In 2025, we celebrate Earth Day’s 55th anniversary with the theme “Our Power, Our Planet.” This year’s theme calls us to actions that harness renewable energy resources to build a sustainable and healthy planet now and into the future. These words also remind us that the resources “our planet” provides — light, water, and food — sustain the “powers” of life itself: movement, response to our environment, energy obtainment, the ability to adapt, growth, and creation of new life. Together, we can exercise the “power” we hold to make a difference for Earth and all that call it home.

Impacts of Tripling Renewable Energy in the Next 5 Years

In commitment to this year’s theme, Earthday.org is setting the bar high, calling for global generation of renewable energy to be tripled by 2030. Global actions toward this goal emphasize that the generation and utilization of renewable energy holds universal common ground and has many benefits beyond reducing use of non-renewable fossil fuels.

• Cleaner world, better health – From reducing carbon emissions to offsetting impacts of climate change to lowering risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and waterborne diseases, clean energy contributes to improved health for humans and wildlife due to a cleaner environment.
• An Expanding Renewable Energy Industry – Commitment to a growing renewable-energy industry is projected to drive an economic energy revolution, including innovation in other interconnected industries, such as transportation, agriculture, and advancements in technology. According to the International Energy Agency’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 plan, efforts to transition towards net-zero emissions would create 14 million new jobs globally by 2030.
• Energy Cost Savings – A common barrier of the past few decades to using renewable energy was the higher cost of installing the new technology. This is now becoming a story of the past. For example, solar energy modules prices fell as much as 93% between 2010 and 2020.

Sarasota County Leads the Way in Energy Efficiency

Sarasota County Government is a leader in energy efficient infrastructure 

Sarasota County is committed to sustainability in operations and the community. Goals include efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create a healthy environment for the community, and increase financial sustainability by reducing utility costs. Sarasota County resolutions that support these goals include the Sustainability, Green Building, and Community Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions resolutions.

In 2008 and 2015, the Florida Green Building Council designated Sarasota County as a Gold-level “Green Local Government”. In 2023, Sarasota County achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” certification and national accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council, for cities and communities, an honor recognizing an array of efforts to increase sustainability across the county. During the certification process, Sarasota County achieved an energy performance score of 98/100, based on annual per capita direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

With local partners, our Sarasota-Manatee Region’s Clean Air Coalition is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address harmful air pollutants through implementation of a Priority Climate Action Plan. At a March 6 meeting, community members gathered to focus on long-term solutions and workshop reduction measures in the four sectors of transportation, solid waste, buildings, and the environment. Our next community meeting, in August or September, will be a virtual presentation of the draft Comprehensive Climate Plan. Follow along and get involved by viewing the project’s website.

Learn more ways Sarasota County is making change for our community!

Sarasota County is here to support your goals

Sarasota County supports the energy-efficiency goals of all county residents through UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability’s Energy Upgrade program. This innovative, collaborative initiative has connected anyone interested in reducing their energy and water usage with education, resources, in-person support, and financial assistance under the “Know More, Do More, Save More” motto. This program makes it easier for each of us to make no-cost, low-cost, or investment-level changes that shift our energy use today and into the future. Our power grows when we work together with multi-faceted support systems!

Jumpstart change in your life

• Be more energy efficient and go solar at home! Learn more by taking one of our Energy Upgrade or solar classes. View our upcoming classes and join us!
• Pick one or two from our “What You Can Do” list and see where it takes you.
• Get to know where your money is going! Learn how to read and reduce your utility bills.
• Are you a decision-maker at a local business interested in energy efficiency and sustainability? Join the Green Business Partnership to receive a free energy audit and support in meeting your green goals.
• Browse our website for more information on financial assistance and incentives available locally in Sarasota County.

“It Takes a Village”

Individual moments using our power to change can sometimes feel disconnected from the greater scope of our planet, but collectively these little shifts absolutely create measurable ripples of impact over time. As we all know, “two is better than one” and sometimes “it takes a village.”

There are larger systems of support around you, and you don’t need to act alone. Start small with a friend, your household, your workplace, your class at school, and other groups in your community. Find a space where others are exercising their power to change by joining an established group with common interests, attending a scheduled community event, or making a new action plan with your close community to take that next step for our planet.

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