Office of Sustainability Initiatives

On Sept. 26, 2008,  Executive Order 2008-3, created the Office of Sustainability Initiatives within the Environmental and Compliance Department. The office undertakes initiatives related to the management of energy, recyclables and waste materials and protecting natural resources and does so in a way that has a positive economic impact for the city.

Six months later, a Sustainable Building Program complemented and expanded the goals of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives.

Five Areas of Focus of Executive Order 2008-3

• Green Building and Energy Conservation
  Ensuring that all new facilities and new improvements to existing facilities, that will be constructed with city funds, are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained according to the principles outlined in the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ('LEED') standards, and/or according to recognized best management practices for sustainability.
• Vehicle Replacement and Operation
  Ensuring that the city's Green Fleet program procures and operates a fleet of vehicles that minimizes environmental impact, enhances domestic energy security, and maximizes fuel efficiency and diversification.
• Materials and Waste Management
  Ensuring that all departments utilize recycling services and pursue integrated waste management strategies that include reducing consumption, collecting used materials for reuse or recycling and purchasing cost-competitive recycled and recyclable products.
• Water Conservation
  Ensuring that the city demonstrates wise water use in city facilities, buildings and parks through identification of water inefficiencies and implementation of water conservation projects to improve plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems, swimming pool operations and other water uses.
• Sustainable Maintenance Practices
  Ensuring that all city employees and contractors are familiar with and follow the city's Sustainability Policy and support systematic environmental management in all departments.

Sustainability Team

Formulating and implementing policies and procedures are the responsibility of the Sustainability Team, which consists of a representative from each executive department. The team is led by the Deputy Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department.