The City of Good living is also the city of green living according to a state organization that rates municipal sustainability practices.
Earlier this week, the Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) announced it would be honoring San Carlos' sustainability accomplishments as a part of the city's participation in a statewide sustainability and climate change recognition program, the Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change.
Accoding to a statement released by SEEC, San Carlos is being recognized for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adopt environmental policies that reduce energy consumption, reduce costs, address climate change and promote sustainability.
The recently completed and approved City Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory report for the year 2010 revealed that since 2005, the city government has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent. This achievement is in line with the city’s continued work towards a goal of a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Examples of San Carlos’ sustainable green programs and climate protection projects include:
- Working with Rethink Waste, Recology and South Bay Recycling to bring Weekly Single Stream Recycling and Food Scrap and Organics Recycling to single family residential customers. These new programs have led to the recycling rate among these customers increasing from around 50 percent to almost 70 percent in just two years.
- Purchasing hybrid vehicles in the city vehicle fleet as vehicles comes up for replacement, thus reducing gasoline use and saving the city money.
- Retrofitting over 100 city street lights along Industrial Road and Brittan Avenue with more energy efficient LED lights, thus saving energy and money.
- Installing more energy efficient lighting at city buildings using EECBG grant funding from the State and Federal Government that was matched with city funds and PG&E rebates.
- Initiating a compost recycling program at all city buildings to reduce the amount of green waste being disposed at the land fill.
“San Carlos continues to make progress on its efforts to make our community and region a better place to live through environmental programs and climate protection measures. We are developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that will continue to reduce San Carlos’ impact on global warming,” stated Assistant City Manager Brian Moura.
“We are taking proactive steps that simultaneously improve the quality of our services, reduce costs and inspire our residents to join in our climate protection program.”
“We applaud San Carlos’ leadership to promote sustainability at the local level,” said James Keene, chairman of the Institute for Local Government’s board of directors and Palo Alto city manager.
“San Carlos’ accomplishments save money, foster vibrant communities and ultimately help local residents and businesses. Cities and counties around California can learn from San Carlos’ efforts.”
Additional information about San Carlos’ participation in the Beacon Award program is available at:
http://www.ca-ilg.org/beacon-award-participant-profile/city-san-carlos
Additional information about the Beacon Award program is available at: http://www.ca-ilg.org/beacon-award-local-leadership-toward-solving-climate-change
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