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Bay Area Climate Action Examples

Overview

Bay Area Climate Action Examples

See what cities and counties in the San Francisco Bay Area are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Have a best practice you would like to share? Bay Area local governments are invited to send in their climate actions. Let us know what, how, and why your climate action worked!

See what cities and counties in the San Francisco Bay Area are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Case Story

City of Petaluma – Land Use & Community Design Program to Address Climate Change

The Petaluma General Plan 2025 reflects planning goals across all its elements that are designed to mitigate future greenhouse gas emissions. Highlights include policies that encourage higher densities around a new regional rail system and in the central core, as well as greener buildings among existing and future development.

Case Story

City of Livermore – Land Use & Community Design Program to Address Climate Change

A comprehensive update of the Livermore zoning code will better incorporate “smart code” practices, such as enhanced pedestrian and bicycle mobility, transit-oriented development, mixed-use and infill.

Case Story

City of Fremont – Land Use & Community Design Program to Address Climate Change

While Fremont is a largely built-out suburban community, it has targeted remaining undeveloped and under-utilized sites for high density, mixed use, and transit-oriented development.

Case Story

Town of Windsor – Green Building Program to Address Climate Change

Windsor’s green building program is based upon Build It Green and LEED and applies to both new and expanded residential and commercial projects.

Case Story

City of Santa Rosa – Green Building Program to Address Climate Change

Santa Rosa’s green building program covers new and existing residential and commercial buildings to assist the city in achieving its greenhouse gas reduction goal of 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015.

Case Story

County of San Mateo – Green Building Program to Address Climate Change

San Mateo County’s green building ordinance requires all new and remodeled residential and commercial projects to earn a minimum number of green points on either the GreenPoint Rated or LEED checklists.

Case Story

City of Richmond – Green Building Program to Address Climate Change

Richmond’s green building ordinance requires mandatory compliance for all new and enlarged single and multi-family residential projects, as well as for new and renovated commercial/industrial projects. The green building requirements vary depending upon the size of the building.

Case Story

City of Morgan Hill – Green Building Program to Address Climate Change

Morgan Hill incorporates green building measures as part of its annual competitive housing allotment process.

Case Story

City of Fremont – Green Building Program to Address Climate Change

All new single and multi-family residential projects in Fremont that are subject to discretionary approval must incorporate green building measures as a condition of approval.

Case Story

County of San Mateo – Involving the Public in Climate Change Action

San Mateo County has undertaken a variety of efforts to educate residents, local businesses and employees about climate change and green practices, including an educational website, a “green bag” lunch lecture series, and a green business certification program.

Case Story

City of San Carlos – Involving the Public in Climate Change Action

San Carlos offers a number of ways community members can participate in the city’s efforts to address climate change.

Case Story

City of Mountain View – Involving the Public in Climate Change Action

In early 2008, at the request of the Mountain View city council, over sixty Mountain View residents volunteered to participate in an environmental sustainability task force.

Case Story

City of Fremont – Involving the Public in Climate Change Action

The Fremont city council appointed a “green” task force to provide recommendations on how the city could be more sustainable and address climate change.

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Alameda County Safe Routes to School Logo

Pollution Punchcard Contest Inspires Alternative Commutes

Alameda Safe Routes to Schools Pollution Punchcard Contest serves as an annual encouragement contest to inspire students and parents to drive less.

Case Story

Berkeley ─ Financing Solar

Learn how Berkeley helps residents and businesses finance solar panels — increasing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gasses. Photo courtesy of Sungevity Corp.

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Vallejo Transforms a Vacant Lot Into a Transit Village

 

Sereno Drive Before

For years this 5.86-acre, vacant lot on Sereno Drive had been a magnet for illegal dumping and other activities.23796_Vallejo.gif

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San Francisco’s Mission Bay Makeover

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Mission Creek Before

Because of its Bay-front location close to the City’s financial district, Mission Bay was identified as a prime location for mixed-use redevelopment. The 303-acre Mission Bay area was previously a blighted industrial area, marked by vacant parcels and dilapidated and underused warehouse buildings.

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Santa Clara County Green Building Ordinance

In December 2008, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors adopted a Green Building Ordinance with new requirements for single-family homes in the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.

View the ordinance here

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San Francisco Captures Organic Waste

Because California’s waste stream from businesses contains nearly 30 percent organic material, food and green waste are the next frontiers in recycling.

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