creating Jobs: Youth Energy Corps

An Energy Corps staff member reviews an energy assessment with a homeowner.

An Energy Corps staff member installs a low-flow showerhead.

Young adults earn job skills by performing energy assessments on residential homes Project cost $95,000 Staff completed 384 home audits and retrofits

County Economic Development and Sustainability

Growing the Green Economy: Attracting and growing businesses that produce positive impacts on the environment.

Green Economic Development • Growing existing businesses• Attracting new businesses• Green Jobs Training

Resources Efficiency and Purchasing• Building Efficiency• Fleet Management

Local Production• Energy • Food

Waste Management• Composting• Recycling• Landfill gas to energy

Green Infrastructure• Water filtration• Air purification

2010 Sustainability Survey Overview

Surveyed 3,068 counties

750 responses

578 separate counties

Almost 20% of America’s Counties

Performed analyses by population, geographic location, and climate

County Investment in Sustainability

County Sustainability Staffing

Where are Green Efforts Coordinated within County Government?

Benefits toCounty Sustainability Strategies

Enhances Citizen Participation

Provides Services to County Residents

Promotes Partnership with Private Sector

Reduces Cost of Running County Government

Barriers to Accomplishing County Sustainability Strategies

Expertise

Staffing

Funding

Political and Public Support

NACo Resources

Green Counties Landing PageFind a hub for county greening andsustainability best practices, trainings,and funding opportunities.www.naco.org/greencounties

Energy PortalFind a hub for education, training, andfunding for county energy projectswww.naco.org/energy

ENERGY STAR PartnershipLearn how to promote energyefficiency in America’s countieswww.naco.org/energystar

Green Case Studies

Browse thousands of county greeningpolicies and best practiceswww.naco.org/greendatabaseOn FacebookStay up-to-date on NACo’s greenactivities via social networking.www.facebook.com/NACoDC

County News and E-NewsFind current and archived articles.www.naco.org/newsroom

On You-TubeWatch videos on NACo’s “GreenCounties” playlist.www.youtube.com/user/NACoVideo

Jared LangProgram Manager

Green Government InitiativeNational Association of Counties

Ph: 202.942.4224Em: jlang@naco.org