Education and outreach

Sustainability-related education and outreach to staff occurs through the following channels:

Staff Sustainability Committee and Work Groups

In 2004, the county manager convened a staff committee to identify strategies for making county government operations more sustainable. The sustainability committee includes representatives from nearly all of the county's 40 departments and agencies. Membership is open, and committee members range from entry-level to executive-level staff. In response to growing staff interest and involvement, the committee established five staff work groups in 2007 to expand efforts related to waste reduction, environmentally-preferable purchasing, green building, greenhouse gas inventory development/ progress tracking, and the integration of sustainability principles within the organization. A steering committee consisting of an elected commissioner and several executive staff was also created in 2007 to provide guidance to the growing group. In August 2008, the county hired its first sustainability program director.

Sustainability Intranet

The county uses Microsoft SharePoint to host an internal sustainability website. The site contains information about current county sustainability initiatives, upcoming committee meetings, sustainability-related news stories from local, regional and national sources, and tips for working and living in a more sustainable way. The site also provides for document sharing so that work groups can collaborate on the development of sustainability plans and analyses.

Ozone Reduction Campaign

Johnson County's Ozone Reduction Campaign began in 2004. The campaign takes place annually from June through September, when ozone levels are highest. The county created the program to reduce ground-level ozone – the principal air pollutant of concern in the Kansas City region – and to set an example for other community organizations. Over 50 percent of the emissions that form ground-level ozone come from vehicles, trucks, and lawn care operations.

The campaign was authorized through the County Manager's Office and the Board of County Commissioners. The county's Environmental Department organizes and coordinates the program, which includes employees and departments. The goals of the program are to educate staff about ground-level ozone, promote ozone-reducing policies and procedures within county government operations, and to provide tools and information to encourage and sustain ozone-reducing behaviors. The campaign has focused on improving the operation and maintenance of the county's motor fleet, increasing the use of alternative fuels and vehicles, promoting low-maintenance lawn care, and encouraging responsible environmental habits in employees when at work or at home.

To encourage behavior changes, the campaign included two incentive programs for employees, as well as public recognition for individual and departmental achievements. The campaign also works with surrounding groups and agencies to encourage their support of similar ozone-reducing activities in their organizations.

From 2004 through 2008, the campaign produced the following results:

WHAT YOU CAN DO!