Green Works GOV

In 2007, Mayor Dyer launched Green Works Orlando, an initiative to propel Orlando to the forefront of environmentally sustainable communities.

Green Works focuses on five pillars:

• Sustainable Transportation
• Sustainable Infrastructure
• Clean Energy and Green Buildings
• Green Space and Smart Growth
• Education and Advocacy

We’ve led by example by transitioning to greener city vehicles, expanding solar opportunities and helping eight downtown buildings reach for LEED certification.

The next phase of Green Works Orlando will expand on our successes by helping families and businesses reduce their power and water consumption, while putting people to work doing those retrofits. We are fostering an economy where business and job opportunities are built around preserving the environment and reducing energy consumption.

“Green” Investment = Smarter Government

The City’s goal is to reach $5 million in annual utility savings by 2015 and become greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 – resulting in annual energy savings of over $13 million.

By end of 2010, the City will save $1.6 million annually for actions that help our environment, including:

	Our LEED certified City buildings generate utility savings of more than $822,000
	LED traffic lights reduce energy costs by $350,000 a year.
	Switching to Bahia grass reduces irrigation and mowing costs by $350,000
	Landscaping and irrigation improvements within the Parks Dept save $150,000

The green roof on top of the new Fire Station #1 eliminated the need for an additional stormwater drain-field, resulting in estimated construction savings of $300,000.

These types of investments allow the City to use money for other critical services that would otherwise go toward paying utility bills.