Sustainability

The History of Earth Day

Did you know that the first Earth Day celebration took place on April 22, 1970? Spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and activist...

Orange County Certified as “LEED Gold Community”

Orange County has become the first county in east Central Florida to earn the internationally-accredited Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Cities...

Backyard Chicken Keeping Permits: What Orange County Residents Need to Know

On August 10, 2021 the Board of County Commissioners passed a Residential Backyard Chicken Keeping Ordinance to make a permit available to residents who...

Orange County’s Pollution Prevention Champion Spotlight: Avalon Eatery

UPDATE: This restaurant is no longer in business as of January 2022. It takes a great deal of careful thought and creative planning to...

Earth Day 2021: Orange County Government’s Sustainable Operations and Resilience Action Plan

Earth Day 2021 marks an exciting new direction for Orange County Government. The County’s Sustainable Operations and Resilience Action Plan outlines 17 goals for...

A Sustainable Idea that Truly Holds Water: Orange County Public Works’ Successful Stormwater Harvesting Project

When Orange County was asked to take part in a stormwater harvesting demonstration project, it readily agreed.  Stormwater harvesting involves collecting, storing and treating...

DIY: Make Your Own Facemask Out of Household Items

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become more readily available thanks to the efforts of manufacturers and private citizens who have stepped up to meet...

Orange County’s Pollution Prevention Champion Spotlight: Hilton Orlando

Orange County Environmental Protection Division is pleased to recognize a local Pollution Prevention (P2) champion. Hilton Orlando, in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, is...

Autonomous Shuttles on the Road in Orange County

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, the region’s first autonomous shuttles were on the road in Lake Nona. Orlando’s fastest-growing community has two fully electric,...