Environmental Protection Efforts
One part of what makes Los Gatos such a special place is its unique physical environment. It is nestled at the base of the Sierra Azules in the southwestern portion of Santa Clara County, where the Santa Clara Valley meets the lower slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Los Gatos encompasses a wide variety of terrain, ranging from flat topography at the edge of the valley floor to densely wooded hillsides. Both the valley and hillsides are interspersed with creeks, streams, and riparian habitat.
While local residents may disagree over the solutions to specific issues related to the environment, they share a common vision of a culture that is environmentally sensitive. The Town organization takes seriously its task of community stewardship, which includes resource conservation and pollution prevention.
U.S. MAYORS' CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol took effect in the 141 countries that ratified it. On March 30, 2005, 9 mayors representing more than 3 million Americans, joined together to invite cities from across the country to take additional actions to significantly reduce global warming pollution. The Town formalized its commitment to take action to significantly reduce global warming pollution by signing the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement . In doing so, the Town made the commitment to take actions that would meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 7% below 1990 levels by 2012.
In partnership with Cities for Climate Protection, Joint Venture Silicon Valley Climate Protection Task Force and Sustainable Silicon Valley, the Town is conducting a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and developing a plan for monitoring and implementing carbon reduction programs.
Following is an outline of some of the programs and accomplishments undertaken by the Town to help reduce global warming.
GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM
The Town of Los Gatos has been certified as a Green Business through the Santa Clara County Green Business Program. To be certified “green,” an organization must be in compliance with all regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution, and minimizing waste. This program, coordinated by ABAG, is a partnership of environmental agencies that assists, recognizes and promotes business and government agencies who operate in a more environmentally responsible way. The key goals of the program are to promote resources conservation and pollution prevention.
At the Town, we take this certification seriously and ask our Town Employees to follow our Green Business Commitments and do the right thing for our environment everyday, while at work in our Town offices. We invite you and your family to join us in our efforts to protect the environment and encourage these and similar practices to become a part of all of our lives.
In a effort to promote our green business certifaction and educate our employees and community members, we have established a program called "Los Gatos: Growing Greener Together." Each month we feature a green theme and provide related tips and green practices for the workplace and home environment. A portion of the tips and practices offered come from our green business certification commitments. By using these and other green practices at work and at play, our goal is to grow a little "greener" together! Click Here to visit our Growing Greener webpage and learn more about our efforts.
ENERGY
The Town is a member of the Silicon Valley Energy Program, a joint project of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the City of San José. With the twin goals of saving energy and saving money, this program offers rebates, classes, energy audits, and technical assistance to businesses and city organizations.
All of the red and green traffic lights in town, and the majority of pedestrian signals and yellow traffic lights, use light emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of traditional incandescent lights. LEDs use about 10% to 20% of the energy of an incandescent bulb, reducing energy costs - and last about five times as long, reducing replacement costs.
As street light fixtures are upgraded and replaced, the old bulbs are replaced with high pressure sodium lamps. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, high pressure sodium lamps are very efficient, providing 50 to 140 lumens per watt, and have a lifetime of between 16,000 and 24,000 hours on average.
The Civic Center’s HVAC system, upgraded in 2006, incorporates state-of-the-art technology, including variable frequency drives for the electric motors, which reduce energy consumption.
The Town's printers, copiers and faxes have been consolidated into single multifunction devices which require less maintenance and electrical use. Every new multifunction device is energy star compliant and energy efficient.
In October, 2008, the Town of Los Gatos became the first municipality in Santa Clara County to offset its green house gas emissions by enrolling in PG&E's ClimateSmart program. By participating in the program, the Town will be able to offset all of its identified carbon emissions from both electricity and gas usage at all municipal facilities. This is a voluntary program that is renewed annually. The offsets are independently certified through the statewide registry and consist of forest plantings and preservations in both the Santa Cruz Mountains and Humboldt area forests. One of the two programs supported by the ClimateSmart program is the Sempervirens Fund, California's oldest land conservancy. Click Here to read the October 29, 2008 press release. Information regarding ClimateSmart can be found at www.pge.com/climatesmart
BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Town’s Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines, adopted in 2004, contain voluntary green building standards for new construction. These standards include the following goals:
- Siting and design of a structure should take maximum advantage of passive solar heating, natural cooling, and natural light.
- Landscaping should be used to control exposure to sun and wind.
- Building materials selected should reduce the consumption of natural resources and be non-toxic. This includes the use of salvaged or reused building materials.
Solar heat, as an alternative energy source, is encouraged by Town development regulations. For example, for about 20 years the Town has required that all new homes be pre-plumbed for solar water heaters and that solar be used as the primary means of heating swimming pools. To date, the Town has approved more than 1,000 solar panel systems on residential and commercial structures.
In 2007, the Town was honored with 2nd place by the NorCal Solar Energy Association for the number of solar projects installed in a medium-sized city. The innovative solar recognition program, called the City Solar Awards (CSA's) recognizes cities for the amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology installed on homes, businesses and municipal buildings. The CSAs raise public awareness about the benefits of solar technology and develop a spirit of friendly competition between municipalities that will encourage the creation of specific solar goals. The awards are based on the total amount of grid-tied PV installations on all buildings as of 12/31/06. As of 12/31/06 the Town had a total of 149 solar installations.
WATER
The Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance was adopted by the Town Council in 1992 to promote conservation and efficient use of water. All new commercial developments and residential developments of five or more units are subject to this ordinance, which requires developers to calculate the water allowance permitted for the site and estimated water usage. The ordinance encourages the use of recycled water irrigation.
Town regularly co-sponsors and supports recycling events at which any West Valley resident, business, or school may drop off old televisions, computer monitors, and laptop computers. These appliances can leach toxic metals, such as lead, mercury, and copper, into our local waterways.
EARTH
April is Keep Los Gatos Beautiful Month. Each April, the Town sponsors a series of events and programs to celebrate National Earth Day, National Arbor Day, and National Volunteer Recognition Week, all of which occur during the month of April. Past events have included a mercury thermometer exchange, tree plantings, and the Bicycle Rewards Program. The goal of these programs is to raise awareness about our environment and impact positive change regarding individual consumption patters and behaviors.
Through the Adopt-a-Planter program, residents or businesses may “adopt” one of the 28 raised planting beds located along North Santa Cruz Avenue in the downtown. Planter “adopters” are responsible for purchasing, planting, and maintaining plant materials in their planter. The program adds greatly to the beauty and charm of downtown Los Gatos, and is a way for members of the community to connect to their natural environment.
In Fiscal Year 2006/07, the Town reached a milestone by receiving the distinguished Tree City USA award for the 27th consecutive year. The Tree City USA award is conferred by the National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Forest Service. In order to receive the award, a community must have the following: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.
The Town recently acquired multifunction printers and faxes allow for 2-sided printing, scanning and electronic fax receipt to reduce paper usage. Additionally, the new devices have 20-50% higher yields on toner cartridges, thereby reducing cartridge disposal.
WASTE
The Town Code requires developers to provide an opportunity for the public to salvage building materials from demolished structures. Developers must advertise in a newspaper when the structure is available for salvaging. All wood, metal, glass, and aluminum materials generated from a demolished structure must be recycled.
Through the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program, Los Gatos residents can dispose of their household hazardous wastes for free. The Town provides funds to the program on an annual basis to ensure that all Los Gatans who wish to may participate. Approximately 900 households participate annually.
Los Gatos has maintained compliance with the state’s solid waste diversion requirements, also known as AB939, and has had its diversion rate certified each year by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. In 2005, the most recent year to be certified by the Board, Los Gatos exceeded the state goal of diverting 50% of solid waste, diverted 56% of its solid waste from landfill disposal.
In June 2008 the Town Council approved a resolution that supported Extender Producer Responsibility.
Extender producer responsibility (EPR) is a strategy designed to promote the integration of environmental costs associated with products throughout their life cycles into the market price of the products. This means that firms that manufacture, import and/or sell products and packaging are required to be financially or physically responsible for such products after their useful life. Simply put, EPR shifts responsibility for waste from government to private industry.
AIR
Town Ordinance No. 1905, the Wood Burning Ordinance, restricts the sale and use of fireplaces and other wood-burning appliances that do not meet federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. According to the EPA, residential wood burning contributes significantly to particulate air pollution.
As of the fall of 2006, all of the Town’s heavy-duty diesel-fueled trucks and equipment, including street sweepers and dump trucks, run on biodiesel. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel; in the United States, most biodiesel is made from soybean oil, though canola oil, sunflower oil, recycled cooking oil, and animal fats are also used. According to the U.S. EPA, switching an existing vehicle fleet to biodiesel reduces emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfates, hydrocarbons, and air toxics.
The Town’s Building Department recently added a Ford Escape hybrid vehicle to its fleet. As new vehicles are purchased, the Town evaluates whether it can be replaced with a hybrid that meets the program's needs. The Town also has a large fleet of CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles which have extremely low CO2 emissions and have lower fuel costs.
The Town, in partnership with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, helps to reduce auto emissions by participating in the Bicycle Rewards Program. The program rewards residents for replacing car trips with bicycle trips, with gift certificates for public transit passes and bicycle equipment.
Town street sweeping equipment is certified compliant with Rule 1186 requirements for PM10-efficient sweepers. This certification ensures that the street sweepers will pick up particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less from the roadway; the goal is to reduce contribution to particulate air pollution. The standard was established for Southern California municipalities, and has not yet been required of Bay Area communities, but the Town has voluntarily adopted this more stringent standard.
