RES-2014-073 Resolution of Declaration on Climate Change

Browse Search

ACTIONS THAT ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES CAN TAKE TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Orange County will serve as a model for the community by taking the following actions (many of which have already been implemented): 1. Switch to compact fluorescent, full spectrum compact fluorescent, and LED light bulbs in county government offices and site lighting; 2. Instruct County staff to turn off all lights, computers, and other devices when leaving for the day; 3. Reduce individual travel and encourage telecommuting and teleconferencing whenever possible for county business; 4. Make composting bins available to county residents at wholesale prices; 5. Set up a County web page on climate change that serves as an information resource; 6. Use biodiesel in county government diesel vehicles, as it becomes practical, with the goal of using B20 or greater biodiesel in all county diesel vehicles by 2020; 7. Switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid vehicles, when appropriate, in new county fleet purchases targeting a combined fleet-wide average of 36 mpg by 2020; 8. Incorporate more flexfuel mixtures in County vehicles; 9. Actively reduce idling in operating all County vehicles; 10. Provide more trails, bikeways and improved roadway shoulders for walking and biking, and provide more bicycle parking throughout the county; 11. Continue to employ a green building program for Orange County, currently represented by the Triangle J High Performance Building Standards; 12. Require all County departments to buy recycled products, when possible, including paper products that use at least 30% recycled content; 13. Evaluate, strengthen and enforce tree and vegetation protection ordinances; 14. Support bus service throughout Orange County, as well as rideshare programs; 15. Create an inventory of both county government operational and county geographical greenhouse gas emissions. Set a target of greenhouse gas emissions reductions after inventory data are available; 16. Continue to reduce utility, water, and fuel use throughout County operations, as identified and measured through the Energy Scorecard program; 17. Require solid waste facilities countywide to handle and provide for full recycling, composting, and reuse centers; 18. Recycle all recyclable products in all County buildings and facilities; 19. Purchase only non-Styrofoam containers for all County facilities and County activities; Here are ten actions that Orange County residents and businesses can take: 1. Know your carbon footprint in order to understand your energy use habits; 2. Reduce energy use by switching to compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs that can be disposed at the hazardous waste disposal sites; 3. Reduce energy use by driving and idling less--walk, bike, carpool, rideshare, drive at a slower rate of speed, and utilize more fuel efficient vehicles; 4. Reduce energy use by buying local produce/food products and other market products, avoiding products shipped long distances, and use canvas bags for shopping; 5. Reduce energy use by turning off all electrical equipment and lights when not in use; 6. Reduce energy use by improving home energy efficiency and buying Energy Star appliances;