What is Sustainability?

• Sustainability can be defined simply as meeting contemporary needs without compromising the ability of future stakeholders to satisfy their needs.
  
  
• Sustainability attends to three interdependent areas of concern: environment, economy, and society.
  
  
• A sustainable practice works to preserve rather than destroy its ecological base, ensure rather than undermine long-term economic benefits, and advance rather than retard matters of fairness, equity and diversity.

Is Sustainability the Same Thing as "Green"?
Green practices generally address the environment. While sustainability also addresses environmental issues such as conservation and stewardship, it looks at the bigger picture to consider issues of social equity and economic prosperity.

What is the City doing in Terms of Sustainability?

Green Building – The City strives to design and build high performance buildings that protect natural resources and improve the quality of our air and water while costing less to operate. These buildings provide healthy indoor environments to our employees and community and serve as a model for others.

As a Member of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. - The city is certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition as a Green Local Government at the silver level. The City maintains annual FGBC membership

The city is now an EPA Energy Star partner and using their resources to analyze our energy and water consumption to find conservation opportunities. There are many benefits to using energy efficient products, so remember to look for the Energy Star logo when shopping for home goods and appliances!



Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds are available to assist local governments in implementing strategies to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use and emissions in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and one that preserves or creates jobs. The City of Dunedin has submitted the grant application, the projects have been approved, and $149,500 of federal grant money has been authorized. Click here to learn more about the projects that will be funded under the EECBG.

The city has also joined the EPA WasteWise program to demonstrate our commitment to conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. By joining WasteWise, the city has agreed to develop goals in the areas of waste prevention, recycling, and buying or manufacturing recycled content product. By joining, we agree to track our results, and share our accomplishments with the program. To facilitate the implementation of waste reduction programs, WasteWise provides partners with guidance for establishing goals and tips for monitoring progress.

What is the Florida Green Building Coalition's Green Local Government Standard?
The Florida Green Local Government Standard designates Green Cities and Green Counties for outstanding environmental stewardship. The standard focuses on improving environmental performance through mediums such as energy, water, air, land, and waste.
Florida Green Building Coalition...

Has the City of Dunedin Accomplished Any of the Goals Identified in this Program?
Yes! Many of the practices identified throughout the certification process are currently in place in Dunedin.
Learn More...

THE CITY OF DUNEDIN IS RECOGNIZED FOR IT'S COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
Read the article that was recently featured in Quality Cities, a publication of the Florida League of Cities. The magazine serves as a medium for the exchange of ideas on municipal affairs and is distributed to the public officials of Florida. The article tells about Dunedin’s path to a green city and some of the programs that helped the city “go green."
Read more...

Click Here to learn about the environmental effects of buildings and see information about certified green buildings in Dunedin.

Dunedin partners with USF for water management project called SWITCH
Recently, Dunedin was named the first city in North America to become part of a large, international network of 33 partners from 15 countries focused on creating sustainable urban water management practices for cities of the future.
Read the story here.

Click here to see Sustainability Tips...

We have a new Newsletter, Green Speak, click here to download!

Have questions, comments or suggestions?
Call Sustainability Coordinator, Valerie Lane at 727-298-3215 (ext 24) or Email now!