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Green Works Orlando Green Updates

December 2008

December 19

As a part of GreenWorks LIFE, Mayor Buddy Dyer is encouraging employees to sign up for the City’s new car pool program with LYNX. The program connects City employees who live near each other and are interested in participating in a car pool.

The program also includes a Guaranteed Ride Home. Registered members of a LYNX Vanpool, Carpool or Bus Pass program whose company enrolls in LYNX Guaranteed Ride Home qualify for free cab service home when emergencies or unscheduled overtime work disrupt their day. They can use this free service up to four times a year.

In early December, the City’s first car pool group was registered with LYNX. The group, which has been up and running for about six months, includes four employees who car pool daily from the Winter Garden area. The program allows employees to save hundreds of dollars a month and dramatically reduce their environmental footprint.

For more information the City’s car pool program, contact Christian Oleck, 407.246.3783 or greenworks@cityoforlando.net. To learn more about GreenWorks Orlando, visit cityoforlando.net/greenworks.

Local Climate Action Week

To recognize Local Climate Action Week, Mayor Buddy Dyer called on President-elect Obama and the incoming Congress to invest stimulus dollars in local climate action as a quick and effective way to create new green jobs, revitalize the economy and promote energy independence.

Mayor Dyer, along with other elected officials, have partnered with Climate Communities and ICLEI USA to make sure that federal decision makers understand the essential role of local governments in reducing energy use and addressing climate change.

Local government actions have the potential to dramatically reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They set and enforce building codes, determine transportation and land use policies and are dramatically affected when their communities suffer untold human and economic loss from hurricanes, wildfires, water shortages and other climate events.

“We were pleased that during his campaign, President-elect Obama indicated support for investment in energy saving projects to help create jobs and spur economic recovery,” said Mayor Dyer. “We want President-elect Obama and Congress to know that with federal assistance we are ready to put hundreds of Orlando citizens to work in jobs that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions.”

The City of Orlando is ready with several projects that could be implemented in the next 12 months if federal funds are made available:

• 600 Kilowatt rooftop solar array system in Downtown Orlando to increase renewable energy production in Central Florida and support the growing solar industry in Florida.

• Illuminated street name sign upgrade project that will provide an energy savings and improve navigation throughout the City by replacing incandescent illuminated street name signs at traffic signals with energy efficient LED street name signs.

• Energy efficient retro-fits for the City’s 800 plus public buildings.

All together, it is estimated that these projects would create more than 200 jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the next five years. For more information, visit cityoforlando.net/greenworks.

December 12

On Friday, November 14, Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 6 City Commissioner Samuel B. Ings joined more than 250 volunteers from Kool-Aid, participants from the National League of Cities Conference, organizers from KaBOOM! and local residents to build a new playground at the Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center. The playground’s design was based on drawings provided by children who attended a Design Day event in September.

The City of Orlando was recently named one of the nation’s “Playful City USA” communities by KaBOOM! in honor of its innovative efforts in making play a priority for local children. The Smith Center playground build is an example of local officials and community volunteers working together to improve the quality of life for Orlando’s youth. The new playground is part of an initiative by KaBOOM! and Kool-Aid to build 24 playgrounds across the country in 2008 that will eventually serve more than 250,000 children.

For more information, visit nlc.org/articles/articleItems/NCW12108/KaBOOM.aspx.

December 5

Florida’s First LEED Certified Fire Station

The Orlando Fire Department’s Station 15 was designed and built to LEED specifications with the expectation of achieving official LEED certified status. The City of Orlando is excited to announce that Fire Station 15 officially became the first LEED certified fire station in the state of Florida. This prestigious designation was awarded to the City by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

The City of Orlando has designed and built four fire stations with the goal of LEED certification, with more on the way. The City is proud to lead the way in protecting the environment with these LEED certified public buildings while being fiscally responsible with efficient and cost effective design.