Responsible Local Stewardship
Issues
As more of the world modernizes, resource consumption is increasing at dramatic and potentially unsustainable rates. This poses a threat to the well-being of future generations. Scarcity of water resources due to drought, threats to water quality, increased wildfire risks, deforestation, increasing energy prices, and climate change are some of the issues that government at all levels needs to address. The primary purpose of government is to protect the health and safety of the people, both of which are threatened by unsustainable resource use.
Goal
- Our communities should develop and implement practices that demonstrate the economic and social benefits of responsible local stewardship.
Actions
- Identify wasteful energy practices and apply for grants to help the county government improve its energy efficiency and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
- Conduct energy audits for government buildings, community halls, senior centers, and other public buildings to identify strategies for saving energy and utility costs. Explore replacing aging county vehicles with electric vehicles or hybrids.
- Encourage new public buildings such as the new jail to incorporate energy-saving strategies such as passive solar design, solar hot water, solar photovoltaics and energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling.
- Promote sustainable building practices such as those established by the U.S. Green Building Council.
- Promote transit, walkable and cyclable communities and workforce housing close to jobs and schools to reduce vehicle trips and promote healthy exercise for children and adults.
- Promote local job creation and telework to reduce vehicle trips.
- Support local agriculture to provide jobs and food for local residents.
- Promote and adopt water conservation and efficiency measures, especially for large-scale developments.
- Discourage subdivision development in high fire-risk areas that do not have adequate water supply, firefighting resources and safe evacuation routes.
- Support forest thinning and removal of brush and flammable vegetation around homes and communities.