AgdaPkt 2007-01-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT 7A Page 1 To the Honorable Mayor and City Council Fro,m the City Manag:er January 22, 2007 Subject Update on Climate Change Activities by the City of Redwood City Recommendation No action is requested at this time. The purpose of this report is informational only. Background For several years, the City of Redwood City has been examining the environmental effects of how it conducts business, and has searched for new methods and technologies in providing our services in a manner that is friendly to the environment. Although the issue of climate change has received more attention in the last couple of years, Redwood City has long been very conscious of the impact our activities can have on the climate and has been a leader in providing services in an environmentally-responsible manner. Examples of such activities in which the City is already involved include: . In 2000, the C(ity worked with Noresco to, among other things, retrofit electrical traffic lights at 56 intersections converting them to LED's, change 6,500 fluorescent lamps in City facilities, replace HV AC motors at the main library, replace boiler systems at both pools and purchase solar blankets for the pools. These efforts and others resulted in a four (4) month (May to Sept 2000) reduction of kilowatt hours of 582,112 or 11.3% of our total City usage. . Through our aggressive water conservation efforts, we expect that our community will be conserving 815 acre-feet per year by the end of 2009. In addition, we expect to realize an additional 900 acre feet of potable water savings as a result of the implementation of our Recycled Water Project. . In partnership with City Trees, we facilitated the planting of approximately 1,800 trees, since 2001. . Starting in 2005, fifteen (15) older general sedans have been replaced with Toyota Prius hybrid sedans. Eighty three percent (83%) of all of the City's sedans (excluding police department vehicles) are now hybrid. . In 2002, we added three (3) electric vehicles to our fleet. . This year, five (5) heavy duty vehicles are scheduled for replacement with new Best Available Control Technology (BACT). . In 2006, the City converted to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel which produces less airborne emissions than are produced by conventional diesel engines. . The City will test bio-fuel diesel fuel when it becomes readily available from suppliers. . Through Redwood City's Electronic Newsletter, we have begun to offer tips to the community on how each household can do its part towards improving the environment. . We have an employee-managed Alternative Transportation Committee that provides incentives and information encouraging our employees to use mass transit, ride-share, ride bicycles, or walk to work.