Green Volusia

Being sustainable or being green involves each of us reducing our impact on the environment.

On June 5, 2008, the Green Volusia program was established by the Volusia County Council as a long-term initiative to expand green practices within county government operations and to provide information and education about environmentally responsible practices that benefit the community. 

From the trash we generate, the purchases we make, the energy and water we use, to the driving we do. It all impacts on our environment. 

Green Volusia aims to provide information about environmentally responsible practices that benefit the whole community as well as encouraging stewardship and conservation of our natural resources. By promoting an understanding of the benefits provided by these natural resources, we create more environmentally conscious communities.

Sustainability Action Plan

On February 20, 2014, Volusia County Council adopted the Volusia County Sustainability Action Plan. The Sustainability Action Plan was created through an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block grant. This plan is coordinated through the Green Volusia Program and identifies seven specific sustainability goals described below.

The plan was created using guiding principles that include:

• Our economy, our community, and our environment are interconnected and mutually dependent
• As a county government, we have the opportunity and responsibility to use resource wisely and to encourage others to do the same.

Provide a Healthy Economy:
Create a sustainable business environment, retain viable commercial agriculture operations, and provide a high quality of life through provision of community amenities such as parks, libraries and cultural amenities.

Maintain a Healthy Environment:
Protect, restore and manage natural lands, manage and protect surface water bodies, protect threatened and endangered species, and plan for adaptation to sea level rise.

Promote a Healthy Community:
Encourage local food production, provide for urban open space, improve opportunities for walking and biking, and protect urban tree canopies to provide for the continued health of Volusia County’s residents, businesses and visitors.

Encourage Efficient Transportation and Community Design:
Reduce automobile fuel consumption and emissions, improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, enhance public transit service, support pedestrian and transit-oriented development, and discourage single-occupancy vehicle use.

Conserve Water and Promote Water Efficiency:
Conserve the potable water supply through conservation measures applicable to indoor and outdoor water use in existing buildings and new construction.

Conserve Energy and Promote Renewable Energy:
Encourage energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings, enhance energy performance for new construction, increase use of renewable energy, improve community energy management, provide alternative fuel options, and improve the county’s vehicle fleet.

Reduce Waste and Promote Recycling:
Build on past county successes to identify strategies to increase waste diversion rates and educate residents to become well-informed consumers.