City touts sustainability track record
As international leaders meet in Copenhagen this month in hopes of crafting an action plan to address climate change, Santa Barbara leaders aren’t being shy about promoting the city’s efforts on the “green” front.
From projects as large as a 384-kilowatt solar array to changes as minor as installing energy-efficient lighting in city buildings, the city has made sustainability a key pillar in recent years.
“There’s been a lot of debate about greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of mitigation,” said Helene Schneider, city councilmember and mayor-elect. “What we’re doing as a city is being more efficient and saving money at the same time. I don’t see how that is a bad thing.”
The efforts appear to be paying off. The city’s greenhouse gas emissions last year came in nearly 15 percent lower than estimated 1990 levels, outpacing targets established in the international Kyoto Protocol agreement.
In comparison, the 7,052.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent pumped into the atmosphere last year by the United States is still 14 percent above 1990 levels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The city of Santa Barbara is still a part of that figure — 11,232 metric tons of carbon dioxide, to be exact — but officials said the city’s ability to meet and exceed emission reduction standards is a sign of the feasibility of mitigating greenhouse gases.
“You can look at us as one small example,” Schneider said.
Among the larger “green” projects taking place in city facilities is a set of fuel cells operating at El Estero Wastewater Treatment Plant. As sewage is processed by the facility, methane gas generated by the gunk is scrubbed and converted into energy.
In addition to generating electricity for the plant, the energy also supplies hot water for the treatment process.
“It generates a substantial amount of power and has the potential for more,” said Jim Dewey, city facilities and energy manager.
A pilot project is in the works that, while not officially approved, shows promise for getting more energy out of the fuel cells.
City officials hope to collect “brown grease,” or cooking oil, from restaurants in Kern County and possibly elsewhere to be processed at the wastewater plant. In addition to offsetting costs for trucking the oil in from neighboring areas, the project would generate additional electricity to power the facility.
“We think it will be very promising and could even be a revenue source for the city,” Dewey said, explaining that local restaurants could pay a tipping fee to drop their grease off at the plant instead of paying to have it shipped out of town.
The concept should go before city leaders early next year for potential approval.
City facilities are also benefiting from a large solar array installed on the roof of the city’s corporate yard — a total of 1,830 photovoltaic panels that generate enough energy each year to power 100 homes.
A major project coming down the pipeline is potential conversion technology at the Tajiguas Landfill. Regional leaders have been discussing the idea for several years and recently asked for proposals from vendors to operate such a facility.
“Is there a project that can work to convert trash into energy?” Schneider said. “That’s a big question mark.”
But there are also smaller, less visible changes. City buildings are being retrofitted with more efficient technology, such as new air conditioning and heating units equipped with electronic controls that ensure they don’t waste power when people aren’t using the building.
“Lately, we’ve really focused on energy conservation,” Dewey said.
The city is using $800,000 in federal stimulus funds on a variety of projects, including replacing lighting at sports fields with equipment that use less electricity.
Similar efforts took place in the Granada Garage recently, as workers retrofitted lighting at a cost of $73,000 coupled with a rebate of $36,000. The city stands to recoup its costs in two years.
“We’re finding each and every time we look into this that there is a cost savings that either frees up money for something else or helps us save money, especially during deficit periods,” Schneider said.
As the incoming mayor, she said she plans to keep the city on its sustainability track and hopes to exchange ideas with other cities throughout the state.
Comment on this article
What part of "sustainable:" does raw sewage fit under? : 12/11/2009
how about putting some of that effort into repairing the sewer lines so we don't see more 700 hundred gallon spills into the ocean. No amount of table scrap compost will make up for that
chest thumping polluters
At What COST? : 12/11/2009
The city has spent MILLIONS on "Marty's Green Machine"... From city positions created like the Restaurant Compost Police, to the "sustainability management team" to solar panels on the roof of city buildings , but the structures underneath are falling apart (no money to maintain according second in command Jim Armstrong)... We can't afford to be "Hip and Green"... our basic infrastructure and city services are paying the price for this hipness... Thanks for the legacy Marty Blum!
Greenback : 12/11/2009
The only Green they know how to pursue is the spending of the greenback.
Mr.M.
Santa Barbara's environmental programs : 12/12/2009
Several previous comments are usual examples of the abysmally ignorant who make every effort to thwart and destroy any national or civic effort to improve and even save our civilization through obviously necessary means: reducing as swiftly as possible the greenhouse gas emissions (especially carbon dioxide and methane) that our cars, factories, garbage dumps, and many energy producers spew into the atmosphere.
These posters are just further examples of Oscar Wilde's description: those who "Know the cost of everything and the value of nothing."
And, as usual, they don't give their real names.
William Smithers
Foodscrap Program : 12/12/2009
AT WHAT COST obviously is commenting on things they know nothing about. Too bad. There is no restaurant compost police. There are recycling specialists that manage a program for local businesses to compost food that is 100% volunteer. And in fact by composting their food scraps they save money, in some cases significant money on their trash bills. Then the foodscraps get mulched and reused by Santa Barbara County farms. Sounds pretty good to me..
RJR
At What COST II : 12/12/2009
So how much is the City of Santa Barbara paying the "recycling specialists"? I would rather have another cop on the street then a "recycling specialist"... what a joke!
We can't afford green right now : 12/12/2009
STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY!
It's coming... ANOTHER TAX! : 12/14/2009
The Cityin all there wisdom, is now going to tax those who use paper and plastic single use bags... (I reuse my plastic bags for many purposes, but they don't care). The GREENIES are forcing us to drink their "global warming/ Sustainability" KOOL-AID and they are going to tax us too! Next on the list are those humans who consume red meat; There will be a "cow tax" for hamburgers 'cause cows are the reason for global warming... How about a "Diaper tax" for people who choose to have kids; they will no doubt be contributing to global warming in a huge way... Next are Citations by the city "Brown-Shirts" if restaurants don't comply with the cities "resource specialist..." Where does it end people?
More Taxes , less liberties and freedom of choice
Green? : 12/14/2009
Oh boy what a laugh! A green city? Are you kidding? Good grief SB gives hyperbole and hypocrisy new meaning. To Willy Smithers, you really make me laugh! You know Einstein was the lone dissenter against the anti relativity “consensus” don’t you? Science is the pursuit of the truth about the natural world; it is not a vote stupid! Talk about ignorant!
Further more, Billy Boy, while your religious fanatics at the climate conference are doing Copenhagen’s oldest industry, they are also planning on how to use a naturally occurring cycle like climate change, to liberate you from your hard earned money. Of course once yer broke and starving there won’t be much left for you to adapt to the change that will happen regardless of the spectacle at Copenhagen.
BTW – does your family know your using your name on the world wide sewer network? Hmmmm, there are more reasons to preserve one’s identity than just hiding behind an opinion, ya might want to give that some thought bubba.
AN50
wasting our breath... : 12/15/2009
and creating more CO2! City Hall doesn't give a rat's A**...They prove it to us time and time again! It's all about money and power. That's why the hacks here love them so much!
Boycott Boy
Contact Us!
411 E. Canon Perdido, Ste 2
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone (805) 564-6001
Fax (866) 716-8350
Click here to view the PDF Edition
Subscription Required
Tile Ads
Most Read Stories
Check out these most read stories.
- Santa Barbara Police Department cites 21 for driving without a license at weekend DUI checkpoints
- Santa Barbara budget showdown - 'heat is on' as police union, city management clash
- Santa Barbara church hit by '666,' graffiti four times in year
- Rising pension costs sink city's budget
- Santa Barbara police blotter - alleged Haley St. prostitute arrested
Most Talked About Stories
Check out these recent talked about stories, and voice your opinion...
- Report suggests Santa Barbara Police Department targets illegal immigrants
- Santa Barbara Police Department cites 21 for driving without a license at weekend DUI checkpoints
- Arrests made in pot shop extortion
- ICE initiative targets dangerous illegal immigrants
- Santa Barbara County greenhouse marijuana bust near Highway 101 leads to two arrests; pot value as high as $80 million
- Forum tackles Santa Barbara's homeless issues
- Santa Barbara budget showdown - 'heat is on' as police union, city management clash
- Lois Capps, activists rally in support of women's reproductive rights
