California Greening In LA: A Dream Come True?
From solar power, to smart water management, to green building efforts, there is reason for dreaming a California greening.
When I moved to Los Angeles in February, what I knew of L.A. traffic, industry and the smog that blankets the city gave me little reason to expect a California greening of my life beyond veg-friendly restaurants on every corner. Well, while sitting in one of these veg-friendly cafes today doing my daily tour through the news, three stories have me California dreamin’ that maybe, just maybe, this city can once again take a leading role in the greening of America – through solar power, water conservation, green building and beyond.
LA INITIATIVE TO ELIMINATE COAL-DEPENDENCE BY 2020
As The Huffington Post’s Jeff Biggers reminds us, “In 1947, Los Angeles was the first in the nation to create an Air Pollution Control District. Now LA has set its sights on taking the steps to lead the nation once again.”
Biggers is speaking specifically about an initiative by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to eliminate the city’s dependence on coal by 2020. Frighteningly, coal fuels 40 percent of our electricity needs!
If it passes, the initiative would:
- Create a Renewable Energy and Efficiency Trust Fund to retrofit homes and businesses through energy efficiency program
- Jumpstart solar businesses in LA
- Provide more solar manufacturing solar equipment, installation and maintenance funds
- Create an estimated 18,000 green jobs over a decade
CALIFORNIA WATER UTILITIES EMBRACE SMART METER TECHNOLOGY
Electricity isn’t the only energy source that generates cause for concern in L.A. Due to drought conditions in California, state legislators passed a law last year requiring cities to cut water usage 20 percent over the next 10 years. To that end, Treehugger’s Jaymi Heimbuch reports that California cities are embracing smart water-management technology.
As a forthcoming California Energy Commission report is expected to reveal, more than half of the state’s water utilities have some sort of smart water meters in use.
“Smart water meters not only cut water consumption,” writes Heimbuch, “but also save time and money for utilities, because even though a utility worker may have to drive to the meter locations, they can read the signal electronically from the vehicle, rather than needing to walk from meter to meter. The meters record water consumption on an hourly basis, which means habits and problems with the system can be detected and dealt with more quickly and effectively.”
LA HOME TO MOST ENERGYSTAR BUILDINGS
Though California electricity and water reform are works in progress, today marks a notable green accomplishment to be proud. Today on Planet 100: LA is the EnergyStar. It turns out that for the second year in a row, Los Angeles earned the top spot in EnergyStar’s ranking of the city with the most and the biggest EnergyStar-rated buildings.
“For Los Angeles to be the cleanest, greenest city,” says Mayor Villaraigosa, “we need participation from every Angeleno.”
Living here immersed in L.A. culture, it’s evident this city’s residents have the knowledge, resources and influence to lead a green revolution. All that remains to be seen is if we have what it takes to make it happen – a genuine interest in personally, professionally and politiclly living and breathing in green every moment of every day of our lives.
Recent Comments