• Turn out the lights when not in use in non-public areas.
• Turn off computers, printers, scanners and other electronic equipment when not in use.
  • Office equipment can represent up to 16 percent of office energy use.
• Ensure ENERGY STAR power management settings are active on your computer to enable “sleep” mode during idle periods.
• Fix energy and water problems immediately in your home and business. An overactive air conditioning unit, buzzing lights, leaking toilet can all waste energy, water and money.
• EPA has announced a new online tool, EnergyStar @ Work, that provides tips and information on how to save energy and protect the environment in the workplace.
  • Check out the EnergyStar at work interactive Web site for great ideas in your office.

Here's how the community is helping

• Community Housing Rehabilitation: OCHD has changed its rehabilitation standards to eliminate the use of incandescent lightbulbs and only use Energy Star fluorescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes.
  • OCHD requires the use of Energy Star appliances, install ceiling fans and increased the required SEER ratings on heat pumps to 13 to promote energy efficiency.
• Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World Campaign: An outreach program that asks individuals and employees to replace one incandescent bulb with an Energy Star compact fluorescent bulb.
  • Over two years, the county has distributed 2,700 CFLs and received commitments from nearly 50 percent of county employees to do the same.
  • The Sarasota County employee commitment represented the most of any participating community in the nation.
• FPL Solar Photovoltaic Installation: Rothenbach Park is the host site for FPL’s Sunshine Energy Program, with 250 kw of photovoltaic panels installed to feed the electric grid.
  • This is the largest solar installation in Florida with the potential for future expansion.

Here's what Sarasota County is doing

• Athletic Field Lighting Energy Conservation Program: Beginning in 1997, Parks and Recreation implemented automated athletic field lighting to achieve both energy conservation and elimination of excess photopollution.
  • Since July of 2002, 15 fields have implemented the program and have reduced consumption by 25 percent.
  • All new facilities are being constructed with the technology and existing facilities are being retrofitted each year.
• Energy Management Plan: Provides program goals and objectives, establishes an Energy Management Team, defines energy conservation and efficiency measures, and establishes energy policies for county facilities.
• Energy Star: Became a partner in 2004 after receiving the Energy Star label for the Judicial Building, which was in the top 20 percent of energy efficient buildings in the U.S. Plan to benchmark additional buildings in the future.
• Facility Energy Conservation: The county’s Energy Officer promotes energy efficiency in use and operation of county facilities through building automation control systems for AC and lights, efficient lighting and use of solar technologies.
  • In 2008, Sarasota County took the Energy Star Challenge, committing to reduce county building energy use by 10 percent.
  • Water conservation measures are also implemented including reuse water, low-flow water fixtures, waterless urinals, water-saving toilets, micro-irrigation, cisterns, auto flush toilets, sensors on water faucets and environmental landscape management.
  • In 2007, contracted with FPL for $1.1 million in energy conservation measures.
• Landfill Gas: Contract negotiations are being finalized to construct and install a 2-3 Megawatt Landfill Gas-to-Energy project at the closed Bee Ridge landfill.
  • The county will receive a royalty for the sale of electricity, and a royalty on any energy credits.
  • The county is preparing a Request for Proposals to develop a Landfill Gas-to-Energy project at the Central County Solid Waste Disposal Complex (CCSWDC).
  • The county will be eligible for Renewal Energy Credits and possibly carbon credits upon development of the Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project at the CCSWDC.
• Traffic Signal Efficiency: Traffic signals around the county have been replaced with high efficiency LED bulbs which saved over 65 percent in electricity costs and reduced maintenance requirements significantly due to longer bulb life.