The Mayor’s 19th Annual Environmental Luncheon was held today at Jacksonville’s Main Library to celebrate those in the city who’ve worked to build a more sustainable Jacksonville and improve the local environment. Julie Watkins, meteorologist with Action News CBS47 / FOX30, emceed the event that handed out more than 20 awards to businesses and individuals for their environmental efforts.

Mayor John Peyton spoke about some of the things the City has been doing to create a more sustainable Jacksonville and announced that just yesterday he learned that Jacksonville has been given Gold Certification as a Florida Green City – way to go Jacksonville!

Other green initiatives that the city has done (or plans to do in the very near future) are:

• Hired a green janitorial company
• Used more fuel efficient and testing electronic vehicles
• Installed parking meters run by solar panels
• Secured multiple LEED Gold certified buildings
• Installing solar water heaters
• Increasing lighting efficiency in city parks
• Utilizing online utility controls

Thanks to everyone who does their part to keep Jacksonville environmentally friendly and sustainable!