Residential Environmental Initiatives

Orange County wants to help you learn about habits that can help keep our homes, community, and environment clean, safe, and healthy, while often saving money at the same time.

You can easily reduce energy and water use while improving the comfort and efficiency in your home. Learn more about how to save and take part in free services, rebates and incentives.

• Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC): Water and Energy
• Orange County Utilities: Water
• Duke Energy (Formerly Progress Energy): Energy
• Florida Power and Light: Energy
• TECO: Natural Gas
• DSIRE website: for energy efficiency upgrades

• If you are a low income homeowner, your home may be eligible for assistance with home repairs to reduce energy costs or eliminate code violations. Learn more about the program and eligibility.

• Contact Orange County’s Pollution Prevention (P2) Program coordinator to schedule a FREE P2 Assessment. For more information about the P2 Program email P2@ocfl.net or call (407) 836-1400.

• Using sustainable products and services in your home not only minimizes impact on the environment, it is also better for the health of humans and animals.
• Click for consumer information on making Greener Choices.
• Learn more about the benefits and savings from using green and reusable cleaning products.

You can help Orange County save landfill space and preserve resources for future generations:

• Reduce: Be paper free! Many services, including Orange County Utilities, allow you to sign up for paperless billing.
• Reuse: Instead of using plastic bags and disposables, bring along reusable bags, bottles and containers. Learn more about the benefits of reducing, reusing, and donating unwanted items.
• Recycle: Think 5! Orange County curbside collection customers can fill their recycling roll cart (blue lid) with the top 5 recyclable items--plastic, metal, and glass containers, as well as cardboard and paper. When in doubt, leave it out. Explore to learn more about what can be recycled and find recycling drop-off locations.
• Remember: NO PLASTIC BAGS in the recycling roll carts; take them to stores that collect them for recycling. Better yet, adopt the Reuse Habit! (see bullets above)

• Half of all water used in Florida is used on lawns. If you plant using Florida Friendly Landscaping methods, you can decrease the amount of watering needed.
• Turn off irrigation during Florida’s rainy season, June 1st – September 30th. Learn more about water efficient irrigation.
• Use Native Plants. Learn which plants to love, and which to avoid planting to protect the natural environment. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive. Click here for a list of non-native, invasive plants to avoid
• Adopt a Tree! Trees add beauty, shade your home, lower power bills, improve air quality, filter water pollution, prevent erosion, and provide habitats for wildlife. Check the 2014 schedule for a tree adoption event near you.
• Grow your own food. Orange County Cooperative Extension offers classes and resources to help you grow food in your yard.

We all live within a “watershed.” Watersheds naturally direct water flow from yards, roads, businesses, ponds, lakes, streams, etc. toward a main surface water body, such as lake or river.

• Fertilize responsibly: It’s the law! Use fertilizer without phosphorous. Only homeowners who have completed this online educational program and pass the quiz may apply fertilizer to the landscape during the Orange County’s Fertilizer "Black Out" Period, June 1st to September 30th.

Only rain should go down the drain:

• Pick up after your pet.
• Store paints, solvents and cleaners properly to avoid spilling. Never pour hazardous chemicals or sweep debris into the street or storm drain. Learn how to properly dispose of electronics and hazardous chemicals.
• Never flush medications down the toilet. Click here for a list of collection boxes.

If you live in an area that is forested or near a water body, chances are you may encounter a wild animal at some point.

• Learn about some of the wildlife in Orange County.
• Learn how to coexist with our state wildlife.
• View Florida wildlife along Orange County’s beautiful biking and hiking trails.

• Reduce air pollution and save at the gas pump by walking, biking, carpooling, or taking public transit. reThink Your Commute can help you reduce emissions, save money, and provides an Emergency Ride Home program.
• Learn more about public transit using LYNX and SunRail.
• Save on monthly car payments by carsharing in Orlando.
• Learn more about electric and hybrid vehicles and locate charging stations.

• With approximately 15,000 acres of land between 100 parks and facilities and 40 miles of trails, there are plenty of places to see the great outdoors. See a map of Orange County Parks Trails, and Boat Ramps.
• Orange County’s Green PLACE more than 21,000 acres of natural lands, many of which are open for your enjoyment.

Local products travel a shorter distance to reach you and therefore generate much less pollution in their transportation to market.

Shopping with local businesses supports our local economy and generates less pollution. Learn more about local food options, including farmers market and “you pick” farms, in the Central Florida Local Food Guide.

We can lessen the environmental impact of our product purchases by choosing ones that are safer and cleaner for our environment.

• Buy ENERGY STAR products.
• Use less water with WaterSense products.
• Make recycling work with Recycled Content products.
• Enjoy organic food with USDA Organic.
• Support fair labor and environmental standards with Fair Trade Certified products.
• Green Seal Certified products are tested for minimal health and environmental impact.
• USDA Biobased products contain a verified amount of renewable biological ingredients in them.

Orange County Environmental Protection Division
3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200
Orlando, FL 32803

Email: orangetogreen@ocfl.net
Phone: (407) 836-1400
Fax: (407) 836-1499

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.