Resources and Programs

2. Agenda • Introduction - Green Communities • Resources and Programs • Future Sustainability Directions in Florida

3. How can we make Florida sustainable in one generation?

5. Green Communities: Decision Makers

9. Where to Go from Here? • Homeowners • Developers • Policy/Planners

10. Strategy: Create Model Green Communities

11. Florida 2060 Florida Today Source: 100 Friends of Florida and UF GeoPlan Center

12. Site design Construction Post-Construction Green Development

13. Green Developments: Goals 1. To conserve natural resources on site 2. To minimize impact on surrounding areas

14. Resources and Programs • Subdivision Environmental Education Program • Living Green TV Series • Living Green Web site • Continuing Education Course - Conserving Biodiversity in Urban & Rural Environments • Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC) • Sustainable Development Policies – Edis documents • Conservation Subdivision Series – Edis documents • Evaluating Green Communities – Edis document • Carbon Sequestration and Greenspace – Edis document • Retrofitting Yards and Neighborhoods Course

15. Install neighborhood educational programs • Town of Harmony: dynamic educational signs installed along sidewalks • Package includes Web site and brochure (see http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/gc/

16. Potential Problems • Drawing down water table • Spread of invasive plants and animals • Improper management of LID features • ATVs and foot traffic into conserved areas • Nutrient runoff from lawns an impervious surfaces • Underground seepage from septic tanks • Improper management of stormwater systems • Improper fertilizer and pesticide use • Impacts of pets • Feeding wildlife and other human/wildlife conflicts • Conflicts with nearby agriculture and forestry operations

17. Most residents are not green 1) Homeowners score low in terms of environmental attitudes, knowledge, or behaviors 2) Homeowners do not have appropriate information to manage homes, yards, and neighborhoods 3) Sale office information not adequate; homeowners forget the information 4) Homeowners desire local environmental information

18. Longitudinal Study • Harmony vs. Conventional (Results) • Sufficient information to apply practices • Improved environmental attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors Source: Harmony, FL

19. Living Green TV • Dvds available • Landscaping for Wildlife • Invasive Exotics • Conservation Easements • Renewable Energy • Energy Conservation • Sustainable Fishing • Living with Sea Turtles • Living Green Moments • Living Green Web site • www.livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu

20. www.livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu

21. Conserving Biodiversity in Urban and Rural Environments • Continuing Education • Course • Targets planners, developers, and other built environment professionals

22. Course Offerings May 11, 2010 |  St. Augustine, FL St. Johns County Extension Hurricane House, 3111 Agricultural Center Dr. May 18, 2010 | Largo, FL Pinellas County Extension (Gardenia Room), 12520 Ulmerton Road May 25, 2010 | Orlando, FL Orange County Extension, 6021 S. Conway Rd. • BOLA 0008628   4 CEUs • AR 9877984        4 CEUs • FBPE exp4028   4 PDHs • 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Registration Fee: $145

23. Wildlife Agriculture Engineering Building & Construction Landscape Architecture Policy & Law Environmental Horticulture Energy Program for Resource Efficient Communities PREC

24. Program for Resource Efficient Communities Mission - To promote the adoption of best design and operation practices in new residential community development that measurably reduce energy and water consumption and environmental degradation.

25. Program for Resource Efficient Communities • Over 25 different courses • Preserving wildlife habitat • Energy-efficient housing • Trees Alive • Consultations • Developers • Municipalities

26. Sustainable Policies • “Sticks” • Alternative zoning ordinances (overlays) • Clustering requirements • Urban service boundaries

27. Policy • “Carrots” • Transfer of development rights (TDRs) • Sending to receiving areas • Conservation Easements • Other Incentives (tax breaks, fast tracking)

28. Steps to successful incentive-based policies (research): Policy • Develop incentives with stakeholder input • Good marketing and education campaign • Built government capacity (make the policy mandatory for county developments) • EDIS documents available

29. Site design Construction Post-Construction Policy POLICY

30. Conservation Subdivision EDIS Series: • Design • Construction • Post-construction

31. Evaluating Green Communities EDIS Document: • Top eleven questions to ask • Targets homebuyers

32. Carbon Sequestration and Greenspace EDIS Document: • CO2 sequestration • More turf – less CO2 sequestered

33. Retrofitting Neighborhoods Continuing Education Course: • Targets homeowners • Under development

34. Future Directions

35. Tactic 1: Create polices that encourage property owners to adopt LID practices • Germany: they give stormwater tax breaks for homeowners that adopt LID enhancements (Individual Parcel Assessments)

36. Tactic 2: Reduce Carbon Footprint • HB 697 • Can benefit wildlife (open space)

37. Tactic 3: Create and promote model yards • Concentrate efforts on motivated homeowners to adopt new designs and management practices • Include rewards for such sustainable yards (biodiversity!) • Homeowners talking with homeowners!

38. Summary Create New Green Communities • Retrofit Current Urban Communities

39. Wildlife Extension www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Mark Hostetler – hostetm@ufl.edu