Promote more green building, solar power, recycling, and sustainability throughout the City. Support and encourage environmental protection.
With global warming becoming an increasing crisis, it is critical that our community reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. This is an overarching goal that should be applied across the board where ever possible in City activities and policies.
Progress:
- A mandatory green building policy was adopted by the City in 2007.
- Santa Rosa Utilities has installed solar on its office building.
- City offered a program to pay for homeowners to remove their lawns.
- A resolution passed in 2005 calls for a 20% reduction from 2000 levels of GHG emissions by City operations by 2010 and a 25% reduction of the community's GHG of 25% from 1990 levels by 2015.
- City goal "Creating a Vital Downtown" (pg. 4) states staff is working to obtain grant funding for 30 dedicated recycling containers downtown.
Action Items:
- Establish a Matrix of Sustainability similar to the one established by the city of Austin, TX. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sustainable/matrix_paper.htm
- Consider carbon emissions in every city decision and require mitigations to offset increases.
- Add a link from the City's website to websites that let you calculate your carbon footprint.
- Promote the governor's "1 Million Solar Roofs" initiative along with other sustainability information on the City's website and in the City newsletter.
- Provide more programs to encourage homeowners to increase the energy efficiency of their homes by replacing/upgrading their: water heaters, windows, shower heads, lighting, insulation, etc.
- Utilize creative re-use by promoting and supporting converting existing structures. This reduces startup costs for small retail businesses and is a greener option than building new.
Establish city green house gas baseline. Monitor monthly and provide this information to the public via City website. Recognize individuals, businesses and organizations committed to reducing greenhouse gases.
- Develop ways to promote water catchment systems for reuse as irrigation.
- Study greater utilization of gray water for residents.
- Focus more on protection of wetlands and vernal pools.
- Greater effort should be made to retain mature native trees in all developments
Budget Items:
- Waive or substantially reduce permit fees or provide rebates for residential solar panel installation.
- Create a webpage on the City's website that provides building green information for homeowners and developers.
- Add can and glass recycle receptacles in the downtown Santa Rosa area.
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