San Mateo Awarded for Efforts to Address Climate Change

The Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative honored the city of San Mateo with two Spotlight Awards for the city’s efforts to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt policies and programs that promote sustainability.

The awards were presented on Oct. 1 during the 2015 League of California Cities Annual Conference in San Jose.

The City’s achievements were recognized as a part of its participation in the sustainability recognition program, the Beacon Program.

“The San Mateo City Council has identified sustainability as one of our top priorities for our community,” Mayor Maureen Freschet said.

San Mateo received the following awards:

• Silver Spotlight Award for 9% community GHG reductions
• Gold Spotlight Award for sustainability best practices

To achieve these awards the City has implemented a number of programs to conserve water, promote alternative modes of transportation, and reduce energy consumption and waste. Activities include:

• Replacing City streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights.
• Developing a comprehensive water conservation program to reduce water use at all city parks and city-owned facilities;
• Funding three public shuttles that serve approximately 72,000 riders annually.
• Achieving 97% participation by single family homes in the City’s voluntary composting program.

“The Beacon Award program honors local agencies for innovative solutions that address climate change,” Institute for Local Government director Martin Gonzalez said. “The city of San Mateo is a model of how to implement sustainability measures in a way that results in a more vibrant, healthy and prosperous community.”

More information about San Mateo’s Beacon Spotlight Award activities is available at www.ca-ilg.org/beacon-participant-profile/city-san-mateo.

--Bay City New Service, photo via Shutterstock