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Pinellas
County Goes Green |
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Pinellas County mayors sign the
Mayor’s Green City Action Accord - Watch Video 
In a ceremony May 3, 2008, mayors from Pinellas County cities came together to ceremonially sign the Mayor’s Green City Action Accord. The ceremony symbolized the strong and unified support of green initiatives throughout the community.
Pinellas County was the first government in the state to receive the designation of Green Local Government. St. Petersburg was the first city designated in the state. Since then, Dunedin has become a green city and many other cities in the county are adopting sustainable practices.
The Green Government designation is administered through the Florida Green Building Coalition, the organization promoting the signing of the Mayor’s Green City Action Accord throughout the state. See the Accord.
“Sustainability encourages us to make both small and large changes in our everyday lives, both personally and in business,” said Commissioner Seel, emcee of the ceremony. “Recycling. Reduced energy usage. Alternative fuels. Water-wise landscaping. Job training. Healthy families. Sustainability is a holistic approach to our lives that looks at the balances between economy, environment and society.
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| The state’s most densely populated yet second smallest county, Pinellas County needed to implement urban sustainable practices for its burgeoning population. With little land for continued growth, the Board of County Commissioners rolled out a strategic plan to address urban sustainability. With a commitment to fund the first Regional Specialized Agent for Urban Environmental Sustainability in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Bushnell Office for Sustainability was formed at Pinellas County Extension to help lead the county’s sustainability efforts.
For its efforts, Pinellas County has received state and regional recognition:
- Green Local Government designation
- Best Practices Sustainable Government Award
 Certified Green Local Governments function in a more efficient manner through better internal communication, dollar savings, and effective risk and asset management.
- Mayors Green City Action Accord
- Steps to Becoming a Florida Green
Local Government |
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Pinellas County Is First In State
To Achieve Green Local
Government Designation
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Not only is it easy being green, it’s prestigious! Pinellas County’s environmental stewardship has received statewide attention. In 2007. the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) has named Pinellas the first jurisdiction in the state to receive the coveted Green Local Government designation as a silver award winner.
In order to obtain the Green Local Government designation, the coalition considered a comprehensive list of criteria, organized in terms of local government department functions.
For more information on this prestigious designation, visit: www.floridagreenbuilding.org.
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Pinellas County Notable Green Accomplishments |
- Pinellas County Extension – As a part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, Pinellas County Extension offers award-winning outreach education in all areas of sustainable living. The Sustainable Living website provides an education portal to various resources; from blogs to video to the latest publications from the University. Our educators provide programming and research-based advice on environmental and social issues.
- Community Development: affordable housing is EnergyStar certified.
- Fleet Management: operates a biodiesel/ethanol fueling station.
- Public Works: uses green landscaping for medians and installs LED traffic lights.
- Pinellas County Schools & South Cross Water Reclamation Facility: conducts workshops for teachers, which they can use for recertification credits.
- Sheriff’s Office: employs bicycle patrol in neighborhoods.
- Solid Waste: operates a household electronics and chemical collection center and swap shop for the public on site as well as a “Cutting Waste at Work” program for local businesses to assess the amount of waste generated and aid with reducing disposal costs.
- Alternate Water Sources: created a reclaimed water infrastructure and employs code enforcers to oversee watering restrictions in neighborhoods.
- Development Review Services: mandates removal of invasive species when proposals are made for existing buildings to upgrade/change their property.
- Environmental Lands Division: Promotes public education and awareness of sustainable practices through Ecological Services and the Environmental Education Centers’ programs, exhibits, teacher trainings, and partnerships.
- Environmental Management & Utilities: Put air and water quality indexes on websites to inform and educate citizens about the air and water in our environment. Utilities also uses recycled bill envelopes.
- Parks & Recreation: Installed recycling facilities at select public parks. Utilities is in the process of developing a permanent recycling program at the beaches.
- Economic Development: Received a Brownfield redevelopment grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up polluted and hazardous property in the Cross Bayou and Lealman Districts.
- Personnel: Introduction of the Telecommuting Policy means that telecommuting employees will not add to traffic congestion and air pollution in Pinellas County.
- Cultural Affairs: By using interactive theater performances to introduce and reinforce scientific concepts regarding water use, water conservation and the environment to school children in grades K - 5, these concepts are brought to life in an entertaining and meaningful way. In collaborate with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County Utilities.
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