Since 2009, the County has made internal operations more sustainable along with fostering efforts and changes to help county residents their sustainability goals.
Please note that some of our reporting is by fiscal year and some by calendar year.
2025
Soil Health Program Offerings
The Pocket Prairie Program was introduced to help residents in the unincorporated area add 100 square feet of prairie plants to their yards. There were 20 participants in the first year.
The Soil Quality Restoration program continued with more than a dozen households improving their lawns naturally.
In January 2025, Sustainability staff assisted Johnson County Conservation in their first-ever clothing collection and swap, which kept nearly 1,200 pounds of clothes out of the landfill with an additional 800 pounds donated to charity. A repeat event held in fall 2025 also helped people reuse clothing for free.
Residential Energy Audits
A second round of energy audits help another 25 households throughout the county (aside from Iowa City).
2024
Energy Audits and Kits
The County partnered with the City of Iowa and its GreenIowa Americorps Team to offer energy audits to residents of the unincorporated area and smaller cities. A total of 52 homes were checked by the team, providing households ideas for ways to save energy and costs in the long run.
In addition, dozens of residents in two different Manufactured Home Parks received energy saving kits with light bulbs, water saving devices and tips on energy savings.
Sustainability Chapter in Comprehensive Plan Mid-Term Update
Following public input, resiliency was added as a key issue in the Johnson County Comprehensive Plan Volume 3: Mid-Term Update. Two priorities were added to the Sustainability chapter: (1) Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Action and (2) Potable Water Resources. All three sustainability priorities from the 2018 original plan were renewed: Preserve Natural Resources, Environmental Disaster Resiliency, and Leader in Sustainable Practices.
The six Sustainability goals were renewed and a seventh one added:
- Support and implement sustainability strategies that preserve natural resources.
- Develop and/or coordinate with local and regional hazard mitigation, resiliency, and climate change planning.
- Support affordable and equitable access to quality housing.
- Support and advance green energy efficiency, resource conservation, and renewable energy programs.
- Prioritize green building and sustainable development practices for existing and future residential, commercial, and industrial development.
- Remain a leader in sustainable and resilient facilities, operations, and infrastructure.
- Ensure provision of potable (drinkable) water to support existing and proposed development.
The updated plan includes a detailed table to show progress on the strategies and actions within each goal. The other chapters in the plan are Local Economy, Amenities and Infrastructure, and Land Use, which have many intersections with Sustainability.
2023
Communitywide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
PDS published in March 2023 the first-ever Johnson County Community (countywide) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory, which accounted for 2010 (baseline) and 2020. Overall emissions decreased by nearly 28% in the decade studied. All sectors decreased, with the exception of solid waste, which is a relatively small contributor to GHG emissions. The sectors with 25% or greater decreases included commercial and industrial energy, residential energy, agriculture and stationary fuel mix. Transportation saw a 1.9% decrease, although COVID may have impacted findings. The report was presented at a board meeting: The Recording of the GHG Report Presentation begins at 1 hr 28 min mark and lasts about 30 min. Also available are the GHG Report Presentation Slides,
Soil Health Program Established
The Soil Quality Restoration program, similar to Green Your Lawn efforts elsewhere, was launched. Funds for the program comes from the Sustainability and Energy Reinvestment Fund, which draws primarily on rebates the County has received for completing energy-savings projects in its buildings.
2022
Adaptation Recommendations
PDS, the Green Team, and key partners from Conservation and Public Health as well as other departments and offices made a presentation to the Board of Supervisors in April, fittingly during Earth Week. The group shared nearly 20 recommendations to advance adaptation and resilience for County operations, with some spillover into more external-facing efforts. The intent is for the Board to consider these suggestions for strategic planning, departmental/office and other longer-term planning in order to help people, places and wildlife. To access the recorded presentation: click on item 5 or begin at the 1 hour 13 minutes mark at the Adaptation Recommendations Presentation Recording, April 20, 2022. The accompanying slides begin on p. 97 of the archived packet.
Sustainability Made Integral Part of County's Economic Development Plan
Sustainability and resilience, along with equity, are among the values informing the goals of the 2022 Johnson County, Iowa, Economic Development Plan: Opportunities for the Unincorporated Area, Villages and Smaller Towns. The economic development plan was adopted on January 13, 2022, by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors after an 18-month long process that involved stakeholder engagement as well as input received from the Johnson County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Johnson County Food Policy Council.
Bicycle Friendly Business GOLD renewed
The Downtown Campus, which includes the Administration Building, Health and Human Services Building, and Ambulance+Medical Examiner Facility, earned once again a gold-status designation from the League of American Bicyclists. Highlights included sharing bicycle education materials in multiple languages, working with MERGE to help other businesses be bicycle friendly, and support to the Iowa City Bike Library. Learn more about the bicycling award.
2021
Battery Energy Storage Ordinance Adopted
Johnson County adopted a battery energy storage ordinance in summer 2021 to help advance renewable energy use.
Adaptation Workshop for County Operations
Climate adaptation involves managing unavoidable effects of climate change. In 2021, EcoAdapt brought 16 county department and offices together for an intensive online 12-hour workshop spread out over three days. With 28 county employees and leaders participated in discussion on incorporating adaptation measures into four operational areas: health and safety, land use, transit, and facilities and services. Post-workshop reporting and discussion led to the 2022 recommendations on incorporating adaptation measures into county operations. The County will simultaneously continue mitigation efforts, which aim to avoid the unmanageable effects of climate change.
Third Solar Group Buy: Grow Solar Linn + Johnson Counties
We upped our game by partnering across jurisdictions for yet another solar group buy. Moreover, it was done online yet again!
Milestones 2020 and Earlier
- 2020
2020
Second Solar Group Buy: Grow Solar Johnson County
Building on the success of 2018, Johnson County partnered again with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, a local installer, and even more cities -- nine -- in the county and brought another group buy to the area. The group pivoted to take the effort online due to COVID.
Special Report on County (Operations) Building Energy Use (available on request)
- 2018
First Solar Group Buy adds more than 1 megawatt of residential solar!
More than 700 people attended Solar Power Hours, and 180 households added more than 1 megawatt of solar to their homes as a result of this first-ever solar group buy in the county. Johnson County, along with Johnson County Conservation, Johnson County Public Health and six cities (Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, Shueyville, Solon and West Branch) teamed up with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and a local installer. Residents, and business owners learned more about solar energy and how to add affordable solar to their homes. The residential group buy provided an outright discount along with additional discounts based on the collective kW of the arrays.
Bioretention Cell Rejuvenated
The bioretention cell near the Administration Building saw refreshed soil and plantings in 2017. The projected was funded by the internal Sustainability and Energy Reinvestment Fund (see 2014 milestones for fund background). By spring 2018, 12 varieties of flowers and grasses were thriving. The cell slows and filters stormwater—an important function in urban areas where concrete makes many surfaces impervious to water.
- 2017
County Becomes First County in Iowa and the Midwest to Earn Gold SolSmart award
The County earned this award from the national SolSmart program for making it faster, easier and more affordable for residents in the unincorporated areas to add solar to homes or businesses.
Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution of Commitment to Honor Paris Climate Agreement Goals
On June 8, 2017, one week after President Trump withdrew the United State of American from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, the supervisors passed a resolution to show the County's unwavering support to help fight the climate change and protect Earth from risks of devastating consequences ensure security, prosperity and health. The leaders also agreed to have the County sign on to a statement of commitment at "We Are Still In." A temporary Twitter handle @counties4climate and #Counties4Climate were used to help spread the word to other counties.
County Downtown Campus Earns Gold Bicycle Friendly Business Award
In March 2017, the Downtown Campus--Administration Building, Health and Human Services Building, and the nearly completed Ambulance+Medical Examiner Facility earned gold-status designation from the League of American Bicyclists for such features as accessible bicycle racks, educational events, and Bike to Work Week / One Less Car efforts.
New Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning System Garners $127,000 Rebate for County
Thanks to upgrades made by the Facilities Department, we were able to earn this large rebate and funnel it into the Sustainability and Energy Reinvestment Fund to support other sustainability and energy-saving projects.
- 2016
More Solar PV Added; More Than Triples Amount of County Buildings on Solar
In November 2016, two additional solar arrays went live. An 85 kW ground-mounted array began to provide about 24% of the electrical needs of the Johnson County Administration Building, while a 159 kW roof-top array on the Health and Human Services building started covering about 11% of the electrical need for that combined. The arrays are on a Power Purchase Agreement with Eagle Point Solar. In addition, that same month, two of the Secondary Roads sheds began participating in the Farmers' Electric Community (FEC) Solar Garden. The County purchased 20 modules that are part of the garden--FEC collects the power, puts it on their electrical grid and the County's monthly bills are credited for the retail value of the power.
Sustainability Grants Program for Nonprofits Launched
Certain local non-profit organizations (eligible for County block grants) were able to begin participating in competitive grants program to complete energy efficiencies, resource reduction, or green vehicle projects. Five organizations received grants in this first round, and most of them added LED lights to their offices or facilities. As part of the program, groups completing energy efficiency projects had to have their building undergo an energy audit. A total of $30,000 in grants were awarded.
No fiscal year sustainability update was prepared this year due to staff time constraints.
- 2015
Department Name Change
The Planning and Zoning Department was renamed the Planning, Development and Sustainability Department to better reflect its services. In addition, a local foods position was created, which was later moved to the Board of Supervisors' Office.
Sustainability Working Group of Johnson County Created
The County had helped create, and is hosting, the Sustainability Working Group (SWG) of Johnson County to share ideas and potentially collaborate on sustainability efforts. Modeled on the Housing Task Force of Joint Entities group, SWG members (primarily staff but including some elected officials) hail from the county, cities, University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College, and school districts. The group held its first meeting in September 2015 and meets quarterly.
Strategic Planning: Reduce Energy Use Goal (effort continued from 2014)
In 2015, the remaining objectives of the two-year goal were completed.
The County entered into Power Purchase Agreements--the first-ever for a county in Iowa--for the installation by Moxie Solar of two solar arrays at the Secondary Roads Campus. Combined the two arrays will provide 86 kW of energy, which will support about 23% of the annual electrical needs for the campus. See the arrays in action online!
Energy-efficiency projects resulted in savings or pre-approved rebates:
For participation in MidAmerican Energy's Commercial New Construction Program, the new Secondary Roads and Fleet Maintenance Facility garnered a $34,000 rebate check and will enjoy annual energy savings.
A LED upgrade project completed at the County Sheriff Office and Jail will earn a major rebate.
The County is pre-approved to receive an estimate $125,000 for upgrades to the HVAC system in the Administration Building
For the energy draw analysis, it was determined that strong and effective measures were in place for computer equipment, and departments were encouraged not to use mini-fridges and to be mindful of non-essential equipment.
Additional information is available in the Fiscal Year 2015 Sustainability Update.