HomeMy WebLinkAboutGPA 07-02; GENERAL PLAN UPDATE; WORKING PAPER 1 FOR ENVISION CARLSBAD CITIZENS COMMITTEE; 2010-09-23
Working Paper 1
Sustainability
Envision Carlsbad
Existing Conditions and Issues Exploration
www.carlsbadca.gov/envision
Working Paper 1
Sustainability
Working Paper 2
The Local Economy, Business Diversity and Tourism
Working Paper 3
Open Space and the Natural Environment;
Access to Recreation and Active, Healthy Lifestyles
Working Paper 4
History, the Arts and Cultural Resources;
High Quality Education and Community Services
Working Paper 5
Walking, Biking, Public Transportation and Connectivity
Working Paper 6
Small Town Feel, Beach Community Character and Connectedness;
Neighborhood Revitalization, Community Design and Livibility
Consultants
DYETT & BHATIA,
Urban and Regional Planners
DUDEK Environmental Consultants
City Staff
Lisa Hildabrand, City Manager
Gary Barberio, Community and Economic Development Director
Don Neu, Planning Director
David de Cordova, Principal Planner (Project Manager)
Chris DeCerbo, Principal Planner
Jennifer Jesser, Senior Planner (Project Manager)
Kristina Ray, Communications Manager
Rachel McGuire, Communications Coordinator
Barbara Nedros, Administrative Secretary
City Council
Claude A. “Bud” Lewis, Mayor
Ann J. Kulchin, Mayor Pro Tem
Matt Hall, Council Member
Mark Packard, Council Member
Keith Blackburn, Council Member
Consultants
Dudek, Environmental Consultants
Fehr & Peers, Transportation Consultants
Rosenow Spevacek Group, Inc., Economic and Fiscal Consultants
BW Research Partnership, Inc., Public Opinion Surveyors
This working paper prepared by Dyett & Bhatia and Dudek
Envision Carlsbad Citizens’ Committee
EC3 Primary Member
Ken Alfrey
Fred Sandquist
Barbara Hamilton
Jim Farley
Jim Comstock
Hap L’Heureux
Gina McBride
Julie Baker
Eric Larson
Allen Sweet
Diane Lantz
Kirk Cowles
Diane Proulx
David Lloyd
Jeff Segall
John O’Reilly
Kent McCormick
Andrew Benson
Sean Bentley
EC3 Alternate Member
William Kloetzer
David Robertson
–
Farah Douglas
Jack Cumming
Robert Nielsen
Mike Howes
–
–
Greg Nelson
–
Guy Roney
Glen Etherington
–
Robert Gates
Jim Bradley
Jeanne Sprague-Bentley
Sean Sexton
Chris Korogi
Contents
Introduction1 ........................................................................1
1.1 Background and Purpose ...............................................................1
1.2 This Working Paper ........................................................................1
Defining Sustainability2 ......................................................3
2.1 Broad Definitions ............................................................................3
2.2 Organizing Frameworks .................................................................3
2.3 Existing City of Carlsbad Sustainability and
Environmental Principles................................................................6
2.4 The Community Vision as a Framework for Sustainability ...........7
Sustainability Values Identified in the Carlsbad 3
Community Vision ..............................................................9
3.1 Community Value: Green Development .......................................9
3.2 Community Value: Water Conservation, Recycling,
and Desalination ...........................................................................12
3.3 Community Value: Water Quality ...............................................17
3.4 Community Value: Energy Security .............................................21
3.5 Community Value: Recycling, Composting, and
Waste Reduction ...........................................................................25
3.6 Community Value: Healthy and Sustainable Food .....................29
Climate Change and Sustainability4 .................................33
4.1 Climate Change .............................................................................33
4.2 Potential Climate Change Effects ................................................34
4.3 Greenhouse Gases ........................................................................35
4.4 Key Regulatory Context ...............................................................36
4.5 City of Carlsbad Climate Change Initiatives ................................39
Measuring Sustainability5 .................................................41
5.1 Existing Metrics .............................................................................41
5.2 Using Indicators to Measure Sustainability .................................42
Planning Issues and Implications6 .....................................43
1
Background and Purpose1.1
In January 2010, the Carlsbad City Council adopted
the Carlsbad Community Vision (Vision), repre-
senting the community’s most important values,
priorities, and aspirations for the future. The com-
munity’s vision guides the second phase of the
Envision Carlsbad process, which entails an update
of the city’s General Plan, Local Coastal Program,
and Zoning Ordinance.
As the first task in this second phase of Envision
Carlsbad, existing conditions and issues are
evaluated. This evaluation is presented in six working
papers, structured around the core values identified
in the Carlsbad Community Vision. The working
papers provide background information and
technical analysis that will be useful for subsequent tasks, and raise policy issues (presented at the end of each working paper) to help the EC3 brainstorm about
conclusions and findings, in terms of how these may
shape potential alternatives or policies. Importantly,
these working papers are discussion tools, rather
than final documents to be critiqued or refined.
While the primary review and brainstorming group
for the working papers will be the EC3, some papers
will be appropriate for review and discussion by the
city’s various commissions and boards.
The six working papers are:
Sustainability1.
The Local Economy, Business Diversity and 2. Tourism
Open Space and the Natural Environment; 3. Access to Recreation and Active, Healthy Lifestyles
History, the Arts and Cultural Resources; High 4. Quality Education and Community Services
Walking, Biking, Public Transportation and 5. Connectivity
Small Town Feel, Beach Community 6. Character and Connectedness; Neighborhood Revitalization, Community Design and Livability
This Working Paper1.2
Working Paper # 1: Sustainability evaluates the
environmental, regulatory, technological, and
social setting for achieving sustainable develop-
ment in the City of Carlsbad (economics is covered
in more detail in Working Paper #2). It explores the
Vision core value Sustainability:
Build on the city’s sustainability initiatives to
emerge as a leader in green development and sus-
tainability. Pursue public/private partnerships,
particularly on sustainable water, energy, recycling,
and foods.
The working paper offers explanation of basic
concepts of sustainability as they pertain to
planning, as well as a focus in more detail on those
sustainability issues highlighted during the vision
phase. Following this introductory chapter, chapters
in the working paper include:
Defining Sustainability;•
Sustainability Values Identified in the Carlsbad •
Community Vision;
Climate Change and Sustainability;•
Measuring Sustainability; and•
Planning Issues and Implications.•
1Introduction
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3
Broad Definitions2.1
The 1970 National Environmental Policy Act
formally established as a national goal the creation
and maintenance of conditions under which humans
and nature “can exist in productive harmony, and
fulfill the social, economic and other requirements
of present and future generations of Americans.” A
decade later, the concept of “sustainable develop-
ment” appeared in a 1981 White House Council on
Environmental Quality report: “The key concept
here is sustainable development. If economic devel-
opment is to be successful over the long term, it
must proceed in a way that protects the natural
resource base of developing countries.” Shortly after
in 1983, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development addressed growing concerns about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration for economic and social development. From this commission came one of the most commonly-accepted defini-tions of sustainable development: “development that meets the needs of the present without com-promising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”1
Sustainability also has been described as “the
doctrine that economic growth and development
must take place, and be maintained over time,
within the limits set by ecology in the broadest sense
– by the interrelations of human beings and their
works, the biosphere and the physical and chemical
laws that govern it.”2 These “limits set by ecology”
1 World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Com-mon Future, Oxford University Press, 1987.
2 William D. Ruckelshaus, “Toward a Sustainable World”, Scientific American, September 1989.
suggested the need for a definition that accounts for the finite resources of earth. In 1991, the World Conservation Union, United Nations Environment Programme, and The World Wide Fund for Nature used the term “carrying capacity,” and defined sus-tainable development as that which “improves the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting eco-systems.”
Despite these efforts to define sustainabil-ity, however, its meaning, goals, and objectives continue to be open to new interpretations. Impor-tantly, communities, organizations, and individuals continue to refine definitions to be most meaning-ful and useful to them.
Organizing Frameworks2.2
The Three-legged Stool
Since the 1970s, people have been trying to “opera-tionalize” sustainability—to identify a set of actions that will achieve intended sustainability goals. One of the most enduring ideas from the early years of the movement is the “three-legged stool” metaphor. In this simple construct, each leg of a stool needs to be the same size in order to ensure the stool stands up. The premise is that the stool cannot be supported on only one leg, or two legs, or even a series of legs of different size.
As the metaphor goes, this is the case with sustain-ability. Sustainability cannot be achieved by focusing on one ‘leg’ to the detriment of the others. While educators, cities, and even private companies have adapted the three legs to meet their unique needs (e.g., in the business world, “companies aiming for sustainability need to perform not against a single,
2Defining Sustainability
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financial bottom line but against the triple bottom line” 3), over time, most definitions of sustainabil-ity have come to include some variation of the three spheres of influence model shown above, sometimes called the “three Es of sustainability”: ecology, economy, and equity.
Ecology
Ecological or environmental conservation—
including the issue of global warming— is what
many people think of first when they hear the
term sustainability today. It is the branch of sus-
tainable development that concerns itself with
natural systems and natural resources; it proposes
that human activity is sustainable when it does not
disrupt the ability of natural (living and non-liv-
ing) systems to function. The ecological perspective
is historically known for its concern about endan-
gered species and habitats, contamination of
3 Term coined by John Elkington in 1994, used by the World Business
Council on Sustainable Development, Sustainable Measures, http://
www.sustainablemeasures.com
water bodies and other forms of pollution that damage aquatic ecosystems, the destruction of non-renewable resources, and a generalized environmental conservation approach. The eco-logical or environmental approach to sustainability attempts to monitor, protect, improve, and enhance the physical health of the natural environment. The ecological aspect of sustainability has evolved, however, to encompass an understanding that pro-tecting these “natural environment” systems often has social or “human” costs and implications.
Economy
Economic sustainability became a concern to envi-
ronmentalists when organized efforts to preserve
habitats and natural resources confronted the
competing priorities of communities that needed
those same resources to survive. Furthermore,
people began to realize that successful conservation
efforts often depend on economic motivation; com-
munities protect a natural resource if they know
that in the sustainable management of the resource
lies their own economic security. Economic
Economy
Economic & Business Systems
Ecology
Natural Systems
Equity
Political & Social Systems
Opportunity Health
Eciency
Distribution
Resource
StewardshipProduction
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WP1: Sustainability
sustainability also became an argument for busi-nesses to change harmful or unfair practices. Although the phrase and concept of “triple bottom line” first evolved as an approach to business man-agement, the concern for economics was never simply about the financial profit of an organi-zation. Rather, the sustainability lens extended “economics” to encompass the ability of an orga-nization, community, or government to improve economic stability and vitality on a local, regional, and even national scale.
Equity
The equity element of sustainability typically refers
to the distribution of costs and benefits across all
members of society, and speaks to the basic needs
of humans for fulfillment—including safety and
security as well as access to a community where
people feel they belong and can participate. There
is both a fundamental human rights argument for
equity in development—one that distinguishes
these goals from other economic or environmental
optimization prerogatives—as well as a proce-
dural argument that true sustainable development
cannot be achieved without the participation of
all segments of society and the fair distribution of
benefits and opportunities. Commonly used terms
for this sphere of sustainability are “social justice”
or “environmental justice”, names for movements
seeking to prevent gentrification, displacement of
low income communities, or the unequal negative
public health impact of development decisions.
Smart Growth
In the 1980s and 1990s, new frameworks emerged in
an attempt to make sustainable development more
tangible to planners and communities. “Smart
growth” is one of the most enduring of these early
concepts, guided by 10 basic principles based on
the experience of communities around the nation
striving to create and maintain great neighbor-
hoods. These principles are4:
4 From EPA’s Smart Growth Office website.
Mix land uses;•
Take advantage of compact building design;•
Create a range of housing opportunities and • choices;
Create walkable neighborhoods;•
Foster distinctive, attractive communities with • a strong sense of place;
Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, • and critical environmental areas;
Strengthen and direct development towards •
existing communities;
Provide a variety of transportation choices;•
Make development decisions predictable, fair, •
and cost effective; and
Encourage community and stakeholder collabo-•
ration in development decisions.
Green Development
Concurrent with the rise of smart growth was the
evolution of the concept of “green” development.
Green development has been somewhat easier to
implement than smart growth because it deals with
buildings—discrete entities, typically easily mea-
surable in terms of water and energy, and the result
of a very quantitative evaluation process (e.g. calcu-
lation of square feet, cost, energy loads, and water
demands). Green development initially focused on
designing and constructing buildings to be more
energy and water efficient. Over time, the concept
grew to include a broader range of design attri-
butes, such as indoor environmental quality, and
gave new attention to other important community
values such as natural lands conservation, increas-
ing transit use, and reducing stormwater pollution.
Furthermore, green development concerns have
extended to lifecycle energy costs, rather than
simply ongoing energy needs. Although there are
many examples of green development standards
today, the most well known in the U.S. is LEEDTM
– Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,
established and maintained by a private organiza-
tion. Focused on new building construction when it
was first released in 1996, LEED has since gone on to
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provide other tools for rating a variety of building types and even whole neighborhoods.
For more discussion of green development regula-tory context, LEED, and the new California Green Building Standards, see Chapter 3.
The Ecological Footprint
Yet another metric created for understanding sus-tainability is the ecological footprint. A concept first introduced in 19925 and emerging from theories and discussion about quantifying global biophysical “carrying capacity,” it is generally understood as an estimate of the amount of biologically productive land and sea area needed to regenerate (if possible) the resources a human population consumes and to absorb and render harmless the correspond-ing waste produced, given prevailing technology and current understanding. Using this measure, it is possible to estimate roughly how many planet Earths it would take to support humanity if everyone on the planet attained a certain standard of living. According to the World Wildlife Fund, if everyone in the world lived as the average American does today, we would require the equivalent of five planet Earths to sustain our way of life. Similarly, if everyone in the world lived as the average European does today, we would still require the equivalent of three planet Earths to sustain our way of life.
5 Attributed to William Rees and Mathis Wackernagel
Existing City of Carlsbad 2.3
Sustainability and
Environmental Principles
The following sustainability principles were adopted by Carlsbad City Council in 2007 in order to help to guide city investments, activities, and programs, and are generally consistent with the Vision core values:
Sustainability Guiding Principles
Being a model community.• The City of Carlsbad desires to be a model community by creating a sustainable, high quality of life for those who live, work and play in the city.
Creating a sustainable system.• Sustainability is
based on achieving a long-term balance among
social, economic and environmental factors.
The participation of city residents is vital to its •
success. The city recognizes that it takes the col-
lective efforts of its residents to make its vision
a reality. Residents have a responsibility to be
informed, involved and engaged in the develop-
ment of their community.
A proactive approach to sustainability guides •
city policy. The city is committed to proactively
addressing existing and potential community
needs without compromising future genera-
tions. The city encourages staff to participate in
research opportunities that may further its goals
of creating a sustainable community.
The City of Carlsbad recognizes the local and • global impacts of decision making. Local social,
economic and environmental issues cannot be
separated from the bigger picture. The City of
Carlsbad recognizes the interconnectedness of
residents, associations and communities; and
the fact that what one community does may have
a profound impact on another.
Developing a sustainable community is based • on employing cost effective programs. The city
recognizes that both financial and staff resources
are limited; therefore, those programs and activ-
ities providing the highest benefit to the commu-
nity and representing best-cost solutions should
be considered.
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WP1: Sustainability
Environmental Guiding Principles
Ethic of conservation.• The City of Carlsbad sup-
ports the ethic of conservation of non-renewable
resources. This includes efforts to reduce the use
of energy (in any form), greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions (consistent with AB 32) and to find new
and more energy efficient methods for delivering
services. The city supports the development of
building standards that enable the community
to design energy saving features such as solar
energy systems and water efficient landscaping
into both public and private buildings.
Clean air and water.• The city supports the devel-
opment and protection from pollution of the
City of Carlsbad’s air quality, creeks, lagoons,
ocean, and other natural water bodies. The city
supports programs that will ensure that all water
bodies within the city are safe and clean, and
where possible, open to the public at all times.
Furthermore, the city supports activities that
result in clean air for those who live, work, and
play in the City of Carlsbad.
Diverse and drought resistant water supply. •
The City of Carlsbad’s future depends on being
able to provide a sustainable supply of water to
the community. The city supports the creation
of a diverse water supply, including desalina-
tion, recycled and reclaimed sources, water
conservation programs, and drought tolerant
landscaping.
Protection, preservation, and restoration of • the natural and human-made environment.
The City of Carlsbad is committed to protect-
ing, preserving and restoring its natural and
human-made environment. The city recog-
nizes the importance of intact ecosystems as
part of a healthy environment and will continue
to protect open space and enhance habitats and
bio-diversity. The city also supports the creation
and maintenance of open spaces that are accessi-
ble to the public for both active and passive use.
Waste reduction and recycling.• The City of Carlsbad supports programs that manage the overall waste stream of the city and that max-imize the amount of waste that is recycled by its residents, citizens and businesses. The city
promotes the ability to quickly and conveniently dispose of hazardous waste.
Efficient transportation and low emission fuel • sources. The city believes that effective traffic management is an important element affecting the quality of life within the City of Carlsbad. The city supports programs that optimize the flow of traffic, the use of low-emission alternative fuel vehicles, and the increased availability and use of mass and other non-automotive modes of transportation. The city encourages participa-tion in research programs designed to test and improve alternate fuel vehicles.
Sound procurement decisions. • The procurement
of products and services by the city, its residents,
businesses and institutions result in environ-
mental, social and economic impacts both in
this region and the country. Where possible, the
City of Carlsbad’s procurement systems should
support the use of recycled materials, products
with low carbon footprints (low use of carbon or
GHG producing products in the manufacture,
installation, maintenance, or disposal of the
product).
The Community Vision as a 2.4
Framework for Sustainability
Although sustainability is only one of the Vision
core values, in a certain sense it underlies almost
all of the core values, and can provide a conceptual
framework for long-range planning that integrates
all of the core values.
For instance, one core value urges the city to “prior-
itize protection and enhancement of open space and
the natural environment,” while another seeks to
“promote active lifestyles and community health by
furthering access to trails, parks, beaches, and other
recreational opportunities.” These core values are
environmental and social sustainability priorities.
Another core value seeks to “increase travel options
through enhanced walking, bicycling, and public
transportation systems,” and to “enhance mobility
through increased connectivity and transporta-
tion management.” This core value supports social
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sustainability by increasing access for people of all incomes and physical abilities, and it supports environmental sustainability by helping the City of Carlsbad to reduce car trips and their associated emissions, and increase trips on foot, by bicycle, and by public transportation.
Still other Vision core values support economic and social sustainability, striving to “build on the city’s culture of civic engagement, volunteerism, and phi-lanthropy” (Small Town Feel, Beach Community Character, and Connectedness), “support quality, comprehensive education and life-long learning opportunities” (High Quality Education and Community Services), and “strengthen the city’s strong and diverse economy and its position as an employment hub in San Diego County” (The Local Economy, Business, Diversity, and Tourism).
This summary only scratches the surface of the sustainability implications contained within Carls-bad’s Community Vision. The Vision core values target priorities of special interest to the Carlsbad community, and these clearly overlap with economic, environmental, and social sustainabil-ity prerogatives. While the next section focuses on sustainability priorities highlighted in the Vision, subsequent working papers will explore the other Vision core values.
9
The Vision provides specific guidance on community sustainability priorities. This chapter discusses the Vision sustainability priorities in greater detail, provides examples of what they can mean in practice, outlines the key federal, state, and regional regulatory context, and highlights local city actions to-date.
Community Value: Green 3.1
Development
Definition
Green development is a concept centered on the role
of the built environment in ensuring sustainability;
because of the interconnected nature of sustainabil-
ity, green building intersects with many different
sustainability issues. Most importantly, green
development is expected to be more energy-, fuel-,
and water-efficient than traditional development,
resulting in resource conservation and fewer green-
house gas emissions. However, green development
can also encompass other objectives; for instance it
can reduce waste creation by establishing require-
ments for how building construction is managed,
and can conserve and protect habitats by estab-
lishing requirements for site design. Furthermore,
green development may also target improvements
in occupant health and productivity through mech-
anisms including higher air quality, daylighting,
and other benefits.
According to a 2003 report to California’s Sustain-
able Building Task Force, “the benefits of building
green include cost savings from reduced energy,
water, and waste; lower operations and maintenance costs; and enhanced occupant productivity and health... analysis of these areas indicates that total financial benefits of green buildings are more than ten times the average initial investment required to design and construct a green building. Energy savings alone exceed the average increased cost asso-ciated with building green.”6 This particular finding shows a relatively large impact from estimated pro-ductivity and health gains, but even with data limitations and the need for further study in some areas, the report concludes that green building is cost-effective today. As the Carlsbad community expressed in the Vision, green development is a multifaceted way the city can make progress toward numerous sustainability objectives.
Key Regulatory Context
Building development is highly regulated in the U.S., and particularly in California. There are environmental regulations such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act that impose standards regarding how development interfaces with these environmental resources. But more specifically, there are also building codes or standards adopted locally that govern the design and construction of structures. Some of these standards are mandatory, others voluntary. A few key examples are described below, drawn from the national, state, and regional context.
6 Greg Kats, et al., “The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Build-
ings: A Report to California’s Sustainable Building Task Force”,
October 2003.
3 Sustainability Values Identified in the Carlsbad Community Vision
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California Green Building Standards Code
(Title 24, Part 11)
In January 2010, the California Building Standards Commission adopted the first-in-the-nation mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) as a supplement to the 2007 Cali-fornia Building Standards Code. The purpose of the code is to improve public health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and con-struction of buildings in the following categories: 1) planning and design, 2) energy efficiency, 3) water efficiency and conservation, 4) material conserva-tion and resource efficiency, and 5) environmental air quality.
The provisions of this code apply to the planning, design, operation, construction, replacement, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal, and demolition of every new building or structure throughout the State of California. CALGREEN requires that every new building constructed in California reduce indoor water use by 20 percent compared to existing standards (with voluntary goal standards for 30, 35 and 40 percent reduc-tions), divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills, and install low pollutant-emitting materials.
CALGREEN also requires separate water meters for nonresidential buildings’ indoor and outdoor water use, with a requirement for moisture-sens-ing irrigation systems for larger landscape projects and mandatory inspections of energy systems (e.g., heat furnace, air conditioner, and mechan-ical equipment) for nonresidential buildings of more than 10,000 square feet to ensure that all are working at their maximum capacity and according to their design efficiencies. CALGREEN became effective for voluntary use or local adoption as of August 2009; compliance becomes mandatory in January 2011. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) by three million metric tons in 2020. (For more on green-house gas emissions, see Chapter 4.)
LEEDTM
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) is an internationally-recognized rating
system for certifying the design, construction,
and operation of high performance buildings; one
of several in use across the globe, but probably the
most popular in the U.S. LEED building certifica-
tion is available for all building types, including new
construction and major renovations, core and shell,
educational buildings, retail, commercial interiors,
existing buildings, and homes.
GOOD EXAMPLES IN GREEN DEVELOPMENT:
Cities with GreenPoint Rated Building Programs
Build It Green keeps an up-to-date directory of GreenPoint Rated building and educational pro-
grams implemented throughout California. According to this directory, at least 70 jurisdictions
(cities and counties) in California have voluntary or mandatory programs in place. About 60 of
these are in the Bay Area, where Build It Green began. Implementation approaches range from
mandatory green building ordinances that incorporate rating system requirements (e.g. Santa
Rosa or Davis) to voluntary programs that offer incentives such as accelerated plan approval or
waiver of plan check fees for development (e.g. Anaheim or Solana Beach). 1
1 For more information on Build It Green and local jurisdictions’ green building programs, please visit www.builditgreen.org.
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The LEED program is a point-based system. Building projects earn points for satisfying green building criteria within specific credit areas. Projects also may earn Regional Priority bonus points for implementing green building strategies that address important local environment issues. Each certification rating system is organized into five environmental categories: Sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. An additional category, innovation in design (or operation), focuses on sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not covered in the other categories.
Some government agencies use LEED as a benchmark for green building. Numerous colleges and universities also have adopted LEED. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, there are more than 28,000 commercial building projects partici-pating in LEED, comprising nearly 7 billion square feet of construction space in the U.S. and in 106 countries worldwide.7
Build It Green
Build It Green is a membership supported non-profit
organization whose mission is to promote healthy,
energy- and resource-efficient homes in California.
Build It Green has three strategic objectives: 1) Drive
policy development by partnering with government
to establish credible and accessible green building
policies that promote private sector innovation
and provide consistent guidelines statewide; 2)
Increase supply of green homes by training building
professionals on the latest best practices and con-
necting green product suppliers with consumers;
and 3) Stimulate consumer demand by increas-
ing awareness of the benefits of green building and
making “GreenPoint Rated” a trustworthy, recog-
nized brand for green homes. Build It Green offers
training for building professionals involved in the
design and construction of residential buildings, as
well as those who support and develop the market
for green building. The GreenPoint Rated program
provides an objective, third-party verification
7 Air Quality Sciences, Inc., “Building Rating Systems (Certification
programs): A Comparison of Key Programs”, 2009.
Capstone Advisors Corporate Headquarters, LEED Gold Certification for Existing Buildings. The City of Carlsbad is home to three LEED-certified projects.
Green design features include parking landscape treat-ments such as this gradual pavement grade draining through an “O” curbface directly to a vegetated swale. The turf-block under the planted grass is a concrete structure with openings to allow vegetation to grow and for drainage filtration of hydrocarbons and other pollutants to be absorbed and treated with the organic plant material. The turfblock system also allows for traffic and vehicle access without failure or damage to the vegetation.
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system for identifying green homes, understand-ing green benefits, and recognizing green features. Build It Green also provides strategic assistance to local governments for developing, promoting, and implementing their green building programs.
San Diego County Green Building Incentive
Program
San Diego County has a Green Building Incentive
Program designed to promote the use of resource-effi-
cient construction materials, water conservation, and
energy efficiency in new and remodeled residential
and commercial buildings in unincorporated areas.
The program offers incentives of reduced plan check
turnaround time and a 7.5 percent reduction in plan
check and building permit fees for projects meeting
program requirements. To qualify for the incentives,
the project must comply with one of the resource con-
servation measures identified by the County.
Local Action
The Latest Code. • The city uses the California
Building Code and the new CALGREEN Code to
review proposed development and renovations.
LEED-certified Buildings. • According to the
LEED Certified Project Directory, there are
three LEED-certified projects in the City of
Carlsbad: ViaSat Building 6, Bressi Phase 1, and
Capstone Advisors.
Community Value: Water 3.2
Conservation, Recycling, and
Desalination
Definition
Water is one of the most basic and critical resources for life. Water provides sustenance for humans, and plants and animals; habitats for many species; is necessary for agriculture as well as irrigating land-scapes for recreation and aesthetics; is needed for washing everything from dishes to clothes to cars; is used as a coolant in industrial manufacturing processes; fights fires; is used for recreation; and is even an inspiration to art.
In California, as in many other parts of the world, fresh water is becoming scarce as a growing popu-lation demands more of it, and new buildings and roads simultaneously reduce its quality (through run-off) and availability (through reduced ground-water infiltration). Water rights and access have been a source of concern in the western United States for centuries. At the same time, the practice of importing drinking water from other regions has become less politically acceptable because of increased scarcity across California, and because of the energy used in transporting water—water-related energy use consumes 19 percent of California’s electricity, 30 percent of its natural gas, and 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel every year. A sus-tainable water supply for the City of Carlsbad is one that can meet the needs of the community without jeopardizing regional wildlife, habitats, agriculture, or other ecosystem functions, or the energy supply, now and in the future.
The Community Vision targets a few specific sus-tainable water approaches of particular interest to the City of Carlsbad: conservation, recycling, and desalination.
Water conservation typically refers to any benefi-cial reduction in water loss, use, or waste. A water conservation measure is an action, behavioral change, device, technology, or improved design or process implemented to reduce water loss, use, or waste. Water efficiency is a tool of water conserva-tion that results in more efficient water use and thus reduces water demand. The value and cost-effective-ness of a water efficiency measure must be evaluated in relation to its effects on the use and cost of other natural resources (e.g. energy or chemicals).8
Water recycling is reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as subsurface irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, and replenish-ing groundwater basins (referred to as groundwater recharge). Water is sometimes recycled and reused onsite; for example, when an industrial facility recycles water used for cooling processes. A common type of recycled water is water that has
8 Vickers, Amy (2002). Water Use and Conservation. Amherst, MA:
WaterPlow Press.
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WP1: Sustainability
been reclaimed from municipal wastewater, or sewage. The term water recycling is generally used synonymously with water reclamation and water reuse. In California, recycled water is municipal wastewater that has been treated to meet state regu-lations for different types of water reuse.
Gray water is untreated household wastewa-ter that comes from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and even kitchen sinks,9 and which is re-used for non-pota-ble water applications such as sub-surface irriga-tion and toilet flushing. As such, it is another form of water recycling, but one without an intermediate treatment process.
The benefits of water conservation, recycling, and gray water re-use measures are diverse and include:
Lower fresh water use.• Conservation, recycling, and gray water re-use can replace fresh water use in many instances, saving money and protecting the water supply.
Less strain on septic tanks and waste water • treatment plants. Conservation, recycling, and gray water use greatly extend the useful life and capacity of septic systems. For municipal treat-ment systems, decreased wastewater flow means higher treatment effectiveness and lower costs.
Less energy and chemical use. • Less energy and fewer chemicals are necessary when conserva-tion, recycling, and gray water systems are in place due to the reduced amount of both fresh-water and wastewater that needs pumping and treatment.
Better treatment.• Gray water in particular is purified extremely well in the upper, most biologically active region of the soil. This pro-tects the quality of natural surface and ground waters.
Reclamation of otherwise wasted nutrients. • Loss of nutrients through wastewater disposal in rivers or oceans is a subtle, but significant form
9 Though in existing California Code, gray water does not include
water from kitchen sinks, photo lab sinks, dishwashers, or laundry
water from soiled diapers.
of erosion. Reclaiming nutrients in gray water helps to maintain the fertility of the land.
Yet another water supply alternative considered by coastal communities such as the City of Carlsbad is desalination. Desalination refers to any of several processes that remove excess salt and other minerals from water to make it suitable for human consumption or irrigation. Desalination is not a new technology, but rather one of the earliest forms of water treatment. In ancient times, many civili-zations used this process on their ships to convert sea water into drinking water. Today, desalination plants are used to convert sea water to drinking water on ships and in many arid regions of the world, and in other areas to treat water that is fouled by natural and unnatural contaminants.10 Desalina-tion has drawbacks, however. The two most common concerns are 1) that infrastructure and energy can be costly, raising the price of treated water above other sources of drinking water available to com-munities, and 2) the system can threaten nearby marine species if not designed properly.
Key Regulatory Context
Drought
The 2009 Water Year (October 1, 2008 through
September 30, 2009) was the third consecutive year
of below average precipitation for the State of Cali-
fornia. In February 2009, the Governor declared a
state of emergency because of the state’s three-year
drought and urged urban water users to increase
conservation activities to reduce their individual
water use by 20 percent as soon as possible.
The San Diego County Water Authority is strength-
ening its conservation effort by promoting drought
measures that shift from conventional metrics such
as the cash rebate programs to permanent behavior
and water-use changes to ensure sustainable supply.
To this end, the agency is planning to implement
an extensive regional outreach program designed
to change public perception to one that views water
10 United States Geological Survey, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/drink-
seawater.html
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conservation as a way of life and sees water efficient measures as desirable and cost-effective.
In response to the drought situation, the City of Carlsbad adopted a drought response plan and water conservation program through City Ordinance on January 6, 2009.
Integrated Regional Water Management
The Integrated Regional Water Management
program is a local water resources management
approach aimed at securing long-term water supply
reliability within California by first recognizing the
inter-connectivity of water supplies and the environ-
ment, and then pursuing projects yielding multiple
benefits for water supplies, water quality, and
natural resources. The San Diego IRWM program is
an interdisciplinary effort by water retailers, waste-
water agencies, stormwater and flood managers,
watershed groups, the business community, tribes,
agriculture, and regulatory agencies to coordinate
water resource management efforts and to enable
the San Diego region to apply for grants tied to the
IRWM program. According to city staff, the City
of Carlsbad has participated in the organization of
the program locally, and in planning, coordination,
and supporting watershed activities related to the
IRWM.
California Emergency Gray Water
Regulations
In 2009, as part of the Governor’s declared state of emergency (described above), Chapter 16A “Nonpotable Water Reuse Systems” was incorpo-rated into the 2007 California Plumbing Code. Chapter 16A establishes minimum requirements for the installation of gray water systems in residen-tial occupancies regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development, providing guidance and flexibility designed to encourage the use of gray water. The standards allow small gray water systems to be installed in homes without a construction permit, substantially reducing the barriers to installing small residential gray water systems in California. The purpose of the regu-lations is to conserve water by facilitating greater reuse of laundry, shower, sink, and similar sources
of discharge for irrigation and/or indoor use; to reduce the number of non-compliant gray water systems by making legal compliance easily achiev-able; to provide guidance for avoiding potentially unhealthful conditions; and to provide an alterna-tive way to relieve stress on private sewage disposal systems.
Local Action
The City of Carlsbad’s future depends on being able to provide a sustainable supply of potable water to the community. The city has taken a leadership role in making the most of the water it has and devel-oping new reliable sources of water. In addition to maintaining an Urban Water Management Plan, Water Master Plan, and Recycled Water Plan for long range planning, City of Carlsbad sustainable water activities include:
California Urban Water Conservation
Council
All three water districts that serve the City of
Carlsbad (the Carlsbad Municipal Water District,
the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, and the
Vallecitos Water District) are signatories to the
California Urban Water Conservation Council
Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban
Water Conservation in California. The CUWCC
was created to increase efficient water use statewide
through partnerships among urban water agencies,
public interest organizations, and private entities.
The Council’s goal is to integrate urban water con-
servation Best Management Practices into the
planning and management of California’s water
resources. Those signing the MOU pledge to develop
and implement fourteen comprehensive conserva-
tion BMPs. These BMPs are designed to be phased
in over about a 10-year period, but the Carlsbad
Municipal Water District (Water District)—which
serves about 85 percent of the city—has only been a
signatory since 2006.
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WP1: Sustainability
Each year, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District distributes nearly 1.35 billion gallons of recycled water to local irrigation customers. This distribu-tion is the highest per capita use of recycled water in the county, and nearly 20 percent of the total supply of water distributed by the CMWD, largely a result of supplying recycled water to local golf courses. Recycled water is supplied by three different sources: the Meadowlark Treatment Plant, owned and operated by the Vallecitos Water District; the Gafner Treatment Plant, owned and operated by the Leucadia Wastewater District; and the Carlsbad Water Recycling Facility, owned by the Carlsbad Municipal Water District and operated by the Encina Wastewater Authority.
The city distribution system has approximately 77 miles of recycled distribution pipeline, 660 recycled water meters, and currently supplies more than 500 sites. Sites served by recycled water include La Costa Resort and Spa and golf course, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort and golf course, Legoland California, Grand Pacific Palisades Hotel, Karl Strauss Brewery, the Crossings Golf Course, and the Flower Fields, as well as many city parks, median strips, shopping areas, freeway landscaping segments, and “common areas” of many homeowners’ associations.
Recycled Water
Under the recycled water retrofit project, the city
installs recycled water lines to serve existing devel-
opment in areas of the city where recycled water is
available. Commercial and industrial customers are
required to convert to recycled water for landscaping
use if the Carlsbad Municipal Water District distri-
bution system has been extended to the property.
The district does not provide recycled water to res-
idential customers, however, it does provide it to
the common landscaped areas of residential devel-
opments. The recycled water delivered within the
Carlsbad Municipal Water District service area has
received an advanced level of treatment known as
tertiary treatment, which creates a finished product
that is safe for landscape irrigation and other non-
drinking uses. However, because it is only used for
non-drinking purposes, recycled water must be
delivered through a pipeline system separate from
the regular water system. These pipes and fixtures
are purple to distinguish them from the drinking
water system. Recycled water costs customers 15
percent less than potable irrigation water.11
11 City of Carlsbad Web Site: http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/
departments/water/reclaimed/Pages/default.aspx; http://www.carls-
badca.gov/about/news/pages/recycled-water-expanded-use.aspx
“Greywater Action” in California
In 1999, Laura Allen and Cleo Woelfle-Erskine
built a gray water system in their backyard out of
concern about their household water use. Their
backgrounds in environmental science and per-
maculture design sparked their interest in un-
derstanding onsite water reuse and wastewater
treatment alternatives. Soon, they were building
prototypes, self-publishing “The Guerrillas Grey-
water Girls Guide to Water,” teaching hands-on
workshops in community venues, and researching
and refining designs for small-scale urban gray wa-
ter systems. A few years later they changed their
name to the “Greywater Guerrillas”, to reflect the
changing composition of a growing group of col-
laborators. In 2009, the latest name—Greywater
Action - for a Sustainable Water Culture—reflects
both the latest improvements in California law, as
well as the organization’s emphasis on technology
education projects. Through hands-on workshops
and presentations, Greywater Action has educat-
ed hundreds of people about gray water system
design and construction, and built gray water sys-
tems at dozens of houses in cities across California
and beyond.2
2 This description is adapted from the Greywater Action website. For more
information on this organization and the extensive educational work
they do across California, please visit www.greywateraction.org.
GOOD EXAMPLES IN WATER CONSERVATION:
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The City of Carlsbad also reduces water demand by converting city athletic fields to state-of-the-art artifi-cial turf, which incidentally also allows the fields to be used more continuously throughout the year.
Golf courses (top) and Flower Fields (center) in the City of Carlsbad are major sites for recycled water use.
Other Conservation Efforts
Some other specific water conservation efforts being implemented in the City of Carlsbad include replacing grass with artificial turf on city athletic fields at Pine Avenue, Poinsettia, Stagecoach, and Aviara community parks, and on the event area at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, and converting to automated water meters that enable leaks to be detected and fixed more quickly. In early 2010, the city adopted a water-efficient landscape ordinance to promote water conservation through design, installation and maintenance of more efficient landscape and irrigation systems. The city is currently updating its Landscape Design Manual to provide guidance to homeowners, developers, and landscape design and installation professionals on implementing more water-efficient systems in new and rehabilitated landscapes.
New Sources: Carlsbad Desalination Project
The desalination project in the City of Carlsbad
is a 50-million gallon a day seawater desalina-
tion plant intended to supply the San Diego region
with approximately 10 percent of its drinking water
needs, and the City of Carlsbad with 90 percent of its
drinking water needs.12 The project will be the first
large scale desalination plant on the West Coast and
the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
It will be located next to the Encina’s power plant
at the corner of Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon
Road. Although all required state permits have been
issued, environmental groups continue to challenge
the coastal development permits, and financing
hurdles have pressed the San Diego County Water
Authority to enter into negotiations with Poseidon
Resources, the developer, on a 30-year water
purchase agreement.
12 The latest developments with regard to this project suggest the city
would purchase water blended from the desalination plant and
water from other sources.
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Community Value: Water 3.3
Quality
Definition
Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking and other activities. The United States Environmental Protection Agency determined that pollutants in runoff from urban areas and construction sites are a leading cause of water quality impairment. Urban point source pol-lutants such as sewage and industrial waste, as well as pollution from non-point sources such as agricul-tural runoff and stormwater drainage, contribute to increased levels of pesticides, lead, arsenic and poly-chlorinated biphenyls in municipal and national water bodies. This is largely a result of impervi-ous urban land surfaces dominated by buildings, pavement, and impaired drainage systems, thereby reducing the amount of rain and snowmelt entering underground aquifers. A typical city block generates five times more runoff than a woodland area of the same size, increasing the risk for flooding in addition to water quality degradation. Runoff pol-lutants such as sediment, oil, grease, toxic chemicals from motor vehicles, pesticides, lawn nutrients, viruses, bacteria, pet waste, road salts, and heavy metals enter storm drain conveyances in excessive amounts without proper biofiltration systems or natural drainages. These pollutants, coupled with thermal pollution (increased water temperatures caused by dark surfaces such as streets, roof tops and parking lots), can adversely affect native fish and aquatic life, destroy native vegetation commu-nities, contaminate drinking water, and increase health risks in recreational areas. 13
13 United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Protecting Water
Quality From Urban Runoff.” (February 2003, updated February
2010).
Key Regulatory Context
Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972
(Clean Water Act)
The principle federal law regulating water quality in the United States is the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act. The fundamental purpose of the Clean Water Act is the protection of designated beneficial uses of water resources. The Clean Water Act establishes a system of water quality standards, discharge limi-tations, and permits, and requires states to adopt water quality standards to protect public health and welfare, enhance the quality of water, and serve the other purposes of the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act was amended in 1987 to include urban and stormwater runoff, which required many cities to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for stormwater con-veyance system discharges. Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act prohibits discharges of pollutants contained in stormwater runoff, except in compli-ance with a NPDES permit, as more fully described below.
Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the United States Army Corp of Engineers regulates discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., requiring issuance of a Section 404 permit. Under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, a state water quality certification must be obtained whenever an application for a federal permit for discharge of pollutants into waters of the U.S. is submitted, such as a Section 404 permit. The Section 401 certification requires that any activity affecting waters of the U.S. be in compliance with all applicable water quality standards, limitations and restrictions.
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act is the
principal state law enacted to establish require-
ments for adequate planning, implementation,
management, and enforcement of water quality
controls. The Porter-Cologne Act, which became
Division 7 of the California Water Code, estab-
lished a regulatory program to protect water quality
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LOCAL HYDROLOGY
A community’s impact on water quality is
closely related to the larger hydrologic context
of a region. Pollutants that enter the ground
from buildings, vehicles, manufacturing pro-
cess, etc., move into and through the ecosys-
tem in accordance with the soil types, slopes,
vegetation, and subsurface characteristics that
are present.
The City of Carlsbad is located within the San
Diego Hydrologic Region, comprising approxi-
mately 3,900 square miles and 11 major water-
sheds which drain into the Pacific Ocean. The
city is within the Carlsbad Watershed and con-
tains a wide range of drainage conditions due
to its diverse physical geography and topogra-
phy, including steep hills and low-lying coastal
areas. The entire Carlsbad Watershed occupies
about 210 square miles, from Lake Wohlford
to the Pacific Ocean, and from the City of Vista
to Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Today, landscape treatments in the City of Carls-
bad are being designed to enhance water qual-
ity in the watershed. The moat design of this
drainage swale allows a substantial amount of
drainage to be treated and stored safely with-
out flooding adjacent streets or private prop-
erty. Rocky elements help reduce the velocity
of runoff and the potential for erosion.
and beneficial uses of all state waters, outlined the responsibilities and authorities of the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and established the State Water Resources Control Board. For the San Diego Hydrologic Region, water quality is regulated by the RWQCB, Region 9 of the SWRCB. Each Regional Board is directed to create a water quality control plan, to include three main components: (1) beneficial uses which are to be protected; (2) water quality objectives which protect those uses; and (3) an implementation plan to accomplish those objectives.
San Diego Basin—Region 9, Water Quality
Control Plan
In accordance with the criteria in the California
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and
other pertinent state and federal rules and regula-
tions, each RWQCB is responsible for water quality
control planning within their region, often in the
form of a basin plan. San Diego County falls within
the jurisdiction of the Region 9 of the RWQCB. The
San Diego Basin—Region 9, Water Quality Control
Plan establishes standards for compliance in the San
Diego Basin. The RWQCB is also responsible for
implementing the provisions of the General Permit,
including reviewing Storm Water Pollution Pre-
vention Plans and monitoring reports, conducting
compliance inspections, and taking enforcement
actions.
San Diego Region Municipal Stormwater
Permit (MS4 Permit)
The Clean Water Act amendments of 1987 estab-lished a framework for regulating stormwater discharges from municipal, industrial, and con-struction activities under the NPDES program. The NPDES permit program, as authorized by Section 402 of the Clean Water Act, was established to control water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. In California, the SWRCB administers the NPDES municipal storm water permitting program through the nine Regional Boards.
Pursuant to the Municipal Permit issued by the San Diego RWQCB, co-permittees are required
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WP1: Sustainability
to develop and implement construction and permanent storm water BMP regulations address-ing storm water pollution associated with private and public development projects. Development projects are also required to include BMPs to reduce pollutant discharges from the project site in the permanent design. The Municipal Stormwater Permit outlines the individual responsibilities of the co-permittees including, but not limited to, the implementation of management programs, BMPs, and monitoring programs, within their jurisdiction and their watershed(s). BMPs associated with the final design are described in the Model Standard Urban Stormwater Mitigation Plan. The County of San Diego requires a storm water management plan to describe potential construction and post-con-struction pollutants and identify BMPs to protect water resources.
In addition, the RWQCB’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems permit requires control of hydromodification, or changes in the natural flow pattern (surface flow or groundwater) of an area due to development. Hydromodification can be managed by reducing runoff flow and volume, along with including BMPs that reduce volume.
City of Carlsbad Environmentally Sensitive
Areas
The potential for pollutant transport to sensitive
receiving water bodies is evaluated by determin-
ing the proximity and sensitivity of receiving water
bodies using the environmentally sensitive area
definitions described in the Municipal Permit.
Pursuant to the definitions provided in Section F of
the Municipal Permit, the City of Carlsbad contains
the following ESAs:
Buena Vista Lagoon•
Buena Vista Creek•
Agua Hedionda Lagoon•
Agua Hedionda Creek•
Encinas Creek•
Batiquitos Lagoon•
San Marcos Creek•
Encinitas Creek•
Multiple Habitat Conservation Program • Biological Core and Linkage Areas
Sensitive Vegetation Buffers as determined by • the City of Carlsbad
Areas within 200 feet of the Pacific Ocean•
Local Action
The City of Carlsbad currently employs a number of measures, including Best Management Practices, to prevent pollutants and hazardous materials from entering municipal stormwater conveyance systems. As storm drains are not connected to sanitary sewer infrastructure, water conveyed to these drains are not treated prior to discharging into creeks, lagoons and the ocean. Therefore, pollutants must be reduced and/or removed before entering urban conveyance systems. The city’s Storm Water Protection Program conducts inspections, monitoring, and education and outreach to the public. Through this program, the city informs residents and businesses how to prevent pollutants and other hazardous materials from entering storm drains. Preventative measures and residential BMPs include:
Minimizing the use of lawn and garden care • products such as pesticides, insecticides, weed killers, fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals.
Avoiding over-irrigation, which washes fertiliz-• ers and pesticides from lawns and gardens into the gutter and storm drains.
Sweeping up yard waste and debris and dumping •
it in a trash receptacle. Avoid using a hose to
wash off sidewalks, parking areas and garages.
When washing a car at home, use soap sparingly •
and pour soapy water down the sink, not in the
street.
Taking a bag when walking pets and be sure •
to always clean up after them. Flush pet waste
down the toilet or dispose of it in a sealed plastic
bag and throw it in the trash.
Using non-toxic products for household •
cleaning.
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GOOD EXAMPLES IN WATER
QuALITY:
Low Impact Development
Low Impact Development technologies and de-
signs mimic natural watershed processes by rep-
licating pre-existing hydrologic conditions on-
site. Low Impact Development usually directs
storm water runoff to natural vegetated sys-
tems—such as landscaped planters, swales and
gardens—that reduce, filter or slow the runoff
before it makes its way into the storm drainage
system.
The benefits of Low Impact Development in-
clude improving treatment plant efficiency by
reducing peak volumes of runoff entering the
system; reducing discharge volumes; removing
pollutants closer to their source; and increasing
vegetation in urban environments.1
Low Impact Development design approaches
include reducing impervious surfaces (e.g.,
rooftop gardens, narrower streets, pervious
pavement); conserving open space/maintaining
groundwater recharge areas, buffer zones, and
drainage courses; storing water on-site (infiltra-
tion swales, grading strategies, and open drain-
age systems (e.g., bioretention); and reducing
and removing channelization (pipes, curbs and
gutters).
Putting LID into Practice in Santa
Monica, California2
In Santa Monica the objective was to reduce
runoff volume and contamination from both
existing properties and future developments.
1 Overview adapted from material on the San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission website.
2 Anne Guillette, “Achieving Sustainable Site Design through Low
Impact Development Practices,” Whole Building Design Guide.
To do this, Santa Monica requires all new devel-
opments and substantial remodels to submit an
"Urban Runoff Mitigation Plan", and to reduce
projected runoff for a project site by twenty
percent. The city provides a list of recommended
design elements, including, but not limited to:
Maximize infiltration using: biofilters, green •
strips, swales, permeable materials in lieu of
hardscapes.
Maximize amount of runoff directed to per-•
meable areas: Orient roof runoff toward per-
meable surfaces or structural BMPs; Modify
grading to divert flow to permeable areas;
Design curbs to minimize isolation of perme-
able or landscaped areas.
Maximize storm water reuse: Use cisterns, re-•
tention structures or green rooftops to store
runoff for reuse; Install BMPs to remove pol-
lutants from runoff.
Urban Runoff Mitigation Plan must include •
maintenance plan and applicant's signed
statement accepting responsibility for all
BMP maintenance.
Downspouts and subsurface pipes directing •
storm water to the curb must be fitted with
a French drain system of perforated pipe
and gravel.
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The city has also developed a Jurisdictional Urban Runoff Management Program to comply with Municipal Permit Order No. R9-2007-0001 issued by the San Diego RWQCB. The JURMP serves to implement programs to reduce pollution in urban runoff, including programs to regulate new public and private land development during each of the three major phases of urban development: planning, construction, and existing development (or use) phases. BMPs are required for every land develop-ment project within the city in order to control the sources of pollutants, as well as effectively capture, filter, and treat runoff as necessary.
Community Value: Energy 3.4
Security
Definition
In 2007, the world total primary, marketed energy
consumption was 484 Quadrillion British thermal
units14 (Btu) while the U.S. primary energy con-
sumption was 102 Quadrillion Btu, about 21 percent
of the world total.15 In comparison, the U.S. popu-
lation—about 310 million people—represents less
than 5 percent of the world population.16 Among
states, California is the second largest consumer
of energy, second only to Texas. However, Califor-
nia’s per capita energy consumption is relatively
low, in part due to mild weather that reduces energy
demand for heating and cooling, and in part due to
the government’s energy-efficiency programs and
standards. Petroleum and natural gas currently
supply most of the energy consumed in California.
The concept of energy security is based on sensi-
tivity to limited supplies, uneven distribution, and
rising costs of fossil fuels such as petroleum and
gas. Energy insecurity is most frequently described,
usually in terms of U.S. vulnerability to the political
or social upheaval in energy-producing countries,
14 A traditional unit of energy measurement; approximately the
amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water 1°F.
15 U.S. Energy Information Administration: http://www.eia.doe.gov/ask/generalenergy_faqs.asp#energy_use_US
16 U.S. Department of the Census: http://www.census.gov/population/
www/popclockus.html
NRG Energy Inc. operates the Encina Power Station on the coast in the City of Carlsbad. The company wants to build a new 558-megawatt power plant along Inter-state-5 near the current plant. Though the new facility is supposed to produce enough power for 400,000 homes, many city residents question whether it is an appropri-ate use of land at this location.
New federal fuel efficiency and emission regulations will help to reduce the carbon and air quality impacts of cars in the City of Carlsbad – but they will not help with traffic.
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as well as U.S. vulnerability to attacks on energy distribution infrastructure, accidents, and natural disasters. Increasing energy security usually means efforts to decrease demand for energy overall, decrease demand for energy that is supplied by less politically stable nations, increase the resiliency of our national infrastructure, and increase supply of more sustainable and stable energy sources. Sustain-able energy sources usually include all renewable sources, such as plant matter, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power, and tidal power. It usually also includes technologies that improve energy efficiency. Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consump-tion in order to preserve resources for the future and reduce pollution. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources.
The Community Vision targets a few specific sus-tainable energy approaches of particular interest to the City of Carlsbad: renewable resources, energy efficiency, conservation, and technological and business partnerships that would contribute to greater energy self-sufficiency in the region.
Key Regulatory Context
Federal Transportation Fuel Regulations
Recent federal actions have focused on transpor-
tation fuels and fuel efficiency as a way to address
both energy security and climate change (See
Chapter 4 for more information on climate change).
New changes to Corporate Average Fuel Economy
standards and greenhouse gas emission standards
aim to improve technology for fuel efficiency. The
standards apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks,
and medium-duty passenger vehicles, covering
model years 2012 through 2016. The standards are
designed to achieve a national vehicle fleet whose
emissions and fuel economy performance improves
year over year. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions
by 960 million metric tons and save 1.8 billion
barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in
model years 2012 through 2016.
The City of Carlsbad is looking to solar technology to reduce energy demand from city facilities, and eventu-ally, from households and businesses, too.
Investments in new energy-efficient street lights will reduce the city’s carbon footprint, and electric bill.
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In a related effort, changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program are being implemented as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The revised statutory requirements establish new specific volume standards for cel-lulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The revised statutory requirements also include new definitions and criteria for both renewable fuels and the feedstocks used to produce them, including new greenhouse gas emission thresholds for renewable fuels.
These are examples of ways that federal action will change the energy demands in the City of Carlsbad, and they will complement efforts at the state and local level to conserve energy and transition to more renewable fuels.
Energy Star Program
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency and the Department of
Energy. The program establishes criteria for energy
efficiency for household products and labels energy
efficient products with the Energy Star seal. Homes
can be qualified as “Energy Star Homes” if they
meet efficiency standards. In California, Energy
Star Homes must use at least 15 percent less energy
than standards set by Title 24 (whose standards
are now more stringent than ever, see below), pass
the California Energy Star Homes Quality Insu-
lation Installation and Thermal Bypass Checklist
Procedures, have Energy Star windows, and have
minimal duct leakage.
State of California Building Energy Efficiency
Standards (Title 24, Part 6)
The California Energy Commission adopted new 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Standards) effective January 1, 2010. The standards were updated for a number of reasons, including:
To respond to Assembly Bill 32, the Global • Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (See Section 4 for more on AB 32);
To pursue California energy policy that will • establish energy efficiency as the resource of first choice for meeting California’s energy needs;
GOOD EXAMPLES IN ENERGY
SECuRITY:
Southern California Clean Cities
Coalition
The Clean Cities Program was established by
the U.S. Department of Energy and designed
to support locally based government/industry
partnerships in the expanded use of vehicles
operating on alternative fuels. The mission of
the Clean Cities Program is to advance the na-
tion’s economic, environmental, and energy
security by supporting local decisions to adopt
practices that contribute to the reduction of
petroleum consumption. Clean Cities carries
out this mission through a network of more
than 80 volunteer coalitions across the coun-
try, which develop public/private partnerships
to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel
blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and
idle reduction.
An independent, non-profit corporation
called The Partnership administers the South-
ern California Clean Cities Coalition on be-
half of the Southern California Association of
Governments and the South Coast Air Quality
Management District. Through public/private
collaboration, Southern California now has
the most extensive infrastructure for elec-
tric and natural gas vehicles in the country;
Smart Shuttle Transit systems are fine-tuning
their operations and are running profitably in
many parts of the region; Advanced Traveler
Information is becoming increasingly avail-
able to everyday commuters; and more and
more employers are accepting the merits of
telecommuting employees.1
3 This description is adapted from materials on The Partnership’s
Clean Cities website. For more information about the Southern
California Clean Cities Coalition, please visit www.the-partnership.
org/ccities.
24
Envision Carlsbad
www.carlsbadca.gov/envision
To act on the findings of California’s Integrated • Energy Policy Report that indicate Standards in general (as opposed to incentives or other mech-anisms) are the most cost-effective means to achieve energy efficiency;
To meet California’s commitment to include • aggressive energy efficiency measures in updates of state building codes; and
To meet California’s commitment to improve • the energy efficiency of nonresidential buildings through aggressive standards.
Furthermore, Public Resources Code Section
25402.1(h)2 and Section 10-106 of the Building
Energy Efficiency Standards (Standards) establish
a process which allows local adoption of energy
standards that are even more stringent than the
statewide Standards. This process allows local gov-
ernments to adopt and enforce energy standards
before the statewide Standards effective date,
require additional energy conservation measures,
and/or set more stringent energy budgets. Local
governments are required to apply to the Energy
Commission for approval, documenting the sup-
porting analysis for how the local government has
determined that their proposed Standards will save
more energy than the current statewide Standards
and the basis of the local government’s determina-
tion that the local standards are cost-effective.
Go Solar… San Diego County
“Go Solar…San Diego County” is a public-private
partnership between San Diego County and the
commercial banking industry that offers loans to
qualified property owners at attractive rates and
terms to help access financing for making energy
efficient and/or solar energy improvements to homes
or businesses, such as installing solar systems. Loan
programs will vary based on the participating
bank and the property owner’s qualifications, but
are generally offered in support of energy efficient
improvements and/or installing solar systems to
promote regional energy independence.
Local Action
The city’s current energy security efforts include:
Pre-Plumb for Solar Water Heating. • The City
of Carlsbad requires all new residential units to
include plumbing specifically designed to allow
the later installation of a system which utilizes
solar energy as the primary means of heating
domestic potable water. (City of Carlsbad
Building Code 18.30.020)
Efficient Street Lights.• The Carlsbad City
Council recently approved a project to replace
more than 7,000 high-pressure sodium street-
lights throughout the city with high-efficiency
induction lights. The city received a $938,900
grant from the U.S. Department of Energy,
almost one-third of the total cost of the planned
replacements. The project is anticipated to save
nearly $400,000 a year in energy and mainte-
nance costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from city operations.
Hydroelectric Power.• The city is developing a
hydroelectric power project at Maerkle Reservoir
that will generate about 2 million kilowatt hours
of electricity per year—or 125 percent of the
Carlsbad Municipal Water District’s annual
consumption of electricity.
Solar Power.• The city is investigating the use of
solar energy at Maerkle Reservoir and the use of
solar heating at the proposed Alga Norte Pool.
Hybrid Vehicles. • Hybrid vehicles are used for 15
percent of the city’s fleet. In recent years, the city
has procured several hybrid vehicles as new or
replacement units for the fleet. The current fleet
includes Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, and Ford Escape hybrid vehicles. Procurement of hybrid vehicles is recommended in those cases where it makes economic and operational sense for the city.
Favorable Financing for Energy Improvements.• The City of Carlsbad joined the CaliforniaFIRST program to allow residents and business owners to obtain low-interest financing for energy related improvements and repay the loans through an assessment on their property tax bills. The program is voluntary, and the owners
25
WP1: Sustainability
of residential, commercial, and industrial prop-erties in the City of Carlsbad are eligible. Along with solar electric and water-heating systems, energy efficient improvements such as dual-paned windows, tankless water heaters, and insulation are also eligible for funding under the program.17 This program is a variation on Pay as You Save projects tested elsewhere in the country, and relies on Federal Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for support. To-date, the program is actually on hold because of problems with the PACE federal financing component, but it is included here for the sake of a thorough description of city efforts.
Construction of Energy-efficient Civic Facilities. • Carlsbad City Council Policy 71 declares that the city’s goal is that, “whenever practicable, and within a reasonable cost/benefit ratio, new facilities will be designed to be at least 25 percent more energy efficient than required by the State of California, Title 24 Energy Regulations”. The policy calls for new city facilities to strive for LEED “Silver” certification or its equivalent and to generate a minimum of 10 percent of its energy demand onsite, whenever practicable and within a reasonable cost/benefit ratio.
Energy Management. • The city is participating in the Sustainable Region Program with the San Diego Association of Governments, California Center for Sustainable Energy, and San Diego Gas & Electric to develop energy management plans and implement cost-saving energy mea-sures for municipal facilities.
17 More information available at: http://www.carlsbadca.gov/about/
news/Pages/energy-improvements-financing.aspx
Community Value: Recycling, 3.5
Composting, and Waste
Reduction
Definition
Waste is generally understood to be unwanted materials or substances, usually byproducts of a pro-ductive process. However, defining waste is not that simple. Items that some people discard have value to others. In nature there is no waste; “waste” produced by one species is invariably used as food, fuel, or shelter by another. The paradigm “cradle to cradle”18 contends that in natural systems, waste is “food.” In cradle to cradle production, every element that goes into the process can be retrieved at the end of its use and become a healthy input (a “nutrient” or “food”) into another production process. These material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or bio-logical nutrients. Technical nutrients can be recycled or reused, and biological nutrients can be composted
or consumed. In the cradle to cradle model, all waste
is “food” for other processes.
While it has been customary to use landfilling
and incineration to dispose of waste, it is possible
for humans to reduce, reuse, or recycle the vast
majority, if not all, of our waste. Recycling and waste
prevention programs reduce the energy needed to
manufacture and ship resource-intensive products
and packaging. Composting food and yard waste
reduces the amount of methane—a greenhouse
gas—produced in landfills. Communities near
landfills increasingly face health consequences from
air and water contamination, particularly from
landfills that are poorly constructed and operated.
We are finding waste and its negative effects even
in places where we don’t intend it to go, such as the
middle of the ocean.19 As our population increases, we are simply running out of land in which to place
18 According to L. Hunter Lovins in his essay “Rethinking Produc-tion” (State of the World 2008: Innovations for a Sustainable Economy), the phrase was coined by Walter R. Stahel in the 1970s and popularized by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their 2002 book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.
19 Bongiorno, Lori.“New Garbage Patch Discovered in Indian Ocean,”
July 27,2010: http://tinyurl.com/27ex89z
26
Envision Carlsbad
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20%21%
24%25%
28%
31%32%33%
37%
42%44%
48%47%48%
52%54%
30%
40%
50%
60%
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
California
Carlsbad Waste Statistics, 1995-2009
Waste Statistics, 1989 2006
Estimated
Statewide
Diversion (away
from landfill)
StatewideDisposal (going tolandfill)
10%
17%
20%21%
24%25%
28%
31%32%33%
37%
42%44%
48%47%48%
52%
54%
0%
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
10%
20%
0
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
10
20
30
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Per Capita Waste Disposal Rate (pounds per person per day)Estimated Diversion RateMillions of Tons of WastePopulation and Total Tons DisposedPopulation and Total Tons Disposed Year
Year
-
Estimated
Statewide
Diversion Rate
Source: CalRecycle, “Statewide Waste Generated, Diverted and Disposed”, historical date from statewide goal measurement prior to 2007.
Source: City of Carlsbad Public Works Department, 2010.
City Residential
Population
Total Tons ofWaste Send to
Landfills
Per Capita
Disposal Rate
Figure 3-1. State of California Waste Statistics, 1989-2006
Figure 3-2. City of Carlsbad Waste Statistics, 1995-2009
27
WP1: Sustainability
new landfills at the same time that we are generat-ing more waste.
Statewide, increases in the rate of recycling over the past 20 years have been largely offset by significant increases in per capita waste generation. According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, between 1990 and 2000, waste generation increased from 51 million to 66 million tons a year in California, a 30 percent increase. At the same time, the Census Bureau only shows a 14 percent increase in population, from 29.8 million to 33.8 million. By 2006, annual waste gen-eration had grown to 92 million tons of waste, 50 of which were being diverted and 42 sent to landfills. In 2008, Californians were sending more than 35 million tons of waste to landfills, representing a per capita disposal rate of 5.1 pounds per person per day, and an estimated diversion rate of 59 percent.20
According to CalRecycle, in 2008, the City of Carlsbad sent more than 122,000 tons of garbage to nine different landfill facilities across southern and central California.21 That is more than a ton of garbage landfilled per person, or about 6.4 pounds of garbage per person per day, down from a high of almost 9 pounds per person per day in 2001.22 In 2009, both the City of Carlsbad and the state saw a steep decline in waste disposal. According to CalRe-cycle, “Effective waste management programs and economic conditions helped Californians throw away less trash than ever before in 2009. The per capita disposal rate of 4.5 pounds of trash per person per day is the lowest on record since the department began tracking statewide waste disposal in 1995. However, drops in personal income and consump-tion suggest the recession is the primary driver of the reduced numbers.” 23
20 CalRecycle “California’s 2008 Per Capita Disposal Rate.”
21 CalRecycle Jurisdiction Profiles.
22 Uses California Department of Finance 2009 revised population estimate for 2008.
23 CalRecycle Press Release, “California Trash Disposal Reached Re-
cord Low in 2009: Economic Factors, Effective Waste Management
Programs Credited With Decline” July 2010.
Key Regulatory Context
Integrated Waste Management Act
In 1989, California enacted the Integrated Waste Management Act, which required all cities and counties to implement programs to reduce landfill tonnage by 25 percent by the end of 1995, and 50 percent by the end of 2000. The City of Carlsbad met the 50 percent requirement nine out of 12 years from 1995-2006. A proposed amendment to the Integrated Waste Management Act would require CalRecycle to adopt programs to increase statewide diversion to 75 percent by 2020.
Per Capita Disposal Measurement System
(Chapter 343, Statutes of 2008)
The purpose of the new per capita disposal mea-
surement system is to make goal measurement
as established by the Integrated Waste Manage-
ment Act simpler, more timely, and more accurate.
The new disposal-based indicator—the per capita
disposal rate—uses only two factors: a jurisdiction’s
population (or in some cases employment) and its
disposal as reported by disposal facilities.
Local Action
The city’s current recycling, composting, and waste
reduction efforts include:
Subsidized Compost Bins.• The city offers to
households subsidized compost bins through the
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation.
Green Purchasing.• The city is increasing its use
of environmentally friendly materials, such
as 30 percent recycled content paper and more
environmentally friendly cleaning products.
The city also recycles office products, such as
ink cartridges, reuses motor oil, and purchases
building materials containing recycled asphalt,
recycled concrete, and rubberized asphalt.
Fleet Operations. • Fleet operations procures
recycled oil and other automotive fluids, and
recycles fluids, metals, and other fleet materials
to reduce waste.
28
Envision Carlsbad
www.carlsbadca.gov/envision
GOOD EXAMPLES IN WASTE REDuCTION:
Waste Conversion Technology Development in Southern California
The Southern California Conversion Technology Demonstration Project aims to educate Californians
about solid waste challenges; support organizations working toward a zero-waste future; evaluate
and promote the development of the most promising conversion technologies; and work with com-
munities in Southern California to create a demonstration conversion technology facility.1 The Los
Angeles County Department of Public Works has for a decade been actively developing environ-
mentally-sound alternatives to landfilling and waste-to-energy that would convert post-recycled
residual solid waste into useful products, green fuels, and clean, renewable energy. Technologies
explored include biological, thermal, chemical, and mechanical processes, but not waste-to-energy
(combustion). Public agencies and universities have studied air emissions from these non-combus-
tion conversion technologies and concluded that they are capable of operating within regulatory
limits.2 More than 130 commercial facilities, processing a wide variety of waste streams, operate in
Europe and Asia as a safe and clean alternative to traditional waste management practices such as
landfilling or waste-to-energy.3
Furthermore, in a 2007 staff report, the California Integrated Waste Management Board described
several hypothetical waste management scenarios for a projected amount of waste generated in
the year 2010, and found that compared to alternative management scenarios, conversion technol-
ogy scenario ranged from two times lower net energy consumption compared to waste-to-energy,
to 11 times lower net energy consumption compared to landfill without energy recovery.4
1 For more information about the Southern California Conversion Technology Demonstration Project, please visit www.socalconversion.org.
2 University of California Riverside, “Evaluation of Emissions from Thermal Conversion Technologies Processing Municipal Solid Waste and Biomass”,
June 21, 2009.
3 Southern California Conversion Project, Conversion Technology Environmental Factsheet.
4 California Integrated Waste Management Board, Staff Report to the Board: “New and Emerging Conversion Technologies”, 2007.
Other Waste Reduction Programs.• The city has several programs that promote recycling and proper disposal of bulky items and hazardous waste, for residents and city employees. These programs include:
Curbside recycling and green yard waste pick –
up for residents.
Clean up events at city trails, parks, beaches, –
and lagoons.
Collection events that make it convenient for –
residents to properly dispose of household
hazardous waste.
Bulky item pick-up services. –
Door-to-door hazardous material pick-up –
service.
Using reusable water bottles, double siding –
copies, single-stream recycling, and compost-
ing at city facilities.
29
WP1: Sustainability
The City of Carlsbad has numerous existing resources to support a healthy, sustainable food system, including farmers’ markets (top), local agricultural businesses (center), and a community garden (bottom).
Community Value: Healthy 3.6
and Sustainable Food
Community leaders and residents recognize that the City of Carlsbad will likely never be food-self-suffi-cient, however, this working paper acknowledges the importance community members place on having access to local, healthy foods, supporting local and regional food production, and “cultivating” a food system that in turn supports other social, economic, and environmental community values.
Definition
Much like green development, the concept of a sus-tainable food system crosses over many different sustainability issues. For example, in the U.S., obesity and diet-related chronic disease rates are escalating; public health is threatened by rising antibiotic resistance; chemicals and pathogens contaminate food, air, soil, and water; and natural resources such as fresh water and prime farmland are being depleted. These threats have human, social, and economic costs that are growing, cumu-lative, and unequally distributed. Interestingly, these issues all relate to the food system—what we eat and how it is produced. 24
In some communities, healthy food access is a big issue, particularly where there are challenges to both physical proximity and affordability. Residents in communities with a more “imbalanced food envi-ronment” (where fast food restaurants and corner stores are more convenient than grocery stores) have more health problems and higher mortality than residents of areas with a higher proportion of grocery stores, other factors held constant.25 On the other side of that coin, the presence of a supermar-ket in a neighborhood is linked to higher fruit and vegetable consumption and a reduced prevalence of
24 American Public Health Association Policy Statement,” Toward a Healthy, Sustainable Food System”, 2007, paraphrased.
25 Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group, Examining the
Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago (July 2006).
30
Envision Carlsbad
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overweight and obesity.26,27 In low-income neigh-borhoods, each additional supermarket has been found to increase residents’ likelihood of meeting nutritional guidelines by one-third.28
In terms of local nutrition, the San Diego county-wide average percent of children overweight for their age was only 8.8 percent, compared to a California average of 11.2 percent.29 In other similar indicators (e.g. adult overweight, prevalence of breastfeed-ing), San Diego County generally performs better than the state overall, though local city data are not always available.
Notably, the Community Vision for sustainable food does not focus on nutrition per se, but rather support of local agriculture, farmers’ markets, and eating local. These objectives touch on community concerns about other issues such as environmental quality, local economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and community connectedness. A sustainable food system perspective is particularly suited to approach “food” from all these angles, by looking at the wider picture and targeting several areas of influence, encompassing direct food access and quality, but also touching on production (farms and gardens), procurement (markets, stores, and city policies), transport (shipping methods and fuels, packaging, and other factors), and both consumer and business decision-making.
Key Regulatory Context
Federal Child Nutrition Legislation
In August 2010, the U.S. Senate passed the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act. If signed into law, the bill will
26 Inagami, S., et al., “You Are Where You Shop: Grocery Store Loca-tions, Weight, and Neighborhoods”, Vol. 31, Issue 1, American Jour-nal of Preventative Medicine, at 10-17 (2006). See also K. Morland et al., “Supermarkets, Other Food Stores, and Obesity: The Athero-sclerosis Risk in Communities Study”, Vol. 30, Issue 4, American Journal of Preventative Medicine, at 333-339 (2006).
27 Sturm, R., and A. Datar, “Body Mass Index in Elementary School
Children, Metropolitan Area Food Prices, and Food Outlet Den-
sity”, Vol. 119, Public Health, at 1059-1068 (2005).
28 Morland, K., et al., “The Contextual Effect of the Local Food Envi-ronment on Residents’ Diet”, Vol. 92, Issue 11, American Journal of Public Health, at 1761-1768 (November 2002).
29 California Food Policy Advocates, “2010 County Nutrition and
Food Insecurity Profiles.”
provide $4.5 billion over ten years to federal child nutrition programs, namely, school lunches. The bill aims to reform school lunch through two main changes: increasing the number of kids who can receive free or reduced-cost meals, and improving the quality of the food served. Next, the U.S. House of Representatives must vote on its version, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act.
San Diego County 10-Year Health Strategy
Agenda
In July 2010, San Diego County launched a 10-year
Health Strategy Agenda.30 Part of the Health
Strategy Agenda is the “3-4-50” concept. Through-
out the nation and locally, three behaviors—poor
nutrition, lack of exercise, and tobacco use—are the
three main causes that lead to four diseases: heart
disease/stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and respira-
tory conditions, such as asthma, which account for
more than half of the deaths in San Diego County.
The County Plan focuses on four major strategies:
Building a Better System• focuses on how the
County delivers services and how it can further
strengthen partnerships to support health. An
example is putting physical and mental health
together so that they are easier to access.
Supporting Healthy Choices• provides informa-
tion and educates residents so they are aware of
how choices they make affect their health. The
plan highlights chronic diseases because these
are largely preventable and we can make a differ-
ence through awareness and education.
Pursuing Policy Changes for a Healthy • Environment is about creating policies to
support recommended healthy choices.
Improving the Culture from Within.• The County
has a responsibility to educate and support its
workforce so employees “walk the talk.” Simply
said, change starts with the County.
30 http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hhsa/programs/sd/health_strategy_
agenda/index.html
31
WP1: Sustainability
GOOD EXAMPLES IN SuSTAINABLE FOOD:
Diverse Approaches to urban and Sustainable Food
Community Supported Kitchens. Community Supported Kitchens are the next evolution of Com-
munity Supported Agriculture—transforming local, healthy, sustainable foods into meals or meal
supplements that are “ready for the table.” CSKs can offer a weekly pick-up box of prepared foods;
often the prepared foods are not necessarily meals but rather a variety of sides or meal supple-
ments. Examples of CSKs include Three Stone Hearth (Berkeley), Salt, Fire & Time (Portland, OR), and
Local Sprouts Cooperative (Portland, ME). The Local Sprouts Cooperative, the first CSK on the East
Coast, recently opened a community supported café, in addition to classes and catering. Paying and
working members receive credits and discounts towards café and catered food, classes, and other
purchases. By opening a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Local Sprouts increases their
kitchen’s role as a community meeting place and helps to build relationships between local farmers,
food producers, and local food consumers.1
Urban Foraging. Another emerging trend in urban sustainable food systems is urban foraging. In
this model, city residents look around at the plants that make up the “green space” throughout
the community, identify edible plants (usually fruit-bearing trees), and harvest their fruit as a local,
healthy food source. Featured in a 2009 article in the New York Times, these productive partner-
ships and networks are growing all over the country. Websites such as neighborhoodfruit.com and
veggietrader.com are designed specifically to help connect community members to sources of fruit
and vegetables in their neighborhoods, either through databases of trees on public lands, or coor-
dinated “swaps” between households with produce to share. Local food foraging resources, such as
those mapped by www.fallenfruit.org (Los Angeles), can be a way to support community connec-
tions as well as healthful eating habits.2
1 Sabina, Ellen, “Sustainable Food in Action: Community Supported Kitchens”, JustMeans, accessed August 30, 2010.
2 Severson, Kim, “Neighbor, Can You Spare a Plum?” New York Times, June 9, 2009.
32
Envision Carlsbad
www.carlsbadca.gov/envision
Local Action
The city’s current sustainable food activities include:
The Carlsbad Village Business Association •
holds a farmers’ market every Wednesday and
Saturday.
The City of Carlsbad has a community garden.•
The Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee •
Grant Program provides funding to support
local agriculture.
Underutilized city-owned land is leased to •
farmers.
The city permits agricultural roadside stands.•
Other city policies and ordinances that support •
local agriculture include Proposition D, and
various existing General Plan and Local Coastal
Program policies.
33
4
While not explicitly emphasized in the Vision, the issue of climate change is closely related to other sustainability priorities (e.g. energy security, water conservation, green development), and much of the wider state and national legal and funding framework is couched in terms of efforts to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. This working paper introduces some of the main concepts under-pinning climate change, and connects those to other sustainability issues of concern to the City of Carlsbad.
Climate Change4.1
Climate change refers to a change in the average global climate that may be measured by wind patterns, storms, precipitation, and temperature. The term climate change is often used interchange-ably with the term global warming. Global warming refers to an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. However, rising temperatures are just one aspect of climate change.31
Among scientists, global climate change is now a widely accepted phenomenon. National and inter-national science academies and scientific societies have assessed the available evidence and largely followed or endorsed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change position of January 2001 which states: “An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system... There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming
31 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Indicators in the United States, April 2010.
observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.” To-date, no scientific body of national or international standing has maintained a dissenting opinion; the last was the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which in 2007 updated its 1999 statement rejecting the likeli-hood of human influence on recent climate with its current non-committal position.
While scientists are certain that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere and that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (defined on next page) will change the planet’s climate, they are less certain about how much the climate will change, at what rate it will change, precisely how much of the change is related to human activities, or what the exact global, or even regional, effects will be. Considering available evidence, the IPCC32 reached consensus that global climate change is “very likely” caused by humans, and that hotter temperatures and rising sea levels will continue for centuries no matter how much humans control their future emissions. In particu-lar, human influences have:
very likely• contributed to sea level rise and increased storm surge during the latter half of the 20th century;
likely• contributed to changes in wind patterns, affecting extra-tropical storm tracks and tem-perature patterns;
32 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteoro-logical Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environ-ment Programme (UNEP). Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
Climate Change and Sustainability
34
Envision Carlsbad
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likely• increased temperatures of extreme hot nights, cold nights and cold days;
more likely• than not increased risk of heat waves, area affected by drought since the 1970s, and fre-quency of heavy precipitation events.33
As the above statements suggest, scientific knowledge is about probabilities rather than cer-tainties. Scientists are aware that new data may overturn old theories and that human knowledge is constantly evolving. Whether resulting from natural factors, natural processes, and/or human activities, climate changes have the potential to impact both human and ecological systems.
Potential Climate Change 4.2
Effects
Many components of society and ecosystems are
sensitive to climatic variability, including human
health, agriculture, coastal zones, and the natural
environment. Scientists acknowledge that some
parts of the globe would benefit, at least in the short-
term, from climate change. Some high northern
latitudes could experience less extreme cold and a
longer growing season for crops. In addition, the
higher concentrations of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere will boost growth of some important
crops, and given adequate water and nutrients,
will bring higher yields. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency recently published a report sum-
marizing indicators presenting evidence that the
composition of the atmosphere is being altered as
a result of human activities and that the climate is
changing. They also illustrate a number of effects on
society and ecosystems related to these changes, as
well as those areas where uncertainty remains about
the causes and the magnitude of effects. The EPA’s
indicators of climate change include:
Greenhouse gases: the amount of greenhouse
gases emitted into the atmosphere through human
activities, the concentrations of these gases in the
33 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Summary for Policy-makers. In: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Fourth Assess-ment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, November 2007.
atmosphere, and how emissions and concentrations have changed over time.
Weather and Climate: frequency of heat waves; increased drought conditions; increased average precipitation and shifting weather patterns; and the intensity of tropical storms.
Oceans: increased ocean heat affecting water tem-perature, sea level, and currents; changes in sea level; increased ocean acidity affecting marine organisms.
Snow and Ice: reduced Arctic sea ice; diminished glaciers; decreased time that lakes stay frozen; decreased snow cover and snowpack.
Society and Ecosystems: heat-related illnesses; increased length of growing season reflecting earlier spring warming and later fall/winter frosts; shifts in plant hardiness zones reflecting higher winter tem-peratures; changes in bird migration patterns as a result of temperature variability.34
Research has also been done specific to Califor-nia. Along the California coast, sea levels have risen by as much as seven inches over the last century, resulting in eroded shorelines, deterioration of infrastructure, and depletion of natural resourc-es.35 California’s water supply is threatened due to prolonged drought and increased demands from growth. Less precipitation, premature runoff of snowpack and rainwater, and restrictions on the Colorado River and the Bay-Delta in Northern Cal-ifornia have increased the pressure on the state’s water supplies.
In 2009, the California Natural Resources Agency published an adaptation strategy to assess the state’s vulnerability to climate change and identify possible solutions that can be implemented to minimize these threats. Similarly, the State of Cali-fornia Lands Commission released a report related to sea level preparedness in California, which sum-marized the efforts of California, federal agencies, and other coastal states to address sea level rise and
34 Supra note 31.
35 California Natural Resources Agency, 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy.
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WP1: Sustainability
provided recommendations to reduce the impacts of sea level rise on California’s communities. The San Diego Association of Governments has prepared climate change adaptation white papers and a regional climate action strategy to both outline strategies for adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects.
A regional issue in the news recently concerns several sustainability issues, including water supply, energy security, and climate change effects. In the North County Times on September 11, 2010, Eric Wolff reported that falling water levels in Lake Mead might threaten the hydroelectric power supply coming from Hoover Dam, which currently provides cheap electricity for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (60 percent of its portfolio) and Southern California Edison (less than 1 percent of its portfolio). According to the article, experts disagree as to whether the falling water level is the result of a short-term drought or rather longer-term variation that may return the lake to an historic, lower water level. Climate change, while not the cause, was described as having the potential to exacerbate the problem, particu-larly under the latter scenario. With such a valuable resource, however, government agencies are actively developing solutions, including replacing the turbine with ones that work with lower water levels, and reducing water and electricity demand on the system.
Greenhouse Gases4.3
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are referred to as greenhouse gases (GHGs). Global tempera-tures are regulated by the accumulation of naturally occurring GHGs, which include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and water vapor. While human activities also produce these naturally-occurring gases, other GHGs such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) are created and emitted solely through human activities.
Human activities have elevated atmospheric GHG concentrations beyond naturally-occurring levels. CO2, CH4, and N2O are the most common GHGs
that result from human activity, although fluori-nated gases—less common—have a much more powerful greenhouse effect, also known as global warming potential. The global warming potential of GHGs is expressed in terms of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) and is typically quantified in metric tons (MT) or millions of metric tons (MMT).
Energy-related activities account for three-fourths of human-generated GHG emissions, and include electricity production, transportation, the treatment and transportation of water, and indus-trial processes such as producing construction materials and managing waste, to name a few. The EPA finds that electricity generation is the largest source of GHG emissions in the United States, followed by transportation.
According to the EPA, the U.S. produced almost 7,000 MMT CO2e GHG emissions in 2008, an increase of approximately 14 percent from 1990 levels. Between 1990 and 2000, the U.S population increased by about 1.2 percent a year on average, while GHG emissions rates increase by 1.4 percent per year.36 According to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S was responsible for about 20 percent of the world’s energy-related GHG emissions in 2006 (about 19 tons per capita), while China’s was 21 percent (about 5 tons per capita).37 Figure 4-1 illustrates U.S. GHG emissions in 2008 by economic sector as a percentage of total GHG emissions.
According to the California Air Resources Board, California produced about 478 MMT of CO2e GHG emissions in 2008, an increase of approximately 10 percent from 1990 levels, which is less than the U.S. average increase over the same period. A history of strong emissions regulations mean that California produces only about 7 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions even though the state has about 12 percent of the U.S. population. Figure 4-2 illustrates Cali-fornia’s 2008 GHG emissions by economic sector as a percentage of total GHG emissions.
36 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress: Greenhouse Gas Emission Drivers: Population, Economic Development and Growth, and Energy Use, Updated February 13, 2008.
37 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Emissions of Greenhouse
Gases Report, Report #: DOE/EIA-0573(2008).
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Key Regulatory Context4.4
Federal Regulations
The EPA has issued regulatory actions under the
Clean Air Act, Energy Policy Act, Energy Inde-
pendence and Security Act, and other statutory
authorities to address issues related to climate
change. In the 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision
Massachusetts v. EPA, the Court found that the
Clean Air Act authorized the EPA to regulate
tailpipe GHG emissions if EPA determined they
caused or contributed to air pollution that endan-
gered public health or welfare. Since then, the EPA
has developed and implemented regulations to
reduce GHG emissions by using renewable fuels
through the Renewable Fuels Standard program
created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005; issued several rulings related to motor vehicles emissions and GHG emissions reporting; and even granted a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption to California for the State’s GHG emission standards for motor vehicles beginning with the 2009 model year.
On April 1, 2010, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a final joint ruling to establish a national program to reduce GHG emissions and improve fuel economy for new cars and light-duty trucks sold in the U.S. The standards are designed to achieve a national vehicle fleet whose emissions and fuel economy performance improves year over year. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 960 MMT and save 1.8
billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles
sold in model years 2012 through 2016. The EPA and
NHTSA are expected to expand upon this by devel-
oping fuel efficiency and GHG emissions standards
for commercial trucks and light-duty vehicles. More
recently, on May 13, 2010, the EPA issued a final rule
establishing thresholds for GHG emissions that
define when certain permits are required for new
and existing industrial facilities. This ruling affects
the nation’s largest GHG emitters (i.e., power plants,
refineries, and cement production facilities).
U.S. GHG Emissions (2008) by Economic Sector
Residential
6% Commercial
3%
Industrial
21%
In-State Electricty
12%
Imports Electricity
13%
Agriculture & Forestry
6%
Unspecified
3%
Transportation
36%
California GHG Emissions (@008) by Economic Sector
Electric Power Industry
35%
Transportation
27%
Industry
19%
Commercial
6%
Residential
5%
U.S. Territories
1%
Agriculture
7%
Figure 4-2. California GHG Emissions (2008) by
Economic Sector
Figure 4-1. U.S. GHG Emissions (2008) by Economic
Sector
U.S. GHG Emissions (2008) by Economic Sector
Residential
6% Commercial
3%
Industrial
21%
In-State Electricty
12%
Imports Electricity
13%
Agriculture & Forestry
6%
Unspecified
3%
Transportation
36%
California GHG Emissions (@008) by Economic Sector
Electric Power Industry
35%
Transportation
27%
Industry
19%
Commercial
6%
Residential
5%
U.S. Territories
1%
Agriculture
7%
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WP1: Sustainability
State of California Regulations
California has enacted a set of executive orders, leg-
islation, policies, and programs intended to work
together to reduce the state’s contribution to global
emissions of GHGs. These efforts set forth goals
for reductions of GHG emissions, increasing the
Renewable Portfolio Standard for the state’s electric
utilities, requiring state agencies to develop adapta-
tion plans to prepare for the future impacts of global
climate change on California’s resources, and facil-
itating development of alternative energy sources.
Key state actions are described below.
California’s GHG Emissions Reduction Targets
Executive Order S-3-05 (Gov. Schwarzenegger,
June 2005) recognizes California’s vulnerability to
climate change, noting that increasing temperatures
could potentially reduce snow pack in the Sierra
Nevada, which is a primary source of the state’s
water supply. Additionally, this Order acknowl-
edges that climate change could influence human
health, coastal habitats, microclimates, and agri-
cultural yield. The Governor thus set greenhouse
gas emissions reduction targets for California, as
follows:
By 2010, reduce GHG emissions to 2000 levels;•
By 2020, reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels;•
By 2050, reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent •
below 1990 levels.
California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006 (Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006, also known as
Assembly Bill (AB) 32) directed the California Air
Resources Board to perform numerous tasks aimed
at achieving the state’s reduction targets, including
approving a statewide GHG emissions estimate that
is equivalent to the 1990 GHG emissions level to be
achieved by 2020. As the roadmap for achieving
AB 32’s reduction goals, the CARB Scoping Plan
outlined the combination of policies, programs,
and measures necessary to reduce statewide GHG
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, the equivalent of reducing emissions by 15 percent below current levels and 30 percent below projected business-as-usual levels in 2020. Many of the measures would, when implemented, contribute to emission reduc-tions statewide as well as in local communities.
Since the Scoping Plan was adopted in December 2008, CARB has published early action GHG emission reduction measures that could be imple-mented prior to the adoption of statewide GHG limits and other measures necessary to achieve the state’s established limits. CARB has also adopted regulations to implement the early action reduction measures. CARB continues to adopt measures outlined in the Scoping Plan and is in the process of preparing rules to implement these measures. CARB is expected to complete this task by January 1, 2011, with all resulting regulations becoming effective no later than January 1, 2012.
Proposition 23, which would suspend AB 32, is a ballot initiative on the November 2010 ballot in Cal-ifornia. If passed, the initiative would require the state to abandon the implementation of AB 32 until California’s unemployment drops to 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters. The suspension would include abandoning state GHG reduction programs related to increased renewable energy and cleaner fuel requirements, as well as mandatory emission reporting and fee requirements for major polluters such as power plants and oil refineries. Should the voters pass Proposition 23, the city could continue to make GHG reductions; however, the timeframe to achieve targets would not be required as currently proposed by AB 32.
Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008
The Sustainable Communities and Climate Pro-tection Act of 2008 (Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008, also known as Senate Bill (SB) 375) promotes better integration of transportation and land use planning throughout California. The statute was intended to complement efforts under AB 32 by requiring CARB to develop regional GHG emission reduction targets for passenger vehicles. CARB was tasked with establishing targets for the years 2020 and 2035 for
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each region covered by the state’s 18 federally-desig-nated metropolitan planning organizations, which in turn would be required to meet that target by considering the impacts of land use and transpor-tation on GHG emissions. CARB recently released its proposed regional GHG emission reduction targets for cars and light trucks in August 2010. The targets are anticipated to be adopted on September 23, 2010.
Pursuant to SB 375, each of California’s MPOs must prepare a Sustainable Communities Strategy outlining how the region will meet its GHG reduction target by integrating land use planning, transportation planning and funding, and housing needs. The SCS will be incorporated into the regional transportation plan, typically prepared by each MPO every 4 to 5 years. CARB is required to review each SCS to determine whether it would achieve the necessary GHG emission reduction for each region. SB 375 sets new requirements for coordinating the RTP process with the regional housing needs allo-cation and housing element update processes, and also provides incentives for implementation by establishing new California Environmental Quality Act streamlining opportunities. SANDAG, as the MPO for the San Diego region, is responsible for the San Diego region SCS, and is currently developing its first RTP to include a SCS pursuant to SB 375.
California Environmental Quality Act and Guidelines Amendments
Senate Bill 97 (Chapter 185, Statues of 2007) amends the California Environmental Quality Act statute to say GHG emissions and the effects of GHG emissions are appropriately analyzed under CEQA. Pursuant to SB 97, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research prepared amendments to the CEQA Guidelines in a public process, and the California Natural Resources Agency adopted the proposed amendments in December 2009. The amendments became effective March 18, 2010.
Other Key California Regulations and Executive Orders
Global Climate Impacts and Sea Level Rise
Executive Order (2008). Executive Order S-13-08
(Gov. Schwarzenegger, November 2008) directs
state agencies to take specified actions to assess and
plan for global climate change impacts, particularly
sea level rise.
Renewable Energy Executive Order (2008).
Executive Order S-14-08 (Gov. Schwarzenegger,
November 2008) requires that all retail suppliers
of electricity in California serve 33 percent of their
load with renewable energy by 2020. Furthermore,
the order directs state agencies to take appropriate
actions to facilitate reaching this target. Pursuant
to a Memorandum of Understanding between the
CEC and Department of Fish and Game creating
the Renewable Energy Action Team, these agencies
will create a “one-stop” process for permitting
renewable energy power plants.
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Executive Order (2007).
Executive Order S-1-07 (Gov. Schwarzenegger,
January 2007) set a declining Low Carbon Fuel
Standard for GHG emissions measured in CO2e
grams per unit of fuel energy sold in California.
The target of the standard is to reduce the carbon
intensity of California passenger vehicle fuels by at
least 10 percent by 2020.
Local Electric Utilities Emission Standards (2006).
Senate Bill 1368 (Chapter 598, Statues of 2006)
requires the California Energy Commission to
develop and adopt regulations for GHG emissions
performance standards for the long-term procure-
ment of electricity by local publicly-owned utilities.
California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (2002). Senate Bill 1078 (Chapter 516, Statutes of
2002) established the Renewables Portfolio Standard
program, which requires an annual increase in
renewable generation by the utilities equivalent to at
least 1 percent of sales, with an aggregate goal of 20
percent by 2017. This goal was subsequently acceler-
ated, requiring utilities to obtain 20 percent of their
power from renewable sources by 2010.
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WP1: Sustainability
TECHNIQuES FOR
REDuCING GHGs IN THE CITY
OF CARLSBAD:
Measures that the city can implement to re-
duce GHG emissions from government opera-
tions include increasing energy efficiency in
buildings and facilities, improving the effi-
ciency of vehicle fleets, expanding renewable
energy sources, reducing government-gen-
erated waste, and addressing land use and
transportation planning in terms of “smart
growth” concepts. Local government actions
can also have broad influence over commu-
nity activities that generate GHGs, including
new construction and building retrofits, al-
ternative transportation and parking options,
utilization of renewable energy, water conser-
vation and demand reduction, and citywide
waste management programs.
City of Carlsbad Climate 4.5
Change Initiatives
The City of Carlsbad recognizes that government operations and community activities contribute to GHG emissions, which may adversely affect city businesses and residents. The city also understands that local government plays a key role in both reducing GHG emissions, as well as adapting to the potential effects of climate change.
The city has taken a proactive approach to creating a sustainable and healthy quality of life in the City of Carlsbad by balancing social, economic, and envi-ronmental needs of the community. The city’s efforts toward environmental sustainability include, but are not limited to, the efficient use of non-renewable resources, stewardship of natural and constructed open spaces, development of drought resistant water supplies, reduction in the city’s waste stream, and clean air and water. Specific examples of the city’s efforts are as follows:
Vehicle Fleet Operations.• Hybrid vehicle pur-chases (described in Section 3.3).
Renewable Energy.• The hydroelectric power project at Maerkle Reservoir (described in Section 3.3).
Water Conservation.• Conservation programs to reduce water demand and dependency on imported water supplies and adoption of a drought response plan and water conservation program through city Ordinance No. 44 on January 6, 2009 (described in Section 3.2).
High Efficiency Streetlights.• Replacement of
more than 7,000 high-pressure sodium street-
lights throughout the City of Carlsbad with
high-efficiency induction lights that would
use half the electricity of the existing lights
(described in Section 3.3).
Energy Management.• Participation in the
Sustainable Region Program with the SANDAG,
California Center for Sustainable Energy, and
San Diego Gas & Electric to develop energy
management plans and implement cost-sav-
ing energy measures for municipal facilities.
The city was the initial agency collaborating
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with SANDAG, CCSE, and SDG&E when the Sustainable Region Program Pilot launched in 2005. Today, the city is one of five member agen-cies involved in the program to identify energy management roadmaps and implement cost-saving energy measures for their particular agencies. Since the pilot program, the city has saved 489,571 kilowatt-hour (kWh) in energy consumption through local energy efficiency programs like the CCSE Tax Exempt Customer program.38 City Council Policy 71 became effec-tive July 1, 2006, to implement the city’s Energy Conservation and Management Program.
Waste Reduction and Recycling.• Development of a green purchasing policy (described in Section 3.4).
Energy Partnerships. • At the state level, working with the Attorney General’s office to effect leg-islation that would advance the California Solar Initiative and other solar financing options. At the local level, partnering with SDG&E to assist residents in energy audits and participating in demand response programs that commit the city to reducing its electric use during periods of peak demand such as hot summer days.
Environmental Resources Management Team. • Created in January 2007 and comprised of city staff, this team coordinates management of several city environmental initiatives, includ-ing preparing a list of reduction measures for the desalination project to incorporate into its carbon mitigation plan, analyzing solar oppor-tunities in the city, researching regarding hydroelectric benefits, and working to develop the local government protocol.
C• limate Action Planning. Conducted a 2005 GHG emissions baseline inventory for municipal operations (of which the city has direct control) and community activities (excluding the airport and powerplant). The city utilized this baseline
to identify GHG emission sources and opportu-
nities to improve operations not only to reduce
GHG emissions, but also to invest in more
energy efficient programs and partnerships.
38 SANDAG, SANDAG Sustainable Region Program Action Plan—
Consultant Report. December, 2009.
GOOD EXAMPLES IN CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING:
Southern California Climate Action
Plans
Other Southern California communities are
working on climate action planning efforts,
including: the City of Chula Vista, which de-
veloped a Carbon Dioxide Reduction Plan in
2000, identified measures to mitigate climate
change impacts by reducing GHG emissions in
2008, and is currently drafting a climate adap-
tation plan; and the City of San Diego which
is working to implement a 2005 climate action
plan and update its sustainability policies.
Other Southern California agencies that have
or are in the process of developing mitigation
and adaptation plans include, but are not lim-
ited to, the City of Santa Monica, City of Ir-
vine, City of Encinitas, County of San Diego,
County of Santa Barbara, Port of Long Beach,
Port of Los Angeles, and Port of San Diego.
41
WP1: Sustainability
Examples of the city’s actions to reduce energy consumption include installing complete HVAC systems in all city-owned buildings (occupied by at least 15 people) in order to establish automatic and manual climate controls and rezone the control center and measuring energy consump-tion by use in order to monitor energy spikes at city facilities and adjust energy load settings.
Climate Adaptation Planning. • The city identi-fied three primary effects of a changing climate that are particular threats to the City of Carlsbad: drought, fire, and rising sea level. Some of the city’s current efforts to adapt to these effects of climate change include, but are not limited to, actively pursuing desalination opportunities, investing in a recycled water system that pro-vides 20 percent of the city’s water supply, requir-ing Class I fire-resistant roofs, enforcing a strict fire code and 100-foot setbacks on fire breaks, resisting development within the 100-year flood-plain, and modeling the effects of inundation up to 18 feet to identify areas of the city that could be threatened by sea level rise.
The city is currently considering steps to initiate the preparation of a Climate Action Plan. The 2005 GHG emissions baseline inventory would serve as a point of reference and comparison for evaluat-ing “business as usual” against the performance of measures to reduce GHG emissions in the future. Beyond the inventory, the city’s Climate Action Plan would likely include quantitative GHG reduction goals related to government and community emissions, energy efficiency and renewable energy targets, GHG emission reduction policies and measures, and recommendations for integrating emission reductions strategies and climate change adaptation strategies into the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and Zoning Ordinance updates.
Although existing efforts will help to reduce the City of Carlsbad’s GHG emissions, additional opportu-nities exist for the community to increase efficiency, conserve valuable natural resources, and reduce its environmental footprint. The city is best posi-tioned if it continues to take a proactive approach to environmental sustainability by employing both reduction/conservation and adaptation strategies.
Challenges facing the city in this pursuit include how to manage growth and major energy users while simultaneously decreasing the amount of energy used in city operations and community activities and implementing cost-saving energy reduction programs.
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43
In conjunction with the Vision, this working paper begins to set out the basic framework within which the City of Carlsbad will work to achieve its broader sustainability objectives. Once this framework is in place, a next critical step is to choose a system or systems for measuring progress toward the city’s sustainability objectives.
Existing Metrics5.1
There are several existing metrics for measuring community-wide sustainability; several popular ones are described briefly below. It should be noted that unlike measuring building energy use or sus-tainability, quantifying citywide sustainability is inherently much more complex, and the metrics listed below rely to a large extent on assump-tions that may not be as valid from community to community compared to those for buildings, for example.
LEEDTM for Neighborhood Development
As LEED’s building certification program gained momentum, it became apparent that a need existed to look at more than just buildings and evaluate entire neighborhoods for their level of sustainabil-ity. This came from the recognition that a green building in the wrong location or on an unsus-tainable site is not really very green. As a result, LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND), developed by the private U.S. Green Building Council, is now available for use in evaluating and certifying new development that includes tracts of land and multiple buildings. It is composed of four main sections including Smart Location and
Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern and Design, Green Infrastructure and Buildings and Innovation and Design Process.
One Planet Living
One Planet Living is a certification program designed to guide development that creates com-munities with a one-planet ecological footprint. In other words, if all humans on the earth were to live according to this standard, we would all be able to do so without exhausting non-renewable resources and without requiring some people to live at a lower standard of living than others. Originating in the U.K., the One Planet Living framework consists of 10 guiding principles—zero carbon, zero waste, sus-tainable transport, local and sustainable materials, local and sustainable food, sustainable water, natural habitats and wildlife, culture and heritage, equity and fair trade, and health and happiness.
STAR Community Index
The STAR Community Index is a new rating method being developed jointly by ICLEI-Local Govern-ments for Sustainability USA, the USGBC, and the Center for American Progress. Using a similar methodology to LEED, the program provides com-munities a consistent tool for evaluating progress and success relative to peer communities in the sus-tainability arena. It will also provide a recognizable award where leadership can receive recognition for their accomplishments in creating more sustainable communities. The model follows the ‘triple bottom line’ structure of Environment, Economy, and Society, with each major group containing several sub-sections for evaluation.
5 Measuring Sustainability
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Using Indicators to Measure 5.2
Sustainability
While the city may wish to explore the possibili-ties of applying one or more existing metrics, even without adhering to a particular system, Envision Carlsbad could still advance a set of sustainability indicators—key measurements and benchmarks that can be regularly assessed and monitored as a way to determine how well the city is progressing in achieving its sustainability goals. For purposes of Envision Carlsbad, indicators could first and foremost inform the development and prioritiza-tion of General Plan policies—evaluating existing policies as well as proposed new ones. Indicators could also play a role in ranking the performance of alternative plans and in the development of a preferred plan alternative. Subsequent to the development of the updated General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and Zoning Ordinance, indi-cators and the data collected through monitoring could highlight which adopted policies or programs are making a difference and which are not, so that useful adjustments may be made. Some of the indi-cators may be designed to be incorporated into the community satisfaction survey that the City of Carlsbad conducts every year. Examples of sustain-ability indicators that could be monitored from year to year include per capita energy or water consump-tion, per capita waste disposal, or school district base academic performance index scores. As sub-sequent working papers are completed, a list of proposed indicators addressing all the Vision core values can be developed.
45
This chapter provides key planning issues and implications for EC3 discussion in the context of Vision sustainability priorities. Other sustainabil-ity issues as they relate to land use, transportation, economics, etc., will be examined in forthcoming working papers dedicated to those subjects.
Effectively reducing energy use and GHG 1.
emissions means asking people (city staff,
businesses, and residents) to change the
way they do things. How should the city
balance mandatory standards with mea-
sures driven by education, incentives, and
demand management?
Cities can take various approaches to increasing sustainability of government and community activities, including adopting regulations (e.g., mandatory building standards or energy audits and retrofits) and altering behavior by providing incentives or disincentives (e.g., charging a fee for single-use containers or plastic bags, reducing parking requirements in transit-oriented areas, or providing prefer-ential parking for alternative fuel vehicles). In preparing the General Plan, the city will need to strike a balance between regulation and incen-tives in order to maintain resident and business support for sustainability.
In a tight economic climate, sometimes incen-tives are harder to come by. New financing tools are worth considering within the portfolio of options the city has available, and these could complement existing programs such as the CaliforniaFirst financing program, now in its pilot phase. Recently, however, CaliforniaFirst has shown vulnerability to federal financing
challenges and is now stalled, highlighting the importance of local alternatives and diverse incentive options for residents and businesses.39
An innovative example of a local funding mechanism is El Cerrito’s environmental improvement revolving fund, which sets aside money for small investments in city govern-ment energy or water efficiency that would pay for themselves over time through cost savings. In this fund structure, cost savings are allocated back to the revolving fund to a certain level, after which remaining savings are allocated to the General Fund.
Still other potential incentives do not have to cost the city money, but can save money for businesses and households, such as expedited permit processing for improvements that achieve certain community energy or environ-mental goals.
The City of Carlsbad is also home to some large, energy-intensive manufacturing and technol-ogy companies. Reducing the energy inputs required for these businesses, or transitioning to renewables such as wind or solar, could help the businesses’ financial bottom line as well as local energy security. Opportunities may exist for the city to partner with these businesses on energy and technological investments.
39 Report on the CaliforniaFirst website. Other energy improve-
ment financing programs that rely on federal PACE funds, such as
Sonoma County’s Energy Independence Program, are also strug-
gling with this challenge.
6 Planning Issues and Implications
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Are the California Title 24 (CALGREEN) 2.
building standards sufficient for the City
of Carlsbad, or should the city develop
green building measures more stringent
than the State of California’s?
By January 2011, CALGREEN will be mandatory across the state. However, the City of Carlsbad could decide to adopt to achieve local sustain-ability and GHG reduction objectives and stronger standards. For example, CALGREEN only applies to new construction, so a stronger local ordinance could, upon making necessary findings, apply CALGREEN standards or some variation to existing buildings. Another example of stricter standards would be to require application of both CALGREEN and other green standards such as those of LEED or BuildItGreen. While CALGREEN contains some requirements that are not included in LEED, LEED also offers many more measures, which are not mandated in CALGREEN. Certain kinds of existing stricter local standards automatically apply, such as stricter stormwa-ter pollution management, waste management, and recycling provisions. Regardless of whether the city chooses to develop new stricter standards, all existing ordinances, such as local building, grading and drainage, subdivisions, zoning, and historic preservation codes should be reviewed for consistency with CALGREEN, and any redundant mandatory or weaker provi-sions removed from local ordinances.
What are the critical opportunities for 3.
water conservation in the City of Carlsbad,
in terms of cost-effectiveness and need?
There are several opportunities for the City of Carlsbad to conserve water in the future. One possibility is expanding the use of recycled water. The city currently meets almost 20 percent of water demand through recycled water, and has procedures in place for expanding the recycled water system. However, some stakeholders are concerned that expanding the distribution system would be costly in compar-ison to the benefit received. While the city uses recycled water efficiently, a great deal is being
used on landscaping for golf courses. Another approach would be to adapt course design and management to better mimic local ecology and environmental systems, thereby reducing the need for external inputs such as water and chemicals. For instance, Audubon Interna-tional awards certification to recognize golf courses that protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and provide wildlife habitats. Achieving certification demonstrates a course’s leadership, commitment, and high standards of environmental management. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses is open to golf courses in the United States and internationally, including private clubs, public and municipal courses, PGA sites, 9-hole facilities, resort courses, and golf residen-tial communities. A golf course must develop and implement an environmental manage-ment plan and document its results to become certified. Environmental management practices in six key areas are assessed: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water con-servation, water quality management, and outreach and education. 40 There are over 850 certified cooperative sanctuaries currently reg-istered and listed on the Audubon International website for the program, including 59 across California.
Another potential conservation opportunity relates to implementing new management/billing approaches such as residential sub-metering. Utility costs have historically been one of the highest monthly expenditures for multifamily housing property owners. While today most renters pay their own electricity bills, water sub-metering has not been imple-mented as widely. With sub-metering water use is measured separately for each unit in an apartment building, and residents may then be charged according to their actual consump-tion. Sub-metering for water, as for electricity and gas, gives residents both personal control and incentive to save water. According to a
40 Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, Certifi-
cation Overview, 2009.
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WP1: Sustainability
March 2010 report from the San Diego Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, studies have shown that water sub-meters are associ-ated with decreased water usage. A 2004 study showed water savings of over 15 percent when comparing sub-metered properties with rental properties that do not bill water separately from rent (“in-rent” properties). Another compara-tive study showed water usage in sub-metered properties to be 18 percent to 39 percent less than in-rent properties.41 Sub-metered systems also have the added benefits of making it easier to locate leaks and of reducing the energy used for, and associated costs of, heating water.
Yet another potential water conservation approach with potential is gray water and rain water catchment systems. With new state reg-ulations in place, it is now much easier for the city of homeowners to implement these on-site systems, and they would have the added benefit of reducing pressure on the wider city water supply, recycled or otherwise. The City of Carlsbad could explore ways to promote and expedite installation of such systems.
How should the City of Carlsbad continue 4.
to reduce the waste stream?
Waste is a challenging problem with many factors outside local government control, and the challenge is obscured by the fact that waste in the City of Carlsbad—as in many communi-ties—is exported to other places, and is therefore unseen. Nonetheless, there are approaches that The City of Carlsbad could explore (only voluntary or in pilot phases now), such as increasing the cost of traditional waste disposal (“Pay-As-You-Throw” or variable rate pricing program, which is not currently offered for residential development), implementing “sin-gle-bin” recycling curbside pick-up, requiring recycling for commercial and industrial business customers, updating city procurement policies (work already underway), adopting ordinances that take a stronger stance related to
41 “Submetering, RUBS, and Water Conservation,” prepared by
Industrial Economics, Inc., June 1999.
construction and demolition debris (happening in part through mandatory CALGREEN pro-visions), and expanding education on waste issues (including working with school districts on curricula). One potential area for public-private partnership in waste reduction would be partnering with regional farms on the col-lection and use of residential or business food waste compost.
In line with San Diego County’s Health 5.
Strategy Agenda, how can the City of
Carlsbad improve the local food system
through supporting healthy choices, pur-
suing policy changes, and improve the
culture from within?
City government may not be able to tell people which foods to buy or eat, but land use and zoning classifications and definitions, economic development programs, and even open space and coastal management strategies could all play a part in making fresh, local, and healthy foods more available.
Opportunities exist for the City of Carlsbad to emphasize sustainable food marketing and businesses in revitalization plans for the Barrio neighborhood and the Village. The update of the Local Coastal Program, with the Coastal Commission’s emphasis on coastal visitor-serv-ing facilities, provides another opportunity for incorporating local and sustainable food system components into the LCP which mutually support other coastal management aims. While many residents feel strongly that local agricul-ture operations such as the strawberry growing fields ought to remain in agricultural use, the business model must be viable and may benefit from offering complementary, profitable visitor services.
The city can also provide a good example by examining the food culture within city govern-ment, from food vendor expectations to events management decisions. Work on the green pur-chasing policy should take into account healthy,
48
Envision Carlsbad
www.carlsbadca.gov/envision
local, and sustainable food access. The city can also examine zoning regulations to allow urban farming.
What potential effects of climate change 6.
are the most relevant to the City of
Carlsbad? How can the city best prepare
and adapt to these potential threats?
In addition to reducing the city’s contribution to climate change resulting from government operations and community activities, the city may need to form strategies for adapting to the future effects of global climate changes, such as changes in weather patterns and water avail-ability, sea level rise, increased temperatures, and climatic variability. Given the potential global warming hazards applicable to the City of Carlsbad, including beach/cliff/bluff erosion, coastal inundation, sea level rise, wave events, saltwater intrusion into coastal water bodies, and diminished water quality, the city may need to take steps to better understand the implica-tions of climate change and implement measures to minimize the city’s vulnerabilities to these potential threats. Coastal areas are a particu-lar challenge because the City of Carlsbad must plan for greater access and services while simul-taneously reducing vulnerability.
How can the city take advantage of the 7.
work program already established as part
of Envision Carlsbad in order to support
and build public buy-in for the parallel city
effort on the Climate Action Plan?
Over the past year, the community has developed a comprehensive vision of the city’s future. Residents, businesses, and stakehold-ers are already discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and will continue to be involved in the ongoing public process surrounding the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and Zoning Ordinance updates.
City staff are working in parallel to this process to develop a Climate Action Plan that responds to regional and state expectations, and that helps to prepare the community for the possibility of
climate changes in the future. It is important that the goals established in the Climate Action Plan process, regarding GHG emissions and strategies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, are fully consistent with the policies and programs developed as part of the General Plan update. Furthermore, it is important that each document highlight those ways in which they are mutually-reinforcing, such that policies within one help to achieve goals and objectives in the other. Staff could coordinate the CAP with Envision Carlsbad in various ways, such as:
shared meetings/workshops in which GHGs • and climate change issues are discussed with the public from the General Plan and CAP perspectives,
incorporation of preliminary CAP data and • policy ideas into the alternatives development process, and
notifying responsible agencies such as the • Coastal Commission and Air District of CAP efforts so that they provide the most informed input possible on the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and Zoning Ordinance (i.e., not expecting these planning documents to accom-plish what is already being done in the CAP).
DYETT & BHATIA
Urban and Regional Planners
755 Sansome Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, California 94111
415 956 4300 415 956 7315