Broward County has a new energy challenge and we’re encouraging residents to “change the world” and “drive smarter.” It’s all part of the 2009 Annual National Association of Counties (NACo) annual Green County Competitions. The Change the World campaign is an energy efficiency campaign in which counties collect pledges from county employees and residents to not only change a light in their home to an energy efficient one, but to also take other actions to save energy. Energy-saving actions could include power managing computers, choosing ENERGY STAR® appliances, and properly programming home thermostats.

The Drive $marter Challenge is a fuel-efficiency campaign by The Wal-Mart Foundation, NACo and more than a dozen other diverse public and private-sector partners to help consumers lower their gasoline costs by using less. The campaign offers effective money- and gas-saving tips in English and Spanish and extensive additional resources - all aimed at keeping more money in drivers' pockets and reducing the number of costly trips to the pump.

Broward County has accepted both of NACo's challenges. Winners of Change the World competition will receive a $5,000 grant, courtesy of Wal-Mart. The winners from this year's Drive $marter Challenge will receive a $3,500 grant from AutoZone. Of course we all win any time when we take steps to protect the environment. Visit www.broward.org/gogreen to submit your pledge. Pledge collections for both competitions will be taken July 1 through November 30, 2009.

The public hearings for the 2010 Broward County budget take place this month. The first public hearing is set for September 10th and the second is scheduled on September 24th at the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 422, in Fort Lauderdale. Both begin at 5:01 p.m. and it’s your chance to voice your opinion on the services that are most important to you. The public budget hearings are also broadcast “live” on your local cable channel and webcast by going to www.broward.org/video. For more detailed information on the proposed 2010 budget please visit my webpage at www.broward.org/sue and click on the 2010 Budget icon.

The Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur occur this month. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur is the solemn Day of Atonement. To all who celebrate these High Holy Days, I wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please call my office at (954) 357-7006 or send me an e-mail at sgunzburger@broward.org.