Department of General Services

Section Chief: currently vacant

The Environmental Stewardship Section is responsible for the training and implementation of environmentally sensitive practices which conserve resources or abate and mitigate potential wasteful or environmentally damaging operations. In this capacity, the section initiates contracts for the acquisition of utilities services, makes recommendations on policy for the purchase of sustainable energy for the County, tests and determines alternative sources such as solar power and wind turbine applications for site specific implementation, and oversees the pollution prevention efforts for County facility sites. This section is heavily invested in the coordination of training for the County’s design and construction work for new and existing buildings, the maintenance efforts of operational practices at County Facilities; and with other agencies through active participation in the Interagency Committee on Energy and Utilities Management (ICEUM). Examples of the Environmental Stewardship Section's successes are:

• 37 employees trained on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
• 30% Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Purchases For Sustainable Energy
• An Energy Conservation Contest to increase County employee's awareness of energy consumption and to create behavior chances which have saved the County over half a million dollars annually.
• An aggressive telework test environment for selected employees which has increased productivity and reduced comuting impact.
• Implemented Capital Improvement Program efforts of $2.2 million annually to reduce pollution risks and energy conservation.
• Utilized over $500,000 of Federal Stimulas Funds to reduce annual energy consumption at County Facilities through window replacement, lighting modernizations and more effecient equipment.