Counties go online to tout green economy

Local governments are going green in a big way and sharing information about their green initiatives online. From California to Texas to Florida, county government officials have created special websites to promote and expand green economies, according to the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Sacramento County, Calif., recently launched its website, Green Sacramento County, which “highlights sustainable projects and smart environmental practices” in the county, according to NACo. The site includes a Green SacCounty Map, which shows locations for green businesses, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified buildings and a variety of green transportation options. For example, users can choose a series of bicycle trails as well as light rail routes and charging stations for electric cars.

Users also can register for email alerts about new green energy projects in the county. “We want to stress programs that combine saving money and an environmental benefit,” Dave Defanti, the county’s Climate Action Plan project manager, told NACo.

In Bexar County, Texas, a sustainability website encourages users to learn about green environment features of the county courthouse. A “Performance Validation” option allows users to compare the energy efficiency for different buildings in the county on different days.

The Miami-Dade (Fla.) Green website touts the county’s GreenPrint plan, “the framework for the county to inspire, inform and enable our communities to improve their quality of life and increase economic prosperity through environmental responsibility.” The county’s effort includes a “Get Your Green On” campaign for high school students. Participants post YouTube videos about their personal messages for sustainable living, with the winning commercial slated to air in movie theaters nationally.

Other counties featuring green energy websites, according to NACo, include Sonoma County and Napa County, Calif.; Snohomish County, Wash.; and Wake County, N.C. To learn more about the websites and counties’ sustainability efforts, go to NACo’s website.