West Palm Beach Energy Milestone
We’re celebrating a big win for the SSDN member community West Palm Beach, which has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a 2024 Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achiever! By reducing energy use by 16% across all municipal buildings and infrastructure, the City cemented its status as a leader in municipal energy efficiency…
Read MoreWhat’s in Your Energy/Water Efficiency Kit?
LED lightbulbs? Low-flow showerheads? Our sustainability experts recently discussed what items they provide to homeowners and renters as part of their community sustainability efforts as well as which items had an impact and what items just weren’t effective. These kits help community members try out items they might not otherwise purchase so they can see…
Read MoreWhat’s the Buzz about Bee Cities?
Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are essential to healthy ecosystems, local agriculture, and biodiversity—but they’re in trouble. That’s where Bee City USA steps in, helping communities take meaningful steps to protect these vital species. Becoming a Bee City means your community commits to: ✅ Creating and enhancing pollinator habitats ✅ Educating the public about…
Read MoreCongrats to Our Very Own Energy Exec: Jake!
We’re proud to share that SSDN’s Jake Leech has been selected to join the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2025 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs)! This prestigious four-month leadership program brings together 19 professionals from across the country to dive deep into cutting-edge clean energy technologies, tools, and innovations. Jake’s…
Read MoreBuilt Shade: A Critical Tool in Heat Resilience
When it comes to beating the heat, trees are a great solution, but they aren’t the only solution — and in places like East Tampa, built shade is playing a vital role in protecting communities. As highlighted by Kayla Caselli with the City of Tampa and featured in the Tampa Heat Resilience Playbook, built shade…
Read MoreCongrats to Our New Membership Manager: Gabi
Since joining SSDN, Gabriela “Gabi” Sanchez Barrocas has been a vital part of our team — bringing dedication, heart, and a deep commitment to supporting our members. She began taking on many of the responsibilities of this role in the fall of last year and was officially promoted in March. Her biggest undertaking so far…
Read MoreNew SSDN Jobs Board
We’re excited to launch the SSDN Jobs Board—a growing hub for local government sustainability and resilience career opportunities across the Southeast! Looking for your next step or know someone who is looking? To post a job, simply fill out the quick submission form here: 🔗 https://www.southeastsdn.org/members/member-login/job-postings/ You can also send jobs to Amanda@southeastsdn.org. We’re building…
Read MoreInspiration to Anticipation: SSDN’s 2025 Annual Meeting
“Feeling gratitude for SSDN bringing together such a thoughtful and driven community committed to local climate action and collective impact.”- Alannah Irwin, Boynton Beach, FL Dear SSDN Community, As the energy from our recent gathering in Richmond begins to settle, we find ourselves reflecting on connections made, inspiration found, and knowledge gained and shared. For…
Read MoreCelebrating GA’s Sustainability Momentum
Across Georgia SSDN members are leading the way in sustainability action. At the 2025 Cobb County Sustainability Expo, our Georgia Policy Manager Joy Ward joined local m embers to spotlight how regional collaboration is accelerating progress across the state. With more than 400 attendees, the event underscored SSDN’s belief that regional challenges require regional solutions—and…
Read MoreWhen Solutions Are Local
By Anita Tillman, AMCorp International Across the Southeast, communities are rewriting the blueprint for prosperity—not by waiting for rescue, but by reimagining what growth could look like when it is rooted in resilience, opportunity, and independence. The Cost of Staying In Place The cost of outdated housing, pollution, high energy, and healthcare has quietly chipped…
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