Sustainability

Tompkins County is going green, and you can too! Be part of our sustainable future. Text GREEN to (888) 716-2456 to learn more about Tompkins County Sustainability. You will receive one text per month with sustainability focused content about Tompkins County going green.

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Read on to learn about what your county is doing to be more sustainable and go green!

What does sustainability and “going green” mean in Tompkins County?
Sustainability means equitably meeting the needs of all community members now and in the future. This includes ensuring that everyone has a wide range of choices that allow them to share in economic prosperity, live in a healthy environment, and participate in community life. It requires preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems and conserving resources to ensure their ability to sustain future generations. It further entails advancing economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and social equity simultaneously by making sure a decision to advance one of these does not come at the expense of another.

Going green in Tompkins County means achieving net-zero emissions for its facilities and fleet as soon as possible while remaining financially solvent. The County is doing this by electrifying its facilities and fleet. By converting our facilities and fleet electricity, we are reducing our reliance on fossil fuels because Tompkins County sources it’s electricity from renewable sources. To learn more, visit our Planning for County Operations page. Tompkins County is working beyond its operations by providing support to the broader community through a number of initiatives. Check out the interactive image below to learn more.

Do you want to get involved?
The Town of Ithaca has created a great website identifying ways community members can get involved and make changes in your home to reach net-zero and go green.

The Department of Planning and Sustainability also encourages you to explore other areas of our work on the Tompkins County website.