Why Johnson County is Committed to Sustainability

Johnson County is committed to maximizing the triple bottom line of economy, environment and social equity in each decision that it makes. This approach recognizes that the actions we take today can have implications for generations to come, and that we must live and work in a way that preserves the ability of our children, grandchildren, and following generations to meet their basic needs.

While our focus is on the future, much of the work that the county is undertaking in the name of sustainability has immediate benefits for current county residents. Sustainability fundamentally is about finding more efficient, less wasteful ways of doing things. As we seek to reduce our carbon footprint by constructing more energy efficient buildings, incorporating more fuel efficient vehicles in our fleet, and reducing the amount of solid waste we generate, we are simultaneously providing higher quality service at lower cost to county residents. This is not pie in the sky. Reducing waste reduces costs, and it's a goal to which we are firmly committed.

The county established its first staff sustainability committee in 2004. Since then, the county has opened its first LEED ® Gold certified building , expanded its fleet of alternative fuel vehicles, begun working toward ambitious waste reduction goals, and engaged all 4000+ county employees in the effort to make county government leaner, cleaner and greener. We've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. This website will be updated frequently to allow you to track our progress and to suggest strategies for making county government operations even more sustainable in the long run.

Johnson County Government is also seeking the help of residents, business owners and community leaders in undertaking a community-wide effort to become more sustainable . There are little actions that each of us can take on a daily basis to use energy more efficiently in our homes and vehicles and to reduce the amount of waste that we generate. The tips [above/below] suggest a number of ways you can get started. Little actions by themselves may seem insignificant, but if all 530,000 Johnson County residents work together, those little actions can make a big difference.

Thank you for joining us on this important journey.

James Joerke

Sustainability Program Director