It’s good to see an investment in sustainability is paying off for Douglas County taxpayers.

In 2011, the county created the Sustainability and Energy Savings Reinvestment Fund with $300,000 in seed money. The fund is used to fund energy-saving and sustainability projects, and cost savings from the improvements are plowed back into the sustainability fund to replenish it.

Eileen Horn, coordinator of the Douglas County Sustainability Office, said that since the fund was created, energy use has been reduced by 20 percent in county buildings. That created savings of $163,000 last year alone.

The fund has been used to replace outdated heating and cooling systems with energy-efficient units. Buildings have been retrofitted with LED light bulbs, which use less energy and last significantly longer than standard bulbs. Four hybrid cars have been purchased and some solar panels have been installed.

The new Douglas County Public Works headquarters has energy-efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems and maximum insulation. Its design also provided an abundance of natural light despite its extended roof overhangs that provided cooling shade. Adding to the building’s energy savings is a 14 kilowatt solar panel that provides 13 percent of its energy. The building is on track to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The sustainability fund has it origins in a 2008 energy audit that identified numerous ways for the county to be more energy efficient. The Douglas County Sustainability Office, which is jointly funded by the city, was created shortly thereafter.

The goal at the outset of the sustainability fund was to reduce energy costs by 30 percent in county facilities. Horn said four of seven county facilities — the Douglas County Courthouse, Law Enforcement Center, United Way Building and Douglas County Extension office — have realized the 30 percent goal.

“I think you always want to set a goal like that,” Douglas County Commissioner Mike Gaughan said. “You want to push people to look for opportunities to save energy and lower costs.”

Investing taxpayer funds in a way that produces a tangible return on that investment is the best example of good governance. The Sustainability and Energy Savings Reinvestment Fund is just such an example.