Earth Day Countdown - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

Earth Day Countdown - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

Monday, April 12, 2010 10:15 AM

10 Days until Earth Day.

Driven by the County Commission's Guiding Vision, everyday is Earth Day in Alachua County.  In April, each day leading up to Earth Day (April 22), the County will be highlighting programs, services, and strategies designed to lead Alachua County into a more sustainable future.

To view all "Earth Day Countdown" press releases on the County's Facebook page, click here and click on the Earth Day tab at the top of the page.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) has completed an updated inventory of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions for Alachua County Government operations for calendar year 2009.  A summary of the inventory results will be presented to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2010.  The full report of GHG inventory results including data from calendar year 2008 will be available the week of April 19, 2010 on the Alachua County website.  An updated GHG inventory for the local Alachua County community is in progress and is expected to be completed by June 2010.

To view the back-up presentation document for the Tuesday, April 13th Regular Board of County Commission meeting, click here.

In 1999, Alachua County made a commitment to join the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) USA Local Governments for Sustainability Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.  As part of this commitment, Alachua County established goals for monitoring and reducing GHG emissions.  The County has implemented various programs to reduce energy consumptions in County buildings and reduce fuel consumption in County vehicle fleet operations.  The new 2009 inventory will be used as a tool to evaluate Alachua County's progress toward meeting its GHG reduction goal.

Increases in the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has raised national and international concern about their impact on global climate change.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently declared GHG including carbon dioxide as pollutants that will require regulation. 

"It is becoming increasingly important to track progress toward reducing GHG emissions at both the local government and community scale." said Chris Bird, County Environmental Protection Director.  "I want to recognize the EPD Pollution Prevention staffs hard work and attention detail in gathering and updating energy usage data from the hundreds of County utility and vehicle fleet records in order to complete this critical inventory."

For more information on the 2009 GHG Inventory, contact John Mousa, ACEPD Pollution Prevention Manager at 352-264-6805 or at jjm@alachuacounty.us.

40 Days of Change - For more information concerning events on and leading up to Earth Day, go to the University of Florida, Office of Sustainability's "40 Days of Change" website by clicking here.

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Contact

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate in a County program, service or public meeting, please contact the Alachua County Equal Opportunity Office at 352-374-5275 at least 2 business days prior to the event. TTY users please call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

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