Program Details

Practice Type:	Promising
Program Name:	Low Cost Green Initiatives and Decreased Greenhouse Gases
Organization:	Orange County Health Department
Web site:
Overview:	This practice addresses methods that will assist in bringing health departments in line with low-cost green solutions. The reduction of the use energy; recycling of all paper and plastic products and the use of alternative green products. These practices will serve as a model of mitigation of the effects of climate change. The goal is to become Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified within the health department buildings. This is accomplished in part by decreasing the use of energy in the building areas through programming the air conditioning systems for maximum benefit and minimum energy use; turning off monitors and printers when not in use and putting the computers on standby during the day when not utilized; progragramming the xerox machine for energy saver mode after 10 minutes of non-use; unplugging the coffee machine, television, and microwaves at the end of the day, and by buying green sealed and recycled items. The outcomes of the practice were recognition from the department by the Environmental Protection Agency, i.e. Waste Wise and Energy Star Certifications and the Orange County Environmental Protection Division. The lowered energy use that resulted from our practices decreased the amount of the monthly utility bills. The amount saved by the office was aproximately $6000 per year.
Year Submitted:	2010
Responsiveness and Innovation:	The public health issue addressed is to continue creating a healthier office environment by diminishing the use of pollutants given off by energy consuming products. This process reduces the carbon footprint which decreases the effects of greenhouse gases and the health effects of climate change. The reduction in greenhouse gases also reduces the effects of and causes of asthma and other respiratory diseases.The process used was to examine the utility bills for the department. The decrease in the kilowatts hours can be a determination in the reduction of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and heavy metals emitted into the atmosphere. This reduction is beneficial to those with respiratory problems such as emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other lung/heart diseases..The implementation of green initiatives brings about a positive affect in the overall air quality in our building, thereby, benefiting staff and clientele that enter the office. This practice also increases funds to the office by decreasing the energy bill. As the energy bill decreases the monies saved can be used to put into effect other green initiatives that will further reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gases. Additionally, we are able to model what we are asking others to do. LEED, Energy Star, and Waste Wise were programs whose guidelines we followed when starting the green initiative process. From this course of action we took those pieces that were usable in our office. Recycling paper and plastic products was a beginning but did not fully address the problem of making our office more environmentally friendly. Once the energy bills were looked at it was determined how we could implement and reduce energy consumption with minimal expenditures. This began the process of achieving not only green initiatives but also addressed greenhouse gas effects.The model that was created combines in part the guidelines of all three certification programs. By doing this we have achieved not only energy savings but have addressed the pulmonary/respiratory health benefits to the general public.This process has not been done before in our target area. We are the first Health Department to receive both the Waste Wise and Energy Star Certifications. This tool has not only examined energy in the form of electricty but also water waste (the faucets in the building now have aerators). The department is not only recycling products but using recycled products. In essence, our department is moving forward in becoming the first LEED certified existing government building. The practice that has been put in place with this tool can be replicated by other existing government buildings. The local health department invites the community shareholder to be a part of the committee that is involved in putting together program(s) that will assist the community as a whole to become an environment that is safe and healthly. The community itself is already an intricate part of the local health departments. By involving spokespeople from the community to sit on environmental committees, the local health department and the community learn to work together in a mutually beneficial manner. The energy saving process that is in place will be the primary tool used. This will give to the community the knowledge that is being used by the department, therefore, getting this process integrated into the community.
Agency and Community Roles:	The local health department's role is to put into place initiatives that make the health department buildings environmentally friendly for both staff and clientele. The department's role is also to keep abreast of those environmental processes/programs that reduce our consumption of natural resources. The department should offer Trainings/Workshops that teach other business and agencies on how to use this process. The stakeholders/partners role in this practice is to put together committees that deal with the greenhouse effects. The stakeholders/partners are the county government, citizens and health departments. These groups should all a part of the planning process that achieve and the tools to deliver to local neighborhoods education on developing processes that fit their individual environments.
Costs and Expenditures:	The implementation of these strategies will demonstrate how easily any government agency can model energy efficiency and save money. The process was implemented by first documenting the areas that could be made more energy efficient by conducting an energy audit. The audit information was presented to the management of the Health Department. The start up included introducing a single stream recycling program to the Mercy Drive building, this program progressed to other Orange County Health Department buildings. A funding source is not required as this process is used to decrease cost to the departments. The monies saved are used to put into practice other energy saving practices. For example, the cost of the airators we installed on our sink faucets is easily offset by the cost of the water saved.
Implementation:	The public health issue addressed is to continue creating a healthier office environment by diminishing the use of pollutants given off by energy consuming products. This process reduces the carbon footprint which decreases the effects of greenhouse gases and the health effects of climate change. The reduction in greenhouse gases also reduces the effects of and causes of asthma and other respiratory diseases.The process used was to examine the utility bills for the department. The decrease in the kilowatts hours can be a determination in the reduction of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and heavy metals emitted into the atmosphere. This reduction is beneficial to those with respiratory problems such as emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other lung/heart diseases..The implementation of green initiatives brings about a positive affect in the overall air quality in our building, thereby, benefiting staff and clientele that enter the office. This practice also increases funds to the office by decreasing the energy bill. As the energy bill decreases the monies saved can be used to put into effect other green initiatives that will further reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gases. Additionally, we are able to model what we are asking others to do. LEED, Energy Star, and Waste Wise were programs whose guidelines we followed when starting the green initiative process. From this course of action we took those pieces that were usable in our office. Recycling paper and plastic products was a beginning but did not fully address the problem of making our office more environmentally friendly. Once the energy bills were looked at it was determined how we could implement and reduce energy consumption with minimal expenditures. This began the process of achieving not only green initiatives but also addressed greenhouse gas effects.The model that was created combines in part the guidelines of all three certification programs. By doing this we have achieved not only energy savings but have addressed the pulmonary/respiratory health benefits to the general public.This process has not been done before in our target area. We are the first Health Department to receive both the Waste Wise and Energy Star Certifications. This tool has not only examined energy in the form of electricty but also water waste (the faucets in the building now have aerators). The department is not only recycling products but using recycled products. In essence, our department is moving forward in becoming the first LEED certified existing government building. The practice that has been put in place with this tool can be replicated by other existing government buildings. The local health department invites the community shareholder to be a part of the committee that is involved in putting together program(s) that will assist the community as a whole to become an environment that is safe and healthly. The community itself is already an intricate part of the local health departments. By involving spokespeople from the community to sit on environmental committees, the local health department and the community learn to work together in a mutually beneficial manner. The energy saving process that is in place will be the primary tool used. This will give to the community the knowledge that is being used by the department, therefore, getting this process integrated into the community.
Sustainability:	The Local Health Department Director is intrinsically involved in bringing all of the Orange County building into environmentally healthy status. The Director has approved all of the changes that are in place at this time. A Green Committee has been started and has a representative from different areas of the health department. This committee bring ideas from their assigned areas that will assist the health department in becoming more green. The Green Committee is a part of the Innovation Committee at the Health Department. The information garnered by the Green Committee is put in order of priority of what is considered to be most beneficial and most cost efficient to the department. This list is addressed and acted upon by the Senior Management of the Health Department. This gives all areas of the Health Department a voice.
Lessons Learned:

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