2120 Milvia Street, 2nd Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
TEL: (510) 981-7439, TDD: (510) 981-7474
Office Hours: Mon-  Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Email: Energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Berkeley Sustainability Assessment

Long a leader in social, environmental and political issues, the City of Berkeley, California continues to build and support what is increasingly described as sustainable community.  Berkeley’s sustainable community efforts include actions in Waste Reduction, Transportation, Economic Development, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Policy and Services, and Social Equity Policy.

Waste Reduction

• First city in the U.S. to initiate curbside recycling

• One of first to ban polystyrene (Styrofoam)

• Maintains City Transfer station and serial material recovery system to promote diversion from landfill; pioneered successful small business recycling programs and city procurement of recycled products

• Oakland Berkeley Recycling Market Development Zone is most successful in California

Transportation

• Maintains a fleet of electric vehicles, participates in fleet of “station cars" running from rapid transit station to businesses

• Contracted to use several prototype Toyota EV in 1998, before they were available on the mass market

• Established a commute store with the university; funds a shuttle to connect public transit with employer centers

• Created Attended Bicycle parking station at rapid transit station

• Experimenting with natural gas vehicles and other low emission vehicles 

• Creating a network of seven bike boulevards which will be bicycle oriented streets

• In most commercial areas Berkeley requires bike parking with minimum auto parking requirements by American standards

• Fewer than 50% of Berkeley residents drive alone to work

Economic Development

• Sustainable Development Initiative Program promotes “green business” attraction and works to support existing green businesses by helping companies with sites, financing, permitting, employment and environmental services

• Approximately 150 existing green businesses in Berkeley; Berkeley’s Green Map shows green companies and other environmental resources 

• Funded Berkeley’s Eco-House to demonstrate best practices in green building and design, eco-efficiency in a residence

• Working with a private company to create  an Eco Park to cluster green businesses and conserve resources

• Private sector has pioneered in energy efficiency, recycling, green retail, outdoor recreation, environmental consulting, alternative transportation and organic food production

•  Sustainable Business Alliance, a non-profit supported by over 100 companies, recently created the Green Resource Center  to provide  information on green building and design and eco-efficiency

Energy Efficiency, Environmental Policy and Services

• Berkeley’s Global Warming Abatement Plan calls for reduction of greenhouse gases by 15% by 2010

•  Provides environmental education to 50,000 children each year

•  Provides assistance to over 1500 businesses each year; energy efficient ordinances for commercial and residential uses

• Berkeley has low CO2 emissions, a recent study found 6.5 metric tons per resident annually compared with 17.5 for the nation. Berkeley’s manufacturing sector represents a significant percentage of the US companies participation in USEPA program to reduce CO2 emissions

• One of first nuclear free zones in US

Social Equity Policy and Programs

• National leader in affordable housing and social policy 

• Berkeley Biotech Education Institute, funded by the private sector as part of an agreement with the City, helps train workers for the biotech industry

• Nationally recognized First Source employment program links unemployed residents to jobs in local business

• City level health department, which is unusual in U.S.

•  Commercial Development Impact Fees to fund housing and childcare demand created by new development  

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