City of Burlingame CA : Program Progress

The City of Burlingame is promoting energy-efficient and sustainable practices by the city, residents and businesses.

Solar – Eliminated the fee for solar permits in 2009 to promote more solar installations.
New Green Building Requirements – Approved an ordinance in 2009 that requires building permit applicants to complete a “Green Point Checklist” and incorporate one green measure in each project.
Climate Action Plan – Enacted a comprehensive Climate Action Plan in 2009 to serve as the city's roadmap for reaching energy-efficiency targets mandated by Assembly Bill 32.
Baseline Greenhouse Gas Data – Completed municipal and community-wide greenhouse gas inventories in 2008 to serve as baselines for future progress.
U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement – Signed this agreement in 2007 to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol.
ICLEI/Local Governments for Sustainability – Joined this organization in 2007 to share best practices on municipal sustainability efforts.
ABAG Energy Watch – Joined this program offered by the Association of Bay Area Governments in 2007. ABAG completed an Energy Assessment Report for city facilities on August 27, 2007.
Green Ribbon Task Force – Formed in 2007, this task force established 11 sustainable initiatives and drafted the city’s Climate Action Plan.
Co-Generation System – Installed at the city’s wastewater treatment plant in 2007, this system saves the city more than $50,000 a year by providing 15 to 20 percent of the plant's electrical needs.
Green Business Certification Program – Was one of the first cities to participate in this countywide program. To date, eight Burlingame businesses have been certified.

Policies

Adopted a Preferable Purchasing Policy in 2009 that directs city staff to buy environmentally friendly products when the difference in cost does not exceed 5 percent.
Provides incentives to employees who commute by bike, train, bus or walking. They receive 10 minutes per day in time off or transportation vouchers.
Offers three free shuttles.
Requires building permit applicants to divert a minimum of 50 percent of construction and demolition waste.
Has purchased two hybrid cars for the city’s fleet and has converted three city trucks to use bio-diesel fuel.
Saved over 17 percent of gasoline fuel for City fleet through education and adopting efficiency policies
Promotes water conservation measures, including retrofits of public buildings with low-flow toilets, and rebates to customers for low-flow toilets, water-saving washing machines and “smart” irrigation systems.
Provided $18,100 in rebates to residents for replacing over 200 inefficient old toilets and washing machines with high efficient ones conserving millions of gallons of water.
Has a centralized city irrigation system that uses data from past history, gauges and current weather conditions to adjust watering.
Upgraded 98 percent of city’s light fixtures with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting and converted all city-owned traffic signals with LEDs.

Major Planning Efforts

Adopted a Bicycle Master Plan that promotes bicycling throughout the city.
Adopted a North Burlingame/Rollins Road Specific Plan that encourages mixed use and higher density in the north end of the city.
Is currently developing a Downtown Specific Plan that will promote better pedestrian and bicycle access, shuttles and public transportation; the City Council is expected to adopt it in late 2009.

Recycling

In 2008 conducted two free electronic waste recycling events that diverted 73,087 lbs. of electronic waste from landfill. Held one electronic waste recycling event in March 2009 that collected 7,071 lbs. of CRT and 6,379 lbs of other e-waste.
Sponsored two events in 2008 in which 375 volunteers picked up 5 tons of litter from areas along Burlingame’s bayfront and lagoon areas, thus protecting local waterways. A bayfront clean-up event in April 2009 collected 1 ton of litter. On September 19, 2009, 170 volunteers removed 13 cubic yards of trash from the bayfront area, including 400 lbs. of recyclable materials.
Works with volunteers who regularly pick up litter and do landscaping along major streets.
Hired The Recycle Team in 2008 to assist the city’s 13 hotels in creating individual hotel recycling programs.
Achieved a waste stream diversion rate of 60 percent during 2008.

Public Education

Sponsored a series of six seminars on sustainable topics during the summer of 2009 through the Burlingame Recreation Center.
Created a “Sustainable Burlingame” section on the city’s Web site to educate residents and businesses about environmental activities and opportunities.
Sends news about “green” events and activities via a “Go Green” city e-newsletter.
Held Green Town Hall Meetings on September 19, 2007 and March 28, 2009 to gather ideas from the public for “going green” in Burlingame.
Offers green informational materials in the Planning and Building Departments.
Held Green Street Fairs in May 2008 and May 2009 that each attracted more than 1,000 people.
Held public workshops on the city’s Housing Element and Downtown Specific Plan, which both have transportation components.
Hosted a seminar in 2008 with Don Weden called “Winds of Change,” that explained how changing demographics are shaping future housing and transportation plans.

9/28/09