The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department has completed an update of the Alachua County Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory for calendar years 2008 and 2009. The new inventory estimates the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from County buildings and facilities, vehicle fleets, solid waste, water delivery facilities and streetlights and traffic signals sectors. The new updated inventory is compared to previous Alachua County government inventories completed for the years 1998 and 1990.
The 2009 inventory found that Alachua County government operations emitted 26,438 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents from energy and fossil fuel consumption which was a 5% decrease from 2008 GHG emissions. Total GHG emissions from the building and vehicle fleet sectors showed a 14% increase from 1998 to 2009. Vehicle fleet emissions increased 70% during this time period primarily due to out of County solid waste hauling operations and road construction by the County.
Chris Bird, Environmental Protection Director, said of the greenhouse gas update, “This update shows that Alachua County has achieved some encouraging decreases in greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage in some of the County’s older buildings that have served to offset some of the emission increases from government growth and newly constructed County facilities."
Click here to view the 2008 and 2009 Alachua County Government Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
Alachua County joined the ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability/Cities for Climate Protection Campaign in 1999 and has committed to monitor and reduce GHG emissions. The Environmental Protection Department is completing an Alachua County Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Update which is expected to be completed by August 2010.
For more information, contact Chris Bird, or Dr. John Mousa, Alachua County Pollution Prevention Manager at 352-264-6800.