Looking for a way to go green and save more money? Check out Orange County's solar incentive program for residential and commercial properties.

Thanks to our Solar Workshop partners! View the presentations given at the workshops and the sponsors who made it all possible.

Watch the Tote It! PSA • (WMV)

Take Your Own Tote (T.Y.O.T) on Earth Day and Every Day!  Find out how you can participate.

With the switch to digital TV there will be a significant increase in the amount of electronics (e-waste) being disposed.  E-waste (which includes TVs, computers, stereos, IPods, and other electronics) shouldn't be placed with your regular trash (External Site).  Instead, look into these community and environmentally conscious alternatives:

• If you buy a new TV, see if the store or manufacturer has an electronics take-back program
• If your equipment is in good working order, find a local charity that is in need of the item.  Apply for the digital TV converter box coupon and donate it along with the TV.  
• Put an ad on Craigslist, Freecycle.org, or have a garage sale
• Check out these external sites:
  • eCycling - EPA
  • MyGreenElectronics.org
  • Earth911.org
  • Digital TV Trainer

The American Public Transportation Association (External Site) offers an on-line Transit Savings Calculator to compare the price of using public transportation with the price of paying at the pump and then parking your car in town.

External Transportation Links

• LYNX - includes schedules, a trip planner, a savings calculator, share-a-ride info, and more!
• Central Florida Commuter Rail
  • Brochure
• Commuter Services
• Drive GREENER
• Florida 511
• Florida Department of Transportation

Visit the beautiful Florida Friendly Landscaping Demonstration Garden (PDF - 190KB) at 201 S Rosalind Avenue (corner of Rosalind Avenue & Jackson Street) in downtown Orlando • Take a look back at the Garden's beginnings (PDF - 132 KB).

For Florida Friendly Landscaping (External Site) information and classes, contact the Orange County Cooperative Extension at 407-254-9200 or visit ocextension.ifas.ufl.edu (External Site) • 6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando

Do your part to protect Florida's fabulous & threatened wildflowers (Word - 52KB).

Free landscape tree giveaways through Orange County's Streetscape Adopt A Tree(External Link)  program.

Saving our water resources is critically important and requires everyone's participation. Discover ways you can conserve water.

External Sites

• Orange County's Water Conservation page
• FDEP
• St. John's River Water Management District • SJRWMD
• Florida Water Star • SJRWMD
• South FL Water Management District • SFWMD
• US EPA WaterSense

Energy Audits are widely available and can be done in person or on-line.

External Sites

• Progress Energy or call 1-888-302-8348
• OUC or call 407-423-9018
• Energy Star: Home Energy Audit or Home Energy Saver
• U.S. Department of Energy: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit
• Energy Audit Affidavit (PDF - 30KB)

Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty invited WESH TV (PDF - 142KB) into his home to help inform homeowners of a free service that can help them save money. "There's my role as mayor to highlight the issue and my role as a citizen to try to do the right thing," he said.

Setting a personal example for others to follow by having an energy check at his home, Mayor Crotty encourages residents to follow his lead.

External Sites

• Energy Star
• FDEP
• US Department of Energy
• Earth911.org

The choices you make every day can save energy and improve the environment. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy Make Every Day Earth Day site for tips to save money and protect the environment. (text only version) (External Sites)

Learn more about what you can do (PDF - 89KB) to make Orange County Green. Here's a few home improvement ideas to get you started:

• Lighting (External Site) is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills. Electric lighting and fixtures, such as ceiling fans, controlled by motion sensors can help to ensure that energy is not wasted in unoccupied spaces.
• Energy efficient windows (External Site) can lower energy consumption and reduce heat transmission.
• Switch to Energy efficient appliance (External Site). Recycle (External Site) or properly dispose of old models.

Conserving energy and decreasing pollution will help slow climate change and protect wildlife habitat worldwide.   

The Dangers of Plastic Bags (PDF - 2.1MB)

Refrigerator and Freezer Habits

• Keep the freezer full (add bottles of water, if necessary)
• Cover wet food and liquids
• Lower the freezer and raise the fridge settings
• Develop quick in and out habits instead of browsing
• Clean the coils
• Replace older freezers and refrigerators with new energy efficient (External Site) models. New refrigerators consume 75% less energy than those produced in the late 1970s.
• Obtain a Free Energy Audit

Polar Bear on Thin Ice photo from Oceana: Protecting the World's Oceans (External Site)