P2 Initiatives
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of
buildings and their use of energy, water and materials, and reducing
building impacts on human health and the environment, through better
siting, design, construction, operations, maintenance and removal
– the complete building life cycle.
Proper sanitation and cleaning are important for a healthy building
environment. Many traditional cleaning products may contain harmful
chemicals that contaminate the environment and endanger human health.
Implementing "green cleaning" practices can reduce these health,
safety, and environmental risks.
 Green engineering is the design, commercialization and use of
processes and products, which are realistic and cost-effective to
minimizing pollution at the source. Green engineering supports the
concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment
can have the greatest impact when applied in the early design and
development phase.
The Pollution Prevention Program also works to integrate Green
Engineering into college curriculums. This is to help educate Florida’s
future designers on the benefits of going ‘green.’ The P2 Program
hopes to have a Florida university offer a Green Engineering degree
in the future.
The Green Yards Program teaches salvage yards to use Best Management
Practices that protect public health and the environment. The Green
Yards Program was developed by the Central District of DEP in connection
with the Florida Auto Dismantlers
and Recyclers Association (FADRA) .
Green Yards can be found in Duval, Escambia, Highlands, Lake, Orange,
Polk and Volusia counties.
 Hospitals for a Healthy Environment is creating a national movement
for environmental sustainability in health care. H2E was jointly
founded by the American Hospital Association, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Health Care Without Harm and the American Nurses
Association. To achieve this goal, H2E is educating health care
professionals about pollution prevention opportunities and providing
practical tools and resources to facilitate the industry’s movement
toward environmental sustainability.
The Pollution Prevention Program in partnership with Water Resource
Management has developed a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs)
to help vehicle wash facilities manage the unintentional discharge
of contaminated water. These unintentional discharges may be due
to a variety of conditions during operations, maintenance and materials
handling. See Vehicle Wash Facilities
checklist [PDF - 69 KB].
top of page
|
2012 State of Florida