The third annual Arizona’s Greenest Workplace Challenge is hosted by Mrs. Green’s World, a website (www.mrsgreensworld.com/) and Internet radio program started by Tucsonan Gina Murphy-Darling.

Arizona’s Greenest Workplace will be selected by a panel of statewide “green” experts and announced on Mrs. Green’s World on Nov. 2.

The People’s Choice Award will be determined by online voters and will be announced the same day. Pima County is one of 14 nominees for the People’s Choice Award.

Pima County just released a progress report on the fourth year of its five-year Sustainability Action Plan for County Operations. The plan focuses on alternative fuel vehicles, green building, renewable energy and energy efficiency, green purchasing, land conservation and management, waste reduction, water conservation and carbon footprint reduction.

During Fiscal Year 2011-2012, which ended June 30, the County made several advances to increase the sustainability and efficiency of its operations, including:

• Reducing energy expenses by $1.5 million (10 percent) compared to the baseline year of 2008.
• Managing 3.6 megawatts of renewable energy, which represents about 7 percent of the County’s annual energy load and surpassed the 2012 target.
• Increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles in the Sheriff’s Department’s fleet by 51 percent so they comprise 53 percent of the fleet.
• Increasing employee use of transportation modes other than single-occupant vehicles by 41 percent since 2010.
• Increasing the proportion of office supply dollars spent on ecofriendly products by 276 percent over the baseline year of 2008.

To see Pima County’s nomination for Arizona’s Greenest Workplace Challenge, please visit www.mrsgreensworld.com/contest/nominees/pima-county. To vote, go to www.mrsgreensworld.com/contest/voting-form/.

Keep up with Pima County on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pimacountyarizona.