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![Sustainability Logo](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2023/09/8266338/4989695/sustainability-logo-cmyk-hrz_crop.png) July 2024
Welcome to the City of Clearwater’s Sustainability and Resiliency Newsletter!
This quarterly newsletter aims to serve as a communication tool for progress made on Greenprint 2.0, the city’s Sustainability Action Plan as well as sustainability-related events, programs, volunteer opportunities and tips.
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![What We've Done](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/01/8768076/5178254/lt-blue-section-dividers-for-sustn-nl2_crop.jpg) 2024 Pinellas Solar Co-op
Today, July 1, is the last day to sign up for the 2024 Pinellas Solar Co-op, organized by Solar United Neighbors.
By joining more than 100 county applicants, you will learn how solar works and what it takes to go solar. Co-op members are also able to purchase solar panels for their homes at a group rate, while helping to save on their electricity expenses.
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Earth Day at Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Clearwater celebrated Earth Day at Moccasin Lake Nature Park April 27, with the city’s first Earth Month Proclamation made by Mayor Bruce Rector.
Special thanks to the mayor, Nature Park Coordinator Lloyd Simmons, Parks and Recreation staff, and the city's many volunteers who made this event possible.
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![Earth Day Proclamation](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/06/9713883/5532731/earth-day_crop.jpg) |
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Library Sustainability Science Fair
The city hosted the Minnesota Sea Grant’s Watershed Game at the Clearwater Public Library System’s Sustainability Science Fair on April 27.
Two families participated and learned how a variety of land uses impact water and natural resources. They increased their knowledge of best management practices and learned how their choices can prevent adverse impacts.
Thank you to the library for planning many earth month events this year.
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Sustainable Event Kits
Clearwater promotes planning environmentally friendly events through its Sustainable and Ocean-Friendly Events campaign, which encourages skipping single-use plastics.
The city holds numerous internal gatherings that serve food and drinks, which up until now had been single-use items, such as plastic utensils, cups, paper plates, and napkins. This spring, the city launched sustainable event kits to provide a more eco-conscious option to checkout for events.
So far, the kits have already been used at four different events, saving 534 disposable napkins, paper plates and plastic cups and 1,450 pieces of plastic cutlery.
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Citation Award of Excellence in Sustainability
Clearwater Fire Station 46
Clearwater has been honored with the prestigious Citation Award of Excellence in Sustainability, by the American Institute of Architects' Florida section in the 2024 Design Awards for Fire Station 46.
This accolade recognizes our commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious design. Key sustainability features of Fire Station 46 include: light-colored materials on the roof and walls (reflecting solar and infrared radiation), locally resourced building materials, low energy plumbing and mechanical systems, turtle-friendly lighting, stormwater management, a rain garden (pictured), native landscaping, Florida-friendly landscaping certification, thermodynamic and UV improvements, and bird-safe glass.
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![What Lies Ahead](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/01/8768080/5178255/lt-blue-section-dividers-for-sustn-nl_crop.jpg) Municipal Solar Projects
Clearwater is expanding its renewable energy production by installing new solar panels at various city facilities.
On June 6, the Clearwater City Council approved the installation of rooftop solar panels at the General Services Complex and Morningside Recreation Center (pictured), for a total of more than 400 kilowatts. Stay tuned for more details.
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![Solar projects land plot.](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/06/9713931/5546188/solar-projects_crop.jpg) |
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Big Cleanup Clearwater
![Big Cleanup Clearwater logo graphic.](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/06/9716899/big-cleanup-clw-original_original.png) Mark your calendars for the 2024 Big Cleanup Clearwater, which will be Nov. 8-16, 2024. Site registrations will open in early fall.
Don’t forget, the city and Keep Pinellas Beautiful host monthly cleanups at Clearwater Beach on the second Friday of each month. (The July cleanup will be July 5.)
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![A Sustainability Tip](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/01/8768082/5178256/lt-blue-section-dividers-for-sustn-nl3_crop.jpg) Apply for Clean Energy Tax Credits
Are you looking to install solar panels or a new central air conditioner in your home? The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is a groundbreaking piece of legislation for which you may qualify for clean-energy tax credits.
Residential clean-energy credits, which have an annual tax credit limit of $2,000, include the addition of solar and small wind installations, as well as solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells and battery storage.
Energy-efficient home improvement credits include the installation of biomass stoves, heat pumps, insulation, central air conditioners and more. With these credits, you can potentially receive credit for 30 percent of what you spent on such projects, for a maximum of $1,200.
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![Energy Program Quarterly Update](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/01/8768084/5178257/dk-blue-section-dividers-for-sustn-nl5_crop.jpg) ![Cumulative energy use savings.](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/06/9716898/5546189/energy-saving-update-original_crop.jpg) Clearwater is working to reduce energy use in city buildings through an energy-savings program, which has been in place for two years now.
- This second year saw an 11 percent reduction in electricity use, 2 percent more than the previous year.
- Additionally, the city has now seen a 25 percent reduction in natural gas use and a 5 percent reduction in water and irrigation use.
- The first two years of the energy-savings program yielded a 12.6 percent usage savings overall, and a total cost avoidance of $1,678,823.
Conserving energy also means benefits to the environment.
- The energy saved in the first two years is equivalent to 3,150 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
- This is environmentally equal to 51,589 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
- This is also equivalent to saving emissions from 8 million miles driven by an average vehicle.
Given these significant savings (not only in cost but in resources and environmental benefits), the city plans to continue conducting regular energy assessments. We are also looking to identify additional opportunities for savings.
*These figures are in comparison to the baseline year, which is March 2019 to February 2020. Water and irrigation conservation measures were added to the program in December 2022.
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Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
By reducing our plastic use, we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Let's continue to keep Clearwater bright and beautiful by reducing single-use plastic use.
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CONTACT THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM
If you have questions about the city's sustainability or resiliency programs, email our sustainability team: Sustainability Manager Cassie Cordova (right) or Sustainability Specialist Melody Yin (left).
Also shown is Volunteer Specialist Kelsy Johnson, center.
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![Sustainability Specialist Melody (left) Sustainability Manager Cassie Cordova (right) [Also pictured, Volunteer Specialist Kelsy Johson (center)]](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/FLCLRWATER/2024/06/9714193/5532876/sustainability-team_crop.jpg) |
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