Cabarrus County, as a government and community member, is committed to following the principles of sustainability to ensure a well-run organization capable of meeting the needs of residents and business owners and, in turn, to provide a better quality of life for all who live and work in Cabarrus County.
Cabarrus County is doing this through new organization–wide policies to:
Conserve energy – by more energy-efficient lighting, increased use of CFLs, automated HVAC systems, and modified employee behaviors
Conserve water – by installation of low flow water faucet nozzles and low flow urinals and installation of cisterns at County buildings to reduce dependence of municipal water for lawn and water irrigation.
Reduce fuel emissions and consumption – by purchasing hybrid cars which are replacing larger, less fuel efficient vehicles, plus exploring use of alternative fuels
Encourage the local food movement – by providing land to develop and operate the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm Park and by participating in the statewide Farm to Fork movement
Implement an Environmental Preferable Purchasing Policy – with the goal to maximize the use of renewable or recycled source materials and those materials which have optimal lifecycles.
Build Green – with plans for a new county building to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.
Manage Properties with Sustainable Mindset – by implementing use of compost and reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers; plus an introduction of more native plant species to County grounds.
Build a more robust local economy by encouraging growth and development of small businesses as well as supporting large corporations.