Commissioners Nan H. Rich and Beam Furr hosted the 2020 Broward Leaders Resilience Roundtable virtually with more than 100 participants. Presentations included updates on County-wide resilience advancements, municipal and tribal initiatives, and a preview of Business Case for Resilience in Southeast Florida, a landmark study confirming a positive return on both public and private resilience investments.  

In November 2019, Parks and Recreation hosted a Sustainable Living in South Florida workshop at the Home Design and Remodeling Show providing practical environmental seminars including an environmental education workshop for elementary students called “Kids' Creative Critter Corner."

Broward County Commissioners approved the 2019 Southeast Florida Regional Sea Level Rise Projection Update as the basis for County-wide coordination of sea-level rise adaptation planning, extending the 50-year planning horizon to 2070, and adoption of a County-wide resilience standard for seawall top elevations to help protect against high tide flooding under conditions of 2 feet sea level rise. The County also initiated procurement for a County-wide resilience plan which is expected to provide a community-wide foundation for coordinated infrastructure investment and resilient redevelopment strategies for decades to come.

Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division managed a contract with the Urban Land Institute for research and development of the Business Case for Resilience in Southeast Florida study, jointly funded by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and business leadership and a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The report analyzed the costs and benefits of both community-wide resilient infrastructure investments (generally public-sector) and building-level investments (generally private-sector) and revealed a benefit-cost ratio of 2:1 for community-wide improvements, and 4:1 for building-level adaptation with investments serving to preserve and generate jobs, economic activity, and real estate value. Recommendations focus on raising climate risk awareness, public-private coordination to bolster occupational training, engagement with small businesses, and support for key economic clusters. 

Property Assessed Clean Energy

Since its inception in June 2016, more than $346 million in hurricane protection, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects have been financed through the Broward Property Assessed Clean Energy program. More than 15,000 projects have been completed, saving enough energy to power the equivalent of 4,040 homes a year. Nearly 9 megawatts of solar energy systems have been installed, further offsetting electricity costs for residents. As a result of the program and other Broward solar initiatives, the County has the most individual solar installations in the state.   

The County continues to make great strides towards leading a clean energy future with more than six megawatts in solar energy project commitments across 15 sites, including three sites either under construction or already completed in FY20. Projects include nine rooftop installations and six solar parking canopies:

• Solar parking canopy at Broward's Central Regional Park in Lauderhill
• Rooftop installation at the Broward Transit facility in Pompano Beach
• Parks and Recreation, through a partnership with Florida Power & Light, installed a solar shade above Destination Fitness at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park
• C.B. Smith Park and Tradewinds Park & Stables installed solar trees for charging phones and laptops  
• Separate parking canopy installation at Broward Government Center West in Plantation

The County has achieved nearly 1 MW of installed capacity thus far.

As of April 2020, Broward County is formally receiving 84.72 MW solar offset for County energy consumption as a partner in FPL's Solar Together Program, 64% of the County's total approved participation at 132 MW. These projects provide a strong demonstration of the County's commitment to lead in the energy transformation needed locally, nationally and globally to stabilize our warming planet.

Carbon Footprint

In the effort to meet targets established in the Under2 Coalition's Zero Emissions Vehicle Challenge by 2030, Fleet Services prioritized electric vehicles for new single passenger vehicle purchases including seven Nissan Leafs, seven Chevy Bolts and three Tesla electric vehicles, while also installing seven Level-2 fleet electric vehicle chargers at various County parking facilities. An additional 11 electric vehicles (EVs) will be added to the County's fleet. Aviation received six of the electric cars, replacing aging vehicles and reducing maintenance costs and downtime. The electric vehicles take advantage of the latest battery technology and have a high-efficiency powertrain to yield more than 150 miles of range for the Nissan Leafs and more than 200 miles of range for the Chevrolet Bolts.

Water Conservation

The County continues to assume a lead role in the advancement of the C-51 Reservoir as a regional alternative water supply project that will help protect existing wellfields from saltwater intrusion while expanding and diversifying local water sources and supplies. Collaboration with municipal partners helped achieve commitments for 20 million gallons per day in reservoir capacity, enabling advancement of this project. This project represents the first multi-jurisdictional public-private alternative water supply project in the region and a major advancement in helping to ensure sustainable and resilient water supplies for the community. 
 
Aviation's Westside Retention Pond project promotes future development by improving stormwater storage and pretreatment on the airport's west side. While preserving the largest specimen live oak on airport property, this project prevents future flooding in the area due to the increased water storage and percolation to the groundwater table. The Greenbelt Park, a signature airport landmark, is currently irrigated using potable water. The retention pond, a natural and sustainable resource, is replacing the use of 15.2 million gallons of potable water every year.

In 2020, Broward County achieved water savings through the delivery of the County's diverse Water Matters Programs, reducing average per capita consumption to 120 gallons per person per day, a reduction of more than 40 gallons per day, per person since 2000, a sustained 25% reduction over 20 years.

Broward Water Partnership delivered 1,456 rebates to replace inefficient, older model toilets with water-conserving EPA WaterSense units, and distributed 1,200 water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators.

NatureScape Irrigation Service supported large-scale reductions in outdoor water consumption, completing 124 irrigation evaluations, with an average water savings for 24% per site, and 109 million gallons in water savings. The NatureScape Irrigation Service also launched a Residential Irrigation Rebate Program supporting residents in water conservation with the improvement for high-efficiency irrigation systems and SMART technology controllers. This year, more than 70 Broward County residents have taken advantage of this program, receiving an average rebate of nearly $520 along with a full system water audit and supplemental water conservation toolkit.

Night-Friendly Lighting Policy

On May 29, 2020, the Commission adopted Resolution No. 2020-286 to amend the Administrative Code to require compliance of County facilities with the night-friendly lighting policies. The night-friendly outdoor lighting policies promote use of light only where needed, thereby limiting excess light, discourage light trespassing, reducing glare to create a safe and pedestrian-scaled lit environment and serve as a model code for municipalities.

The Sky Quality Monitoring Program continues to monitor the sky quality and measures progress in reducing light pollution over time. The County has Sky Quality meters at Parks, Libraries and other County-owned facilities. Students and residents also continue to take part in citizen science initiatives to measure the quality of Broward's night sky. ​

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