The City of San Diego Environmental Services Department (ESD) has taken a leadership role in working toward Mayor Dick Murphy's goal of advancing policies and practices that support a more sustainable future.

In January 2002, the mayor and City Council unanimously approved the goals and objectives of the Community Sustainability Program.

Following that, in October 2002, approval was given to become a charter member of the California Climate Action Registry. The San Diego Sustainable Community Program advances all aspects of more sustainable policies and procedures, and measures outcomes through a series of City Council-approved indicators and a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan.

Primary target areas include energy efficiency and renewable energy, alternative vehicles and fuels, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and public outreach and education. We further these goals by administering, developing, implementing, or participating in the following:

* National and regional partnerships

California Climate Action Registry Charter member

ClimateWise-Energy Star

Department of Energy (DOE) Partnership Agreement

Cities for Climate Protection (CCP)

Rebuild America

Border WasteWise Project (with Mexico)

United States Green Building Council (USGBC) - Educates builders, developers, city officials, and homebuyers about sustainable construction benefits

* Outreach and education

Public forums

Green schools and youth forum - Educates high school students about sustainable practices and encourages their involvement in the community

Pacific Coast Roundtable

Sustainable Community Indicators - Corresponds with Mayor Murphy's top 10 goals and captures individual contributions to the state of the environment

Staff Conservation Measures training

* Transportation and waste reduction

Clean Air Project - In-process conversion of all 180 diesel refuse trucks to clean-burning, dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines

All-electric vehicle test program

Greens and assorted recyclables recycling programs - Keeps approximately 150,000 tons of waste out of the landfill annually, reducing CO2 by 250,000 tons

* Energy efficiency and renewable energy

Projects implemented from 1994-2001 have collectively saved more than 150 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), translating to more than an 82,000-ton reduction of greenhouse gasses per year. Contributions toward reaching these accomplishments include

* City facilities - Have saved 21 million kilowatts of energy since 2000, and have generated more than 24 megawatts of renewable energy

* Ridgehaven Court ESD Administrative Center - Designated the First Energy Star building by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

* ESD Miramar Operations Center Administration Building - Moving toward energy independence thanks to green building features and a photovoltaic (PV) system

* Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant - Generates all power needed for the plant by utilizing the methane gas derived from the sewage digestion process; generates an additional 1.35 megawatts via water turbines at the sewage outfall

* Environmental Management System

* Water use reduction - Replacing potable water usage with reclaimed water wherever possible has saved 31 million gallons of potable water; $46,000.00 annual savings

* Paper use reduction - Saved 36,500 sheets of paper within administrative services