Going Green!
The City of South Miami's Go Green Initiative promotes and encourages environmental responsibility in our community.
Green Corridor and the PACE Program
The City has launched a monumental green initiative that has taken not only local cities by storm, but the State, too. The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, enables property owners to borrow money to buy solar panels, wind generators, insulation or shutters for their homes. The Green Corridor consists of the following municipalities: South Miami, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, and Cutler Bay.
The City of South Miami was recently successful in its efforts to gain legislative authority to create a district to provide a Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology (FIRST).
Essentially, the bill would allow citizens in certain areas to voluntarily opt-in to a program in which the district loans the money to pay the initial cost associated with the installation of an alternative energy-producing device, and then subsequently the property owner would repay the cost over time.
Bonds are issued by the special district and backed by property tax liens on the residences of owners who are awarded Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans from the bond pool. The property owner repays the loan over a 10, 15 or 20-year period through an increase on their annual property taxes approximately equal to one-twentieth of the loan plus interest. For many homeowners, the annual energy cost savings they will realize from the retrofitting will exceed the cost of the annual repayment costs.
The City believes that a public purpose will be served by a special assessment program that provides a local governing entity or entities the authority to finance the installation of renewable energy sources that are permanently fixed to real property.
For additional information please visit the Ygrene Works website by clicking the logo below:
We are laying the groundwork for our children and future residents to continue enjoying our City and parks, clean air and water, and all the other wonderful amenities South Miami's environment has to offer.
The City of South Miami has pulled together a number of resources to help residents and businesses learn about "going green."
- National Geographic Green Guide
- Environmental Defense
- Conservation International
- World Wildlife Fund
- Summer "Green" Reading
- Discovery Channel's "Planet Green"
- Audubon of Florida
- Miami-Dade County Green
- Going Green at School Guide
- Going Green on Campus
Pollution & Recycling
- 10 Everyday Pollution Solutions Environmental Working Group
- Recycling
- Carbon Offsets
- Teaching Your Kids About the "Three Rs"
Global Climate Changes
- Global Warming Myths and Facts
- Personal Emissions Calculator
- National Resource Defense Council Global Warming Basics
- Energy and Global Climate Change
- EPA Climate Change Resources
- Climate Change's Effect on World Wildlife
- Footprint Network - Calculate your Personal Footprint
Food and Household
- Buy Locally Grown Produce - Local Harvest
- 10 Tips for Going Green
- Why should your food be "Green?"
- Natural Household Cleaners
- Green Grocery Shopping on a Budget
- "Green" Makeup - Natural Beauty
- Ways to Green Your Kids Lunch boxes
- Automobile Fuel Efficiency
- The Importance of Utilizing Public Transportation
- Information on "Green" Transportation
- FPL Energy and the Environment
- 10 Tips to Save Energy
- Get Energy Active
- South Florida Commuter Services
- Earth Aid - Reduce your Home Energy Usage
- Advisory Determination - Accessory Photovoltaic Systems
- Energy Star Qualified Products buy products that make a difference
- Energy Star Home Improvement
- LEED
- FGBC
- Air Quality Index
- Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Annual Water Quality Report
Green Business Certification Program
Community Wide Energy Efficiency Challenge
GIS Data, Air Quality Index, Results of Water Quality Testing
- https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/air-quality.asp
- https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/water/water-quality-reports.page
- https://gisweb.miamidade.gov/emaps/
Chemical Reuse Distribution Centers
Educational Materials for Businesses
- https://www.fpl.com/energy-my-way/solar/solartogether-res.html
- http://www.miamidade.gov/green/library/water-conservation-guidelines.pdf
- http://www.miamidade.gov/green/library/recycle-waste-guidelines.pdf
- http://www.miamidade.gov/green/library/toxic-guidelines.pdf
If you are interested in becoming more energy independent, are interested in providing solar energy for your home and would like to be considered for possible inclusion in this progressive funding mechanism, we would like to hear from you.