News Release Header
For Immediate Release:
 November 18, 2011

Media Contact:
Maggie Fernandez
fmaggie@miamidade.gov
 305-375-3008



Miami-Dade Office of Sustainability wins Green Education & Outreach Award at 2011 Sustainable South Florida Awards

Office of Sustainability recognized by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce for the outstanding achievements of its Communitywide Energy-Efficiency Campaign


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- The Miami-Dade County Office of Sustainability (OOS) was announced as the winner of the Green Education and Outreach Award at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's 2011 Sustainable South Florida Awards held on November 17, 2011. The Sustainable South Florida Awards honor South Florida businesses and organizations that are making an impact in the community with the development of sustainable practices, products or services. OOS was selected as the winner by a panel of judges for conducting an outstanding public education campaign or outreach program to encourage green or sustainable environmental practices, which has resulted in a positive change in behavior on the part of citizen in the area.

In 2010, OOS launched a comprehensive communitywide energy education campaign that leverages and expands existing community communication, marketing, and education programs to provide information, educational programming, and incentives for the public, businesses and County employees related to energy efficiency and conservation. In collaboration with community partners and County departments, such as Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, Public Works and Waste Management, and Community Outreach and Information, the campaign engages residents to gain support for, and involvement in, energy and water conservation, recycling, and waste reduction initiatives, and serves as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage.

To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 2,906 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions, which is equivalent to $320,000 a year in energy savings. Elements of the campaign include external programs such as the green.miamidade.gov website, free Home Energy Savings Workshops, $750 Residential Savings Challenge, free Light Bulb & Showerhead Exchanges, Kill-a-Watt EZ Loan Program, Residential Appliance Rebate Program and Business Rebate Program; and internal programs such as the Employee Green Pledge, Power-IT-Down Initiative and g-Net: an employee's resource to everything green.

In 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, which is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and administered through the Department of Energy and OOS. The education and outreach campaign is one of 12 projects that comprise the County's EECBG program, which includes a mix of energy management projects, citizen outreach and education, sub-grants, pilot/demonstration programs, construction projects, and incentive programs. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

Miami-Dade County staff receive the Green Education and Outreach Award at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's 2011 Sustainable South Florida Awards held on November 17, 2011.

Miami-Dade County staff pictured (from left to right):
Donna Fries, Water Use Efficiency Section Manager; Hector Florin, Web Publisher; Karla Echeverria, Graphic Designer; Maribel Balbin, LEED Green Associate, Sustainability Program Manager; Maggie Fernandez, LEED Green Associate, Sustainability Program Manager - Communitywide Energy-Efficiency Campaign; Lisa Klopp, Sustainability Program Assistant; Patricia Gomez, PE, CEM, LEED AP, Sustainability Program Manager; Gayle Love, Senior Division Director, Public Information & Outreach; Jeanmarie Manze Massa, Recycling Manager.

To get more information on our sustainability efforts, please visit http://green.miamidade.gov.
 

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OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY