November 12, 2007

Mayor Fargo believes that the City of Sacramento, as a major landowner, employer, building manager, fleet operator, utility owner and operator, consumer of goods and services, and service provider has both the opportunity and responsibility to bring about significant improvements in environmental quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The goal of the Mayor’s Sustainability Master Plan is to provide responsible management and effective stewardship of the City’s built and natural environments, focusing on nine areas: Energy Independence; Climate Protection; Air Quality Improvement; Reduced Material Resource Use; Public Health and Nutrition; Green Urban Design, Land Use, Building, and Transportation; Parks, Open Space, and Habitat Conservation; Water Resources Conservation and Protection; and Promotion of Public Involvement and Personal Responsibility.

The City’s efforts have already had an impact and the Master Plan will continue to build on the items below.

• Soon to be implemented is a comprehensive green building program that will establish specific guidelines and point-based checklists for private green development and offer incentives to those that build green.

• The City has organized the Build It Green Public Agency Council, a confederation of local building officials from a six-county region that meets quarterly to develop consistent green building programs.

• Three percent of the City’s electricity is purchased from renewable resources.

• City Hall is among the top five percent of energy performers for large office buildings in the nation.

• The City’s energy consumption has been reduced by nine percent since 1992.

• The City owns and operates one LEED Platinum high rise building and six buildings are moving toward LEED Silver certification.

• Over the past several years the City has done extensive outreach and public education on water conservation.

• The Clean Tech Zone program will attract green technology companies that provide green jobs to residents. The program offers tax incentives, expedited permitting, job training, loans, and other incentives.

• The Fleet Sustainability Policy will set specific citywide measurable goals to reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality.

For additional information about Mayor Fargo’s climate protection initiatives, please contact Reina J. Schwartz, Director, Department of General Services, at (916) 808-7195 or rschwartz@cityofsacramento.org.