“The City of San Carlos continues to be a leader in Green Programs and initiatives dealing with Climate Protection at the City, County and Regional levels. In San Carlos, the City has teamed up with the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce and San Carlos Green to bring these programs and efforts to a city-wide audience. The City Staff handles Green Programs at the City Government, the Chamber of Commerce works with the business community and San Carlos Green works with San Carlos residents. Regionally, San Carlos is a charter member of the Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Climate Protection Initiative.” – City of San Carlos Green Programs & Climate Protection

Sustainability in the City of Good Living

They are known as the City of Good Living. Check out how sustainability is making the City of San Carlos a great place to work and play!

About San Carlos

• Incorporated: 1925
• Population: 28,406 (as of 2010)
• Location: 25 miles South of San Francisco and 25 miles North of San Jose in San Mateo County.
• Elevation: 33 ft
• Area: 5.92 square miles

Climate Action Activities

• ICLEI member
• Tree City USA
• Completed Climate Action Plan, October 2009
• Completed Greenhouse Gas Inventory, October 2009
• Established San Carlos Green Task Force, May 2007
• Approved expansion of Green Programs and Climate Protection work May 14, 2007. It included a Community Solar Discount Program in partnership with Solar City, San Carlos Green -  a community based program focused on Green Activities, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Climate Protection Initiative, San Mateo County Green Business Program and other regional programs in the area.
  • To date 31 San Carlos businesses have earned the Bay Area Certified Green Business designation.

• Won 3rd in the Country and 1st in California in the Yahoo! “Greenest City Challenge” by inspiring residents to sign up on-line and pledge green action in June 2007, winning a prize of 5,000 Compact Fluorescent light bulbs.
• Restored landscape at Vista Park planting over 250 native plants in 2008
• Supported recycling program at Tierra Linda School and the Charter Learning Center in 2008
• Developed Urban Tree Canopy Program in 2008
• Worked with South Bayside Waste Management Authority as a pilot city to develop a local version of a mandatory recycling program for Commercial Businesses June/July 2010
• Adopted Green Team Block Leaders program to spread the word about new services in 2010
• Developed Green Building Ordinance that went into effect January 2011 and is used as a model to other bay area cities
• Deliver monthly compost workshops by Recycle Works and San Carlos Green
• Weekly food scraps and yard clippings program
• Exploring ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food containers

Climate Action Resources

• City of San Carlos Climate Action Plan & 2005 Greenhouse Gas Inventory
• Council Report on Green Initiatives and Climate Protection Presentation, July 2011
  • Staff Report
• Final Report of the 2006 Natural Resources Task Force
• City of San Carlos Green Programs & Climate Protection
• City of San Carlos Green eNewsletter
• San Carlos Green Backgrounder – Overview, Accomplishments and Current Projects
• Certified Bay Area Green Businesses in San Carlos
• San Mateo County Energy Watch
• Recology San Mateo County – Waste Zero
• Silicon Valley Joint Venture Public Sector Climate Task Force
• Bay Area Green Business Program
• Rethink Waste South Bayside Waste Management Authority
• “2011 Green Business Award Winners Announced: 4 San Carlos Firms to be Honored for their Achievements” (1/12/2012)

Awards

Platinum Beacon Award (2019)

Gold Beacon Award (2017)

Agency Energy Savings

• Platinum Level, 32% (2018)
• Gold Level, 17% (2015)

Agency Natural Gas Savings

• Not applicable.

Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• Platinum Level, 45% (2019)
• Gold Level, 15% (2015)

Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• Platinum Level, 21% (2018)
• Gold Level, 12% (2015)

Sustainability Best Practices

• Platinum Level (2014)