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What is Sustainability?
Sustainability generally refers to providing for our society’s present needs without compromisi
ng the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Although the term is often used to refer to the environment, the County is committed to the three “E’s” of sustainability:
- Economy
- Social Equity
- Environment
Improving and preserving the environment, increasing efficiency, creating jobs and building the new green economy are core values of our sustainability programs. Sacramento County is dedicated to providing leadership and stewardship in promoting sustainability throughout the region.
A Snapshot Of What The County Is Doing To Be More Sustainable...
- Sacramento International Airport’s new Central Terminal B will meet the travel needs of the region’s growing population for decades to come. The terminal and concourse building designs feature intuitive, efficient elements with sustainability as a high priority and a goal to obtain LEED® Silver certification for both structures. For more information, visit www.bigbuild.org.
- Sacramento County completed lighting and air-conditioning/heating upgrades at more than 50 County buildings resulting in annual savings of approximately $430,000 and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.
- Through collaboration with a coalition of regional and state partners, Sacramento County helped establish the award-winning River Friendly Landscaping program to promote sustainable landscaping practices. In 2009, this program was one of only 25 in the nation to receive a grant through EPA’s prestigious Climate Showcase Communities program. For more information, visit www.riverfriendly.org.
- The County’s Department of Waste Management and Recycling owns and operates a Gas-to-Energy Plant at the Kiefer Landfill. The Plant captures methane generated by the landfill and uses it to generate enough electricity to power nearly 9,000 homes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 117,000 cars from the road for one year. For more information, visit http://www.msa2.saccounty.net/wmr/Pages/KieferLandfillGas-to-EnergyPlant.aspx
How Are We Promoting Sustainability?
A climate action plan (CAP) is a comprehensive plan for being more resource efficient, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a changing climate. The CAP will help the County reduce greenhouse emission reductions consistent with state law. In addition, as part of the CAP, the County will review all operations and implement cost-saving measures, begin positioning to successfully compete for grant opportunities, and increase the demand for green collar jobs and expanding the green economy. Learn more about the County’s CAP.
Learn more about the CaliforniaFIRST program.
The Task Force was formed to address growing market and community interest in developing a local green building program that will encourage building and remodeling practices that use energy efficient and environmentally sensitive techniques. The Green Building Task Force (GBTF) was a joint effort by the County and City of Sacramento to facilitate the development of policies, best practices and resources to encourage green building practices in our region. For more information, see the Task Force's final report.
To expand our knowledge, share information with other jurisdictions that are facing the same challenges as Sacramento County and identify cost-effective collaborative opportunities, Sacramento County is active in several organizations. Learn more about the County’s current memberships and affiliations on the Sustainability in County Operations web page.
