Practicing Sustainability
A Guiding Force In Our Operations
TVWD's Sustainability Program provides leadership, education, analysis, project management, and accountability for the District’s Sustainability efforts.
The program accomplishes this by leading District efforts to adopt sustainable business operations, searching for cost-saving environmentally safer solutions and technologies, working with staff to create a healthy and vibrant organization, and by acting as a partner with other regional stakeholders in efforts to ensure a thriving environment, economy, and community.
Key Goals
- Ensuring that the District meets its existing Sustainability commitments by implementing the goals of the Sustainability Plan
- Identifying new areas for improvement throughout District operations
- Working with other governmental entities, non-profits, businesses and other stakeholders on regional efforts to develop regional strategies for maintaining a high quality of life
Key Efforts In The 2007-09 Biennium
- Re-introduction of District waste prevention and recycling program with increased emphasis on tracking and monitoring recycling efforts and progress
- Development of Human Resources tools to promote and encourage Sustainability among employees
- Development and implementation of a District sustainable purchasing strategy
- Integration of Sustainability goals and performance measures into each department
- Implementation of a Toxic Reduction Strategy with TVWD’s Safety Coordinator
- Development of a District greenhouse gas assessment, and implementation and monitoring of a strategy to reduce carbon emissions from District operations
- Investigation of opportunities to produce solar-generated energy onsite and micro hydro projects with District hydro resources
- Development of Sustainability Roundtable series hosted at TVWD to promote stakeholder involvement in discussions of regional Sustainability issues
For examples of the many ways TVWD is working to become more sustainable in its operations, take a look at our 2006 Strategic Sustainability Plan (PDF).
Sustainability Video
Check out our Sustainability Video, Taking the Next Step, and its accompanying handbook online for District employee and Board member thoughts about Sustainability and for examples of where you or your organization might begin or continue your own journey toward Sustainability.