Goals & Results

GOALS

The Environment Solutions Team's initial goals are to improve quality of air and water and to reduce litter in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

GOAL 1.  Improve air quality

ACTION ITEMS

Individuals:

• Use public transportation, ride-sharing, carpooling, low-emission vehicles.
• Install programmable thermostats, ceiling fans, energy efficient light bulbs and appliances.
• Reset your thermostat - higher in summer, lower in winter.
• Turn off lights, computers and appliances when not in use.
• Plug into light strips to avoid vampire power loss.
• Keep cars in good repair, tires properly inflated, trunk empty.
• Plant native trees around your home.
• Lobby for business and government action.

Government and Businesses:

• Synchronize traffic lights to decrease air pollution from idling vehicles and to reduce gasoline use.
• Develop a system to track number of vehicles on the roads and miles driven every six months; use data to establish long-term and short-term goals for reduction of traffic pollution.
• Review building codes for possible to changes to improve energy efficiency.
• Give preferential parking for carpoolers and low emission vehicles.
• Turn off lights and computers at the end of the day.
• Give employees bus passes/incentives to use public transportation.
• Facilitate ride sharing, telecommuting and flextime.
• Plant native trees in public medians and around office buildings.
• Develop master plan that promotes smart growth.
• Comprehensive public education.
• Weatherization program for low income households.

GOAL 2. Improve water quality

ACTION ITEMS:

Individuals:

• Lobby for business and government action.
• Conserve water - turn off water while brushing teeth.
• Use natural compost instead of chemical fertilizers on lawn and gardens.
• Discontinue use of pesticides; use natural compounds to control pests.

Business and Government:

• Eliminate all discharges to surface waters.
• Develop education program for builders, developers and homeowners to motivate all to use the best methods to decrease runoff.
• Review building codes for possible changes to improve runoff control.
• Increase number of areas for collecting "household hazardous waste".
• More collection areas for household hazardous waste.

GOAL 3. Reduce litter

ACTION ITEMS

Individuals

• Recycle
• Organize a neighborhood clean up day.
• Participate in community park and clean-up days.
• Take hazardous materials to community recycling round up.
• Use reusable shopping bags

Government & Businesses

• Reestablish the "Litter Hotline"

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