OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY:

DESIGNING WITH NATURE

Tessa LeSage, MPA LEED AP BD+CSustainability Programs ManagerCounty Administration(239) 533-2240Tlesage@leegov.comhttp://www.lee-county.com/gov/dept/sustainability

Objectives

• Define Sustainability• Lee County’s Sustainability

Initiatives• Benefits to local residents• Energy saving opportunities

What motivates you?

What brings you to this workshop?

Sustainability: What is it? The ability of the county and its

residents tomeet the needs of the present

populationwhile ensuring that future

generations havethe same or better opportunities

Society

Environment

Economy

Synergy

The interaction of two or more agents or forces so

that their combined effect is greater than the sum

of their individual effects

Society

Environment

Economy

Office of Sustainability

PurposeIdentify goals and realize Lee County’s

commitment to conducting the most efficient, responsible, and coordinated operations

Provide leadership in the cultivation of a livable and resilient community where there is an unmistakable balance between social well-being and equity, economic prosperity, and environmental resource conservation

How do we get there?

1. Institutionalize the Office of Sustainability

2. Engage in a systematic process to create a comprehensive and measurable sustainability plan

Steps to achieve these goals will run concurrently.

Institutionalize Sustainability

Set Vision & Direction 2010-2011

Engage/Empower

Stakeholders 2010-2012

Capture in Performance Management

System2010-2013

Embed in Continuous

Improvement2014- on-going

Source: Stages created by Urban Sustainability Director’s Network

Sustainability Planning

• What is a Sustainability Plan?– Sustainability is not an end goal, but a

journey to improve the social equity, environmental, and economic conditions of a community.

– A Sustainability Plan provides a common framework • Guides efforts• Ties together community goals, strategies,

implementation plans, and metrics for improving sustainabilitySource: ICLEI USA Local Governments for Sustainability. What is a

Sustainability Plan? Retrieved on 25 October 2010 from http://www.icleiusa.org/programs/sustainability

Sustainability Planning

Milestone 1: Conduct

Sustainability Assessment

Milestone 2: Establish

Sustainability Goals

Milestone 3: Develop

Sustainability Plan

Milestone 4: Implement Policies and Measures

Milestone 5: Evaluate

Progress and Report Results

Source: ICLEI USA Local Governments for Sustainability. STAR Community Index: Sustainability Goals and Guiding Principles. October 2010.

Pre-milestone Planning: Commit and Organize a Team

•June 2010 – Board of County Commissioners establish the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee (AC-1-14) (Foundation created by the former Smart Growth Committee/Department – est. in 2001)

•August 2010 – County Manager hires a Sustainability Programs Manager, creating the Office of Sustainability •October 2010 – Identification of members of the Lee Green Team

•Completed: December 2010

Organizational Chart - Sustainability Initiatives

Board of County

Commissioners

County Manager

Department Managers

Lee Green Team

County Staff

Office of Sustainability

Community Sustainability

Advisory Committee

STAR Community IndexSustainability Goals

• Economy

– Economic Prosperity– Employment and

Workforce Training • Society

– Education, Arts, and Community

– Health and Safety– Affordability and

Social Equity

• Environment

– Natural Systems

– Planning and Design

– Energy and Climate

Source: ICLEI USA Local Governments for Sustainability. STAR Community Index: Sustainability Goals and Guiding Principles. October 2010.

Lee County Highlights Weatherization Assistance Program Public Safety 54.28 kW Solar Panel

Project & E-lighting Award-winning Waste to Energy

Facility Single Stream Recycling Complete Streets Resolution Community Sustainability Advisory

Committee Community Gardens Ordinance Carpool Program Fertilizer Ordinance Lee County Wellness Program Climate Change Vulnerability

Assessment and Resiliency Strategy

Inaugural Climate Adaptation Community (ICLEI)

Renewable Energy and Research Diamond

Signal Re-timing Project Conservation 20/20 Program Pet Pantry Building Automation System 100% Non-generating Status for

Hazardous Waste (Fleet Management)

LeeTran’s hybrid buses OrganicLee Compost TDC Beach and Shoreline

Capital Improvement Program

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Targets from 2007 Levels (tentative)

• By 2012, reduce GHG emissions by 5%

• By 2017, reduce GHG emissions by 15%

• By 2020, reduce GHG emissions by 20%

• By 2030, reduce GHG emissions by 40%

• By 2050, reduce GHG emissions by 80%

• By reducing GHG Emissions, Lee County will reduce energy consumption, which saves money.

What is the benefit of these targets to residents?

• Money in your pocket!• Increased comfort• Increased home value• More convenience• Increased protection during storm

events• Protection/conservation of resources• Reduced pollution

Start saving today!

• Reduce water heater temperature to 120• Install water efficient fixtures• Heating and Cooling– Set thermostat to 78/82 in the summer– Set thermostat to 68/65 in the winter– Check/change/clean your air filter monthly – Tune up your HVAC equipment annually– Use a programmable thermostat– Seal and insulate air ducts

Start saving today!

• Turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room• Use a full dishwasher and don’t pre-rinse

dishes• Limit pool pump to 6 hrs/day in summer & 4

hrs/day in winter• Adjust washing machine water level to match

load size & always use cold water to rinse• Clean the lint filter on dryer before every use

Start saving today!

1 Energy Star CFL bulb• Can save over $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime• Uses about 75% less energy than standard incandescent light

bulbs and lasts up to 10 times longer• Produces about 75% less heat, safer and reduces home

cooling costsIf every American home replaced just one light with a light

that'searned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in

annualenergy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000

cars.

Other energy saving strategies

• Home Energy Assessment• Air Conditioning upgrade – A/C can account for 50% of home energy

costs– Assess your current equipment

• Recommend minimum 14.0 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)

– Evaluate your options• Check for rebates with FPL/LCEC

– Pick the system that is right for you

Home Certifications

• Energy Star – new home certification, home improvements

• Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design – new construction

• Florida Green Building Coalition– new construction

Questions?

Tessa LeSage, MPA LEED AP BD+CSustainability Programs ManagerCounty Administration(239) 533-2240Tlesage@leegov.comhttp://www.lee-county.com/gov/dept/sustainability