The Office of Sustainability is here to stay.
The County’s newest office, which began as a pilot in July 2014, officially became a permanent fixture July 1. Director Jim Eggemeyer, the acting director since the office’s creation, was named permanently to the post in May and the office as a whole is settling into a new location on the County Center campus.
The County Manager’s Office launched the Office of Sustainability to focus on renewable energy, resource conservation, alternative transportation and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The Board of Supervisors’ commitment to the new office reflects its focus on both the greening of County operations and the sustainability of the community, said Deputy County Manager Peggy Jensen.
“Our projects range from countywide planning for sea level rise and promoting residential energy conservation to staffing the bike and pedestrian committee and redesigning the county employee commute alternative program. Our job is to plan for a sustainable future by making the green choice the easy choice for county residents and employees alike,” Jensen said.
Eggemeyer has said his plan for the office includes communicating, collaborating and coordinating with other departments – key components particularly as the Office itself draws programs and personnel from other existing County functions like Public Works.
The Office’s current efforts include homeowner workshops about energy efficiency rebates, Community Choice Energy which allows governments to pool community energy demands for purchasing power, commuting options and water conservation.
Learn more by visiting www.green.smcgov.org