The County saves more than $3.5 million annually by reducing its energy use and costs
The County saves more than $3.5 million annually by reducing its energy use and costs. From the use of recycled materials in building construction, to solar panels on County facilities, to the installation of LED traffic signals, the County has eliminated 120,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions since 2003.
As an ENERGY STAR partner, the County strives to meet high standards in energy efficiency and regularly tracks those efforts according to benchmarks designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Energy Star certification
In 2014, six Hillsborough County government buildings earned the annual U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious ENERGY STAR certification. County Center, Courthouse Annex, the old Main Courthouse, Extension Service building, Southshore Community Resource Center, and University Community Resource Center all have received the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.
This commitment to sustainability can be seen throughout the County. A few recent examples include:
Plant City Courthouse
- Constructed in 2011
- Recycled building materials, motion sensitive lighting, and water efficient plumbing are among its features
- Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for its environmentally sound construction and operation
County Electric Car Charging Stations
- Seven electric car charging stations installed in 2011 throughout the County with a U.S. Department of Energy grant
- Motorists can utilize a 240-volt or 120-volt plug-in at the stations
- Visit ChargePoint to find County electric car charging stations
The Tampa Bay History Center
- Constructed in 2009
- Recycled bricks used to pave the parking garage entryway, biodegradable flooring and water efficient landscaping are among its features
- Received Silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2012
- Find out more about the Tampa Bay History Center
To learn more about the County's Energy and Sustainability efforts, visit Green Hillsborough.
Resource recovery facility
Most of the County's garbage makes electricity. The cornerstone of the system is the Resource Recovery Facility, which offers a sustainability option to waste disposal through the incineration of all burnable waste that is used to produce electricity. This electricity is sold internally to power Public Utilities facilities and sold externally to electric utility operations.
The County's Resource Recovery Facility burns approximately 562,000 tons of garbage annually, generating 293,970,000 kilowatt-hours of energy - enough to power approximately 26,000 homes.