The Future of Omaha's Office of Sustainable Development

The City’s Recommended Budget for 2014 - Planning Department is not recommending funding for the Office of Sustainable Development be included as part of the City’s General Fund for next year. This means the Office of Sustainable Development, also known as ECO-Omaha, will close after December 31, 2013.

The primary purpose of the ECO-Omaha office is to help strategically implement the Environment Element for the city, to implement strategic and shovel-ready energy projects within the City and creating tools to track and monitor energy use and greenhouse gas emissions within the City’s facilities and operations, as well as for the community at large. As a result of these projects, the City realized a 16% drop in energy use between 2009 and 2012, as well as a 13% drop in municipal greenhouse gas emissions.

ECO-Omaha staff continue to hold a future vision for Omaha and have worked hard over the past four years to nurture the types of change that are needed for Omaha to develop sustainably.

The Public Hearing on the City’s Recommended Budget for 2014 is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00 pm in the City’s Legislative Chambers.

As a partner organization, USGBC Nebraska Flatwater Chapter (USGBC NFC) would support the continuation of the ECO-Omaha office, and the paid staff position of Sustainability Coordinator for the city of Omaha. Other cities, even amongst hiring freezes and job cuts, have hired Sustainability Coordinators as these positions typically pay for themselves through the initiatives they oversee to save energy, water and other resources. Sustainability initiatives can save taxpayer money, and the continuation of a paid position helps nonprofit organizations without staff, like USGBC NFC, further our mission through partnerships with local companies and individuals.