The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission has adopted a resolution regarding Energy Conservation, Sustainability and Green Building.  The resolution follows the Planning Commissions’ initiative to encourage local governments to incorporate water and energy conservation policies in their day to day decisions.  

At the September 10 regular meeting, Planning Commissioners voted to recommend that the four local jurisdictions of Hillsborough County, Plant City, Tampa, and Temple Terrace ask their staffs to bring recommendations that may allow them to become more energy efficient, conserve water, and encourage sustainable development and green building practices.  The recommendations from the resolution will serve to compliment Florida Governor Crists’ targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions be 10 percent by 2012 statewide, as well as targets for reducing energy use.

Planning Commission Chairman Bruce P. Cury said, “I think it’s important that the Planning Commission and its staff be visionary for our community.  Adopting a resolution encouraging energy conservation, sustainability and green building is only a small part of what we as the Commission can do.  We trust local governments continue to move toward a more energy efficient and sustainable future”

Many agencies and organizations throughout the nation and state have developed policies and guidelines to support and broaden sustainable development, green building and energy conservation practices including the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Association of Homebuilders, the U.S. Green Building Council and many others at a national scale. 

Planning Commission Executive Director and American Planning Association National President Robert B. Hunter, FAICP said, “Planning has a vital role to play in sustainability and reducing energy consumption by defining how our communities are designed.  Efficient land use patterns, multimodal transportation, and building guidelines that encourage energy efficiency contribute to lower vehicle miles of travel per capita, lower energy use, and a higher quality of life.” 

The Planning Commission, in an effort to educate local governments and the boarder community on sustainability issues, recognizes the role it can play in encouraging local governments to adopt policies which promote conservation and “Go Green”.