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Dunedin Going Green

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST NEWS

Valerie Lane will aid Dunedin's drive to win Green City status.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: September 8, 2007

DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - Dunedin officials hope this city will soon be known as one of the few in Florida certified as a Green City.

To that end, the city recently hired Valerie Lane away from Pinellas County, where she served in the Solid Waste Department's educational outreach unit. She will now hold the title of sustainability coordinator for the city.

Few cities in the state dedicate a person to overseeing a city's environmental stewardship, Lane said.

As it works toward satisfying the Green Local Government Standards of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Dunedin will help define how local governments champion preservation of natural resources and operate with a social conscience while remaining economically viable, Lane said.

A Dunedin resident, Lane graduated from Dunedin High School in 2001. She received a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of South Florida in 2005.

Lane said she loves all that her hometown offers. So, she is happy to get the chance to help keep it green and preserve it for future generations, Lane said.

St. Petersburg is the only Green City in Pinellas. Pinellas County has received the Green County designation.

Cities should set an example for businesses and residents to follow in order to preserve the natural environment, Lane said.

Her job is to make sure the city makes a conscious and effective effort to preserve natural resources and the environment.

For example, energy-saving measures will be adopted for every city building. Municipal department personnel will be encouraged to recycle to reduce the waste stream.

Through educational campaigns, residents will learn about cost savings that can be gained through energy audits, water conservation and recycling, Lane said.

Businesses are now able to join the recycling effort, she said.

Dunedin took a giant stride toward earning Green City status by following the Leadership in Energy and Design Green Building Rating System in designing the recently completed Dunedin Community Center, according to Lane.

The LEED system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Florida Green Local Government Standard was created by the Florida Solar Energy Center, working under a contract from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Florida Energy Office.

Sustainable building works to preserve rather than destroy the ecology so future generations can enjoy it, too, Lane said.

Another part of her job, she said, is to promote recycling among residents to reduce the waste stream.

Lane plans an intensive educational campaign to champion recycling at schools and before local groups.

She is willing to talk to local groups and civic associations on how everyone can benefit from thinking green and being environmentally conscious.

Lane can be reached at the Dunedin Solid Waste Division, 727-298-3215, ext. 24.

She can also be reached via the city's Web site, www.dunedingov.com, by clicking on the "Solid Waste" tab.

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